The purpose of the USEF Young Horse Dressage Training Sessions is to identify and develop top equine dressage talent in the United States for a future career at the FEI level and international competition on U.S. Teams. Mirroring the existing High Performance development programs, horses should be actively training and competing and therefore may be invited to participate in training sessions with the aspiration of their participating in the 2008 Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program (FEI World Breeding Championships Selection Trials and National Championships). These training sessions will be conducted with the USEF Young Horse Dressage Coach, Mr. Scott Hassler.

Official training sessions for 2008 will be held at the following:

FLORIDA: Monday, March 17th – Wednesday, March 19th at the South Show Grounds of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, Wellington, Florida;

CALIFORNIA: Tuesday, March 25th – Thursday, March 27th at the L.A. Equestrian Center, Burbank, California

Participation in these training sessions is by INVITATION ONLY.

All interested parties MUST submit an application (deadline: February 27, 2008).   Please visit this link for more information and to download an application.

###

ODS President’s Column January 2009

Since we have just returned from the 2008 USDF Convention this month’s column will be a report of the issues presented and decisions made.

The USEF Dressage Committee very graciously agreed to withdraw the current Performance Standards Proposal after ODS and PM Delegates stood with California Dressage Society and several other large GMO’s to request the committee not go forth with the proposal at this time. The committee listened and responded and they will go back to work on a new format which may very likely end up being a rider test at each level to grant proficiency to move up. The rider tests would be based completely on the rider and not the horse.

The USDF proposed budget which was presented by ODS member and USDF Treasurer Barb Tuohino Funk was rejected by the Board of Governors. The proposal was for a balanced budget but included substantial dues and fee increases and the addition of some new fees. After a very long discussion the Executive Board and USDF staff was directed to balance the budget without raising dues or fees. Barb was on the podium for hours directing the debate and discussion of this topic and she did a great job. I am very proud that we have had an ODS member on the Executive Board. Barb has put in hundreds of hours for USDF and her work has been greatly important and appreciated. Her job is not over as she will have to put in many hours revamping the budget.

One of the programs scheduled to get the ax due to budget constraints was the High School Dressage Pin program. Our Youth program coordinator, Gaye McCabe and another person from another region lobbied hard to retain the program. The other person was actually able to find a sponsor for the program during the convention and it due to that and the fact that there is are several years worth of pins that have already been purchased the program has been saved.

The rule regarding entering the arena at A only will go back to committee to be revised so that the concerns the rule addressed are dealt with without the enter at A only clause. The just of it is an arena opening will be allowed at spots other than A, except for C where there will be no entry or exit. If the opening is not at A then the fence must be closed for the test.

The USDF Committee on Governance presented a draft proposing reorganization of the current USDF Governance. The draft is detailed and the committee admitted it was not a finished project. The main issue being reduction of delegates on the Board of Governors by more than half and a reduction in the number of councils and committees. The Board of Governors voted to table the Governance changes until the 2010 Convention. I hope the proposal will be available on the USDF website for members to review.

There was once again discussion regarding the National Dressage Championships for Adult Amateurs and possibly for Open Riders that do not compete in High Performance Dressage. Money put aside for this purpose has been a part of the “Qualifying Fee” PM’s pay when entering a class to qualify for the Regional Championships. The first such championship would be held in Lexington, KY in 2011 if the plan goes through. There is much controversy on this topic. Many people feel the fund should be used to balance the budget without cutting programs. Most people seem to feel it is an impractical idea to hold this sort of championship. The details at this time are that Champions and Reserve Champions from each region in Training through Grand Prix would be invited to attend and that they must be US Citizens. There is a survey of Participating Members being planned. Please watch for that and participate. Also let your PM Delegates know your opinion on the subject.

I left the convention feeling positive about the Democratic process in USDF. We as delegates were able to influence the decision making at our council and committee level and in the open discussion on the floor at the Board of Governors meeting. My only regret was not attending the Symposium with Kyra Kirkland especially after I attended her lecture on Friday night. We will look for a report from President Elect Ed Miller on that topic!

While at the convention we purchased 4 new DVDs to add to the ODS Library. Look for them to appear on the list very soon. We were able to purchase them at a very low cost because we had received points towards ODS purchases when Participating Members buy items from USDF. The new ODS Librarian is: Claudette Fitzgerald her address is: PO Box 1063, Keno, OR 97627.

The Oregon Dressage Society has been approved as a host organization for the Open Event Incentive Program of the Arabian Horse Association. This means that program members will be able to earn points at USEF/USDF/ODS Licensed shows, earning prizes for themselves and a permanent show record for their Arabian and Half-Arabian horses. If you ride Arabians be sure to check with the Association and see what the qualifications are to participate.

The ODS Board Retreat is planned for January 10-11, 2009. This is a board meeting and planning session for the year. Chapters have been encouraged to send a representative. We will have a report in the next column on the retreat.

Happy Holidays!
Marsha

###

The ODS Delegates have just returned from the 2007 Convention. The Florida winter weather was heavenly and in contrast to Kansas City where the holiday decorations were brilliant against the white landscape they were hardly noticeable in the lush, tropical environment of Orlando. Besides attending the Board of Governors Meeting, Committee Meetings and Educational Seminars we had a chance to enjoy Disneyworld and catch some sun at poolside. Returning to Oregon in the windy storm on Monday was a bit frightening for the adults but the children on board thought it was just another ride and whooped it up appropriately!

It was announced the Capital Campaign for the USDF Educational Center in the Kentucky Horse Park would end December 7, 2007. When all the outstanding donor pledges come in USDF will be debt free! The faster the funds come in the more we will save on interest. The fundraising effort is now being turned to an endowment for educational programs.

There are many improvements being completed at the Kentucky Horse Park before the World Equestrian Games. So far Dressage has outsold all the other ticket sales in the market test.

The 2008 USDF Convention will be held in the Denver area and a Symposium is planned. In 2009 the Convention is planned for Austin, TX. In 2009 we will elect USDF President and Treasurer and in 2010 Vice President and Secretary.

We proudly watched Francy Haupt be awarded the Region 6 Volunteer of the Year. This is at least the third year in a row an ODS member has received this honor.

At the Board of Governors meeting a motion was passed for USDF to stand against the change for USEF General Rule 1212.5a which would require 2 EMT’s to be on duty at all USEF recognized shows.

Motions were passed to increase the minimum median score for all year end awards to 60%. This will be effective October 1, 2008. The awards council also proposed a motion to drop the scores from regional championships from the year end award program. The rationale was that the scores from regional championships are usually lower due to the panel of judges and some regions do not have their championships before the end of the competition year. There was much discussion and this motion was tabled until next year.

Probably the most controversial issue came before the Board of Governors in the form of a Proposal from the USEF Dressage Committee: The Performance Standards Proposal. While we have been aware this has been in the works we now know the format of the standard which, if passed, will come into effect for the 2010 competition year. Briefly, the levels have been divided into Basic (training through second), Medium (third and fourth), Advanced (PSG and I-1) and International (I-2 and Grand Prix). There are no criteria for moving from training through second level. A rider will not be allowed to ride third level until they have achieved a certain amount of points at second level based on second level scores of 60% or higher. Similarly for riding PSG or I-1 a rider must have a certain amount of points based on tests for third and fourth level, and to move to the International level a rider must have a certain amount of points based on I-1 and PSG. There will be some exceptions for Young Riders competing at National Championships and NAJYRC Qualifying Shows. The competency is based purely on the rider and scores we already have will count. USDF medal holders are grandfathered in to their prospective levels so if you hold a bronze medal you may ride third level, silver you may ride PSG and a gold you may ride whatever level you wish. There is also an appeals process.

In addition, to be eligible to compete at third level or above you must be a USDF participating member and a member of USEF. This means you cannot get a bronze medal unless you meet all these requirements. Previously rider awards did not require PM and USEF memberships.

The standard is based on a European model and is designed to improve the quality of riding in the US at medium level and above. Whatever the committee comes up with we have 2 years to improve our riding, so there is a new goal for the New Year!

I hope to see a representative from every chapter at our January Board Retreat. This is really your chance to participate in the planning for the year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Marsha

###