The theme of the U.S. Dressage Federation’s annual convention seemed to be “The best is yet to come.”

With a fourth consecutive Olympic team bronze medal, a new National Education Center on the way, and an unexpected commitment from Robert Dover to help educate promising younger riders, the future of American dressage is certainly looking bright.

Dressage enthusiasts from around the country converged on Lexington, Ky., to participate in meetings, galas, educational events and more over the week of Nov. 30-Dec. 5.

The first point of business addressed was the kickoff of the Capital Campaign to raise $5 million toward the USDF endowment and the new building that will be the site of the NEC.

“We have the opportunity to create a showcase for the sport, a Hall of Fame for our dressage stars, and a permanent home for USDF in the heart of the horse capital of the United States,” stated Sam Barish, USDF president in his opening remarks to the Board of Governors.

The NEC will be located next door to the U.S. Equestrian Federation at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. The land has been leased for the next 99 years to the USDF for $1 per year on the condition that they start breaking ground by June 2005.

The USDF Hall of Fame will have a permanent home at the NEC, and interactive information stations will allow visitors to research the history of dressage.

“We will dramatically increase the visibility of the USDF, its programs and the sport itself,” explained executive director Stephan Hienzsch. “We’ll be positioned in the middle of something bigger than we are.”

Some 10 percent of the $5-million capital campaign will go toward the USDF National Education Endowment Fund to promote educational programs. Almost all of the rest will pay for the construction of the new building.

Delegates grew so enthused about the project that they immediately demanded a donation box be created so that people attending the convention could start contributing. By the end of the week, there were checks for $4,100 in that box. Also, during the week, USDF officials received two pledges of $100,000 each.

Another far-reaching announcement that came during Barish’s speech was the memorandum of understanding signed by Barish, for the USDF, and USEF officials on Nov. 26. The MOU will streamline membership, horse registration and competition recognition between the USDF and the USEF. (For more, see Dec. 10, p. 68.)

Conflict And Controversy

Not every announcement was met with such enthusiasm at the BOG. On Friday Chairman Lisa Gorretta put forth the motion from the Regional Championships Committee to raise the qualifying scores. No longer would scores below 60 percent, a satisfactory mark, count toward regional championships.

At training level the committee asked that open qualifying scores be raised to 68 percent, while junior and adult amateur scores would have to reach 63 percent. “Our goal is to have them improve their performance,” said Gorretta.

Delegates were highly divided about this plan. “It’s too big a jump for training level,” said Sandie Dennis, president of the North Carolina Dressage and Combined Training Association. “Open riders aren’t necessarily professional riders. I’m concerned that numbers would go down, income would go down, and it’s not fair to the riders.”

Others espoused concern that just qualifying was the goal of many riders and worried that they’d be discouraged by the difficulty of attaining higher scores.

But many riders and officials were enthusiastic about raising the scores. “Sixty percent is considered to be satisfactory on the judging scale, and qualifying scores for national championships should be satisfactory,” insisted Veronica Holt, member of the Regional Championships Committee.

“Training level is an entry level. The measure of success is on the horse, and it’s easier to get better scores,” she continued.

“Raising the bar is good for the sport,” agreed Elisabeth Williams, an FEI steward and USEF technical delegate from Horsham, Pa. “Maybe people will say, ‘I’m not getting better scores’ and will work harder or find a different trainer.”

After much discussion and a failed amendment to the motion to lower the open training level score to 67 percent, the vote was called. The race was close, so delegates had the opportunity to try out the new electronic voting equipment, which determined that the motion had passed by a slim margin.

Members of the Awards Committee put forth another controversial motion to change how median score calculations were reached for USDF awards. According to the old system, the bottom 20 percent of scores was dropped before calculating the median score. The new rule recommended that “only the top two scores from each individual judge will count.”

This proposal came about after people complained of “Santa Claus” judging. For instance, a rider might have three low scores from three different judges, but five high scores from one generous judge. Thus, after the lowest 20 percent was dropped, the rider would be left with an artificially elevated
median score.

Delegates discussed the difficulty in finding a variety of judges, as well as the problem of having a bad day.

But most believed that it was a good change. “It’s much fairer,” said Williams. “It will stop you from going to Santa Claus or Clausette for scores. Life isn’t always fair, and maybe one year you won’t qualify because you’ve had a bad show. We’re talking about the sport of dressage, and I think we’re improving it.”

The motion passed, along with the other motions proposed by the Awards Council, including making mules eligible for USDF awards, adding a pas de deux award, and allowing maiden, novice and limit classes to count toward USDF rider awards.

The Technical Delegates Council raised one more motion that sparked debate. Holt, the chairman, proposed this rule-change proposal for the BOG’s approval: “When a licensed official, acting as a representative of USEF, finds it necessary to defend him or herself at a hearing, USEF must provide legal councel at no cost to the licensed official.”

Currently, if a T.D. is challenged by a competitor, it is the T.D.’s responsibility to arrange transport, accommodations, and legal counsel to appear before the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Hearing Committee.

“T.D.s feel exposed as they try to defend themselves to the USEF,” explained Holt. “They are USEF representatives, but the USEF doesn’t help them out once they’re challenged in court.”

Amanda Meyers, a lawyer from Region 9, expressed concern that it might be a conflict of interest to ask the USEF to provide an attorney in a case they were hearing. She asked for a motion to table the issue, but that motion failed.

At the end of the discussion, delegates voted to pass the council’s motion, but even then, the BOG can only recommend that the USEF carry out this suggestion.

Virtual Achievement

With a new and improved website, USDF members have better access to a wealth of information.

“Next year we will send out GMO [Group Member Organization] rosters in an easy-to-use electronic format,” announced Barish. “This will enable us to process the rosters 50 percent faster.

“By next month, members will be able to register on-line for all USDF events, including programs, clinics and trainers’ conferences,” he continued.

Another improvement will come in the way results are transmitted from show secretaries to the USDF database. At present the staff enters much of that information by hand, but an electronic submission standard will be completed by the end of March. This should speed up their processing and publication considerably.

The Master Verification system is online now. This system allows USDF members to quickly and easily print the information cards for owner, horse and rider on one sheet of paper.

And the IT staff is about to begin a service called Marketplace. “The intent is for it to be a national yellow pages,” explained IT director Bill Adams.

The new service will provide low-cost listings for companies and people that provide products and services related to horse care and training.

“We’re not endorsing anything,” explained Adams. “We just want to connect you to resources you’re looking for.”

For the second year in a row, the convention and national symposium were held together to make one intense week of dressage. This year’s symposium presenters were Scott Hassler, Christoph Hess and Steffen Peters. Their topic, “The Development of the Dressage Horse,” covered everything from selecting a stallion and broodmare to training through Grand Prix.

The Search for America’s Next Dressage Star

In a surprise announcement at the Salute Gala, six-time Olympian Robert Dover announced that he wanted to do something special for young developing dressage riders. Inspired by the hit TV show “American Idol,” Dover is going to run his own contest.

He encouraged riders 25 and younger to send him videotapes of themselves riding. They should also include a short biography and explain why they believe they should be America’s next dressage star.

“I’ve been wanting to do something to create a talent search for a long time because I felt like there’s a lack of real effort to strengthen our base of our developmental riders,” said Dover.

“Over the many years that I’ve been in the sport, I’ve seen some people whom I thought were incredible talent. Somehow, many of them just sort of got lost in between the cracks and they became professionals, but without the kind of management for their careers that would allow them to really shine as international stars,” he continued.

Dover and two other yet-to-be-named judges will choose two to five riders from the videotapes. Dover will provide housing, horse board and training for those selected during the month of April at his farm in Wellington, Fla. He’s looking for sponsors to help transport the contest winners.

“They will be tested during that month on their ability to ride, to teach, to train, their horsemastership, and their ability to interact with others,” Dover explained.

Guest judges will periodically check in throughout the month, and Sally Lasater from HorseTV is pursuing the idea of actually turning the project into a reality show.

“The winner already is going to receive more than $6,000 worth of tack and clothing from Euro-American Saddlery,” said Dover, “and a full paid position as my second assistant.

“I think that it’s a really terrific way of spotlighting our young up-and-coming riders and trainers,” he continued. “Hopefully there will be other trainers that see some of these youngsters and say, ‘Maybe I’ll take the first runner-up.’ And we’ll have permanent positions for these people so that they can have a really great beginning to their careers and have the push that would make them into international stars.”

Dover wasn’t concerned that riders might not have the horse to match their ability.

“I’m going to look at them riding,” he said. “They have to be on a horse, but that doesn’t mean that that will necessarily be the horse they end up with for the month of April. One thing that is pretty clear is when you see somebody who is a great talent in almost anything, it stands out of the crowd.”

Videotapes should be sent to Robert Dover, 12028 Longwood Green Dr., Wellington, FL 33414.

Honoring The Sport’s Heroes

Capt. Andrew Bela de Szinay and Dr. Max Gahwyler were honored for their contributions to the sport of dressage by their induction into the U.S. Dressage Federation Hall of Fame during the second annual Salute Gala.

De Szinay, who died in 1988, was nominated in honor of his leadership and tireless devotion to advancing dressage in the United States through volunteering, developing programs, projects and committees that contributed to the direction of the USDF.

Gahwyler was nominated because of his innovative contributions to the education of dressage riders in the United States through clinics and lectures. His three books The Competitive Edge Volumes 1, 2 and 3 have sold thousands of copies around the world.

Kay Meredith was presented with the USDF Lifetime Achievement Award. She was a leader of the USDF in its formative years and provided
the foundation for the organization. She was the first USDF vice president and served as president from 1977 to 1982.Patsy Albers of Chesapeake City, Md., was named the Volunteer of the Year.

Odds And Ends

The following candidates were elected to the U.S. Dressage Federation Executive Board for 2005-2007: Region 1?Alison Head; Region 3?Sandra Bishop; Region 5?Theresa Hunt; Region 7?Terry Wilson; Region 9?Katherine Kyle.

The following candidates were elected to serve a two-year term on the USDF Youth Executive Board: Region 1-Katelyn Ortepio; Region 3-Meghan McKoy; Region 5-Vanessa Simon; Region 7-Susan Walker; Region 9-Claire Darnell.

Lendon Gray stepped down as chairman of the Youth Council to be chairman of the Instructor/Trainer Council for 2005. Dorothy Mueller from Region 2 will serve as Youth Council chairman in 2005.

The group member organization membership year will be changed from April 1-March 31 to Dec. 1-Nov. 30 in 2006. This will put them in line with the USDF membership year.

A family membership option has been added to the USDF group memberships currently offered.

New graduates of the USDF “L” Education Program for judges’ training are: Michelle Burton of Ohio; Barry Fript of Illinois; Laurie Hedlund of Wisconsin; Ilyse Auringer of Colorado; Michelle Baca of New Mexico; Jane Bagwell of New Mexico; Julie Burt of Colorado; Kathleen Mayger of Colorado; Shelley Rosenberg of Arizona; Alexandra Sternhagen of New Mexico; Paula Howard of California; Julie Berry, Leslie E. Cummings, Marie Morgan and Kathy Knappitsch of Texas.

The delegates passed a motion to require USDF publications to provide breeder names when available in all published results.