Oregon Dressage Society would like to congratulate Jessica Ransehousen!  She has been honored with the 2009 USEF Lifetime Achievement Award. Read more and watch a brief synopsis video of the achievements of dressage great Jessica Ransehousen at http://bit.ly/6M96jG .

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Lexington, KY—For more than five decades, the name of Jessica Newberry Ransehousen has been synonymous with the United States dressage program.  And, after a lifetime spent as a high performance international medalist, lead dressage coach for the U.S. program, highly-skilled dressage judge and widely-respected ambassador for the sport of dressage, the United States Equestrian Federation is proud to announce that living legend Jessica Ransehousen has been selected to receive the USEF’s highest individual honor – the USEF Lifetime Achievement Award and the Jimmy A. Williams Trophy.

From her start as a dressage rider, Ransehousen has known the taste of success. In 1956 and 1957, she earned the title of the United States Equestrian Team’s National Dressage Champion. But, this was only the beginning for this multi-talented equestrian.

To close out the 1950s, Ransehousen made her Pan American Games debut and assisted the U.S. team to a Silver medal in Chicago. The very next year, she made her Olympic Games debut in Rome, Italy, as a member of the U.S. Olympic Team. Four years later, she returned to Olympic competition in Tokyo, Japan.

Between decades of high performance competition, Ransehousen spent time sharing her incredible gifts as an instructor and trainer. Those who name themselves among her many students include her own daughter, Missy, who has become a successful event rider and trainer at Blue Hill Farm, the longtime family operation in Unionville, PA. Among others who have benefitted from Ransehousen’s expertise and experience are current Rolex FEI World Cup Dressage Champion and Olympian Steffen Peters, 1976 Montreal Olympic Team Bronze medalist Dorothy Morkis, and former Young Rider Gold medalist and FEI-level trainer and rider Todd Flettrich. She also instructed event riders, including such U.S. standouts as Phillip Dutton and Darren Chiacchia.

However, the desire to compete and passion for competition was still present in Ransehousen, and in 1988, she was selected as a member of the 1988 Seoul Olympic team, an impressive 24 years after her second Olympic appearance. At her third and final Olympic appearance, she road Orpheus and secured herself a place in the Olympic record books and stands among a select group of women with the longest Olympic competitive careers – 28 years.

With success on the international stage and a reputation as one of the country’s most respected trainers, Ransehousen began tenure with the United States Equestrian Team as chef d’equipe for the U.S. dressage program. This collaboration would see ever-strengthening showings by the U.S. program at appearances in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games, the 1990 and 1994 FEI World Equestrian Games, and at the 1991 and 1995 Pan American Games. Her teams were awarded the Bronze medal at both the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Ransehousen’s commitment to her sport was strongly felt on the field of play, as well as in the board room.  In addition to her many years of work as an FEI “I” and USEF “S” judge, she was a member of the USEF High Performance Dressage Committee, USET Vice-President for Dressage, and former Assistant Secretary of the former American Horse Shows Association (now USEF). And, in 2001, she was inducted into the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Hall of Fame.

The USEF Lifetime Achievement Award and the Jimmy A. Williams Trophy are given to the horseman or horsewoman whose “life experience and accomplishments exemplify uncommon devotion to the sport of competition with horses and whose equestrian career and horsemanship have continually elevated the sport’s excellence.”  It is without a doubt that Jessica Ransehousen more than qualifies for this once-in-a-lifetime honor.
The USEF Lifetime Achievement Award will be formally presented to Ransehousen during the USEF’s 2010 Annual Meeting at the Louisville Downtown Marriott, January 16, at the Pegasus Awards dinner where she will be honored by fellow U.S. chef d’equipe and living legend, George Morris, as well as former team member and six-time Olympic dressage rider, Robert Dover.

ENDS

(Attached photo:  Jessica Ransehousen and Forstrat in competition in 1960 in Aachen, Germany.  Photo credit: Courtesy Jessica Ransehousen)

1. When do the new rules take effect for dressage “opportunity” classes?
   December 1, 2009, which is the official start of the 2010 USEF competition year. This date coincides with the effective date of the new “Levels” required for Dressage Competitions.
2. What types of competitions may offer these classes?
   Licensed Dressage Competitions and Regular/Local Competitions which are licensed to include an Open Dressage Division (open to all breeds) may offer a limited number of dressage “opportunity” classes, as described in Rule GR821. (See #4 below for the list of classes and tests that may be offered.)
3. So may a breed-restricted competition offer these classes?
   No, unless the competition is licensed to hold an open dressage division which is open to all breeds. This is because breed-restricted competitions are not required to meet any of the new dressage competition levels standards.
4. How do I know what type and how many dressage “opportunity” classes I can offer at my competition?
   The type and number of classes which may be offered is dependent upon the “level” of your competition. Only Level 1, 2, or 3 competitions may offer these classes (please refer to the published Dressage Levels chart on the USEF website and GR821).
   • A Level 1 Competition may offer two (2) tests, per level, per day, at Second Level and below. For instance, in a single day, a show could offer Training Level Test 1, Training Level Test 2, First Level Test 1, First Level Test 2, Second Level Test 1, and Second Level Test 2 as “opportunity” classes.
   • A Level 2 Competition may offer two (2) tests, per level, per day, at FIRST Level and below. For instance, in a single day, this show could offer Training Level Test 1, Training Level Test 2, First Level Test 1, and First Level Test 2 as “opportunity” classes.
   • A Level 3 Competition may offer two (2) tests per day at Training Level ONLY. For instance, in a single day, this show could offer Training Level Test 1 and Training Level Test 2 as “opportunity” classes.
   • A Level 4 or Level 5 Competition may not offer “opportunity” classes..

1. How do I list these classes in my prize list?
   Per Rule GR821.8, the list of “opportunity” classes offered must include “Opportunity” in the class name.
2. Can I offer Eventing Dressage Tests or other types of tests as “opportunity” classes?
   No, as indicated above and in the Dressage Levels Chart, only specific USEF Second Level, First Level, and Training Level Tests may be offered as “opportunity” classes.
3. Can I have an Opportunity Test of Choice class?
   No. Please see #5 & #6 above. Only specific tests may be offered.
4. What about Freestyles?
   Per Rule GR821.2e(3), Freestyles may not be offered as “opportunity” classes.
5. Can I offer one of these “opportunity” classes as restricted to Adult Amateurs?
   Yes, but per Rule GR821.5, if an “opportunity” class is restricted to Amateurs, then the rider must have an amateur status on file with USEF or pay the $30 non-member amateur card fee.
6. Who can judge these classes?
   USEF Rule GR821 states that any judge officiating at the competition may judge the “opportunity” classes. Since these classes may only be offered at Licensed Dressage Competitions and Regular/Local Competitions with Open Dressage Divisions, the judges would be USEF-Licensed “r”, “R”, “S” or FEI Dressage Judges.
7. What rules apply for these classes?
   Since these classes may only be offered at Licensed Dressage Competitions and Regular/Local Competitions with Open Dressage Divisions, all USEF Dressage Division (DR) rules apply, including dress and saddlery requirements, in addition to all applicable General Rules, such as Drugs & Medications (see #14, below).
8. What memberships are required for these classes?
   Per Rule GR821.2e(5), horses and riders competing in “opportunity” classes are exempt from USEF and USDF membership requirements, and do not have to pay non-member or HID fees. (In addition, USEF is working on a rule clarification to also specify that owners, trainers, and coaches are exempt from membership requirements.)
9. Can a horse and rider cross-enter into other dressage classes?
   Yes. Your prize list must state if “opportunity” riders/horses will be allowed to cross-enter into other recognized classes at your show. Please note, however, if a horse or rider enters other non-opportunity classes at your competition in which membership by participants is required, all USEF and USDF membership requirements apply for horse, rider, owner, trainer, etc. (See GR901.9 for more information.)
10. What about the USEF Drugs & Medications fee?
    Per Rule GR821.3 & .4, horses entered only in “opportunity” classes are exempt from the Federation fee, including the Drugs & Medications fee. However, horses entered in these classes are still subject to and must comply with all D&M rules and are subject to testing at your competition.
11. Do I submit results for these classes to USEF?
    As per Rule GR821.1, competitions must submit full results of all “opportunity” classes as required in Rule GR1214:
    • “Opportunity” must be listed in the class name in the results.
    • Full results are required – names of horses, riders, owners, and trainers are to be listed including addresses, placings and scores, eliminations, etc.
    • If they have them, horses and members with USEF numbers should be listed in the results. If membership or HID information is missing, please leave the USEF number field blank.
    • Section codes for submission of e-Results are as follows: Open Opportunity – 5702; Amateur Opportunity – 5703.

1. What about the USEF Post-Competition Report?
   Since “opportunity” classes are exempt from membership, non-member fees, Drugs & Med Fee and the Federation Fee, these classes are not reported on the Post Competition Report.
2. Can “opportunity” class results count towards USEF or USDF awards?
   No. Scores earned in dressage “opportunity” classes may not be used towards USEF or USDF awards or programs.

Still have questions? Please send your inquiry via e-mail to Jennifer Keeler,
USEF National Director of Dressage, at jkeeler@usef.org.

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) acknowledges that many high school equestrian athletes are not currently recognized by their school athletic programs unless their equestrian team is directly associated with the high school at the varsity level. In many cases, organized programs at the high school level do not exist and many young equestrians do not have a team or club in their area. Yet, the equestrian athlete dedicates as much, if not more, time preparing for competition as does any other athlete in a high school program. Additionally, the time commitment required of equestrian athletes often precludes them from participating in other high school varsity sports programs. As the National Governing Body for Equestrian Sport, USEF has created a program to recognize young equestrians’ accomplishments and to support their future involvement in the sport.

In addition to providing recognition consistent with other high school varsity programs, the USEF honors these equestrian athletes not only for honing their individual skills while training and competing, but perhaps more
importantly, for fostering the unique and often challenging human-to-animal connection required to create and sustain the teamwork and mutual respect required of a successful equestrian athlete/equine combination;
thereby recognizing and rewarding their efforts in the unique and unparalleled team sport of Equestrian.

Click here to view the entire press release and to download the appropriate applications.

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The United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. (USEF) is pleased to announce the launch of the USEF Dressage Youth/Pony Pilot Program for Fall 2009.This program is designed to seek out, educate and assist the development of the young riders, and will be under the direction of Lendon Gray, appointed by the USEF Dressage High Performance Committee.

“I am thrilled that USEF is going to help to develop the best equitation and riding skills in our younger riders,” Gray said. “It is so much easier to develop correct riding from the early ages than to try to change bad habits later.”

The Pilot Program will consist of clinics held throughout the United States, which will be conducted by Gray, and high-performance athletes such as Michael Barisone, Pam Goodrich, Arlene “Tuny” Page and David Wightman. “The clinics will include emphasis on position and seat, technical skills, and riding and stable management theory,” continued Gray.

The clinics will be available to youth 20 years old and under with a special emphasis on riders ages 10 to 17. In order to meet the minimum requirements to participate, riders ages 10-15 on a horse or pony should have obtained a 62% or high from two different judges at First Level and above. Riders ages 16-17 should have obtained 62% or higher from two different judges at Third Level and above. If space permits, clinics will be open to riders 18-20 who have obtained 62% or higher from two different judges at Fourth Level and above. Youth riders who do not qualify, as well as instructors, are encouraged to audit these clinics (organizers may charge an auditing fee). There will be up to ten (10) riders at each clinic.

The following are clinic dates and locations for the USEF Youth/Pony Pilot Program:

Instructor Location Dates
Lendon Gray Carson City, MI November 14-15, 2009
Pamela Goodrich Boscawen, NH November 21-22, 2009
Lendon Gray Newtown, PA November 21-22, 2009
Arlene “Tuny” Page Wellington, FL November 21-22, 2009
Michael Barisone Long Valley, NJ December 5-6, 2009
Lendon Gray Marion, TX December 19-20, 2009
David Wightman Murrieta, CA December 19-20, 2009
Lendon Gray Kansas City, MO January 9-10, 2010

Any rider interested in the clinic must apply through the USEF Dressage Department. The application is available on the USEF website Dressage Page (www.usef.org/_IFrames/breedsDisciplines/discipline/allDressage.aspx)
Applications for November clinics close October 28, 2009 and applications for December clinics close November 11, 2009.

For further information, please contact: Jenny Van Wieren, USEF Assistant Director of Dressage, at jvanwieren@usef.org or (859)225-6949.

Lexington, KY – This fall the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will be offering Developing Dressage Training Clinics with Olympians Steffen Peters and Guenter Seidel. With such prolific clinicians, these opportunities will be an asset for cultivating the future of dressage in the United States. The first clinic will take place in Gladstone, NJ at the USET Foundation Headquarters on October 30-31, 2009 conducted by Steffen Peters. A second clinic is planned for early December 2009 in Florida with Guenter Seidel. Please see the USEF website for more information as it becomes available.

East Coast athletes currently on the 2009 USEF Dressage Long List for training and athletes on the USEF Developing Rider List will receive an invitation sent by the USEF Dressage Department. Riders attending the clinic will be strongly encouraged to bring their personal trainer to attend the clinic. The purpose of these clinics is to educate, assist and promote both the riders and their trainers in order to further enhance their progress.

Auditing will be based on rider invitation only; each rider will be allowed to bring auditors to their individual training session. Auditors are not permitted to observe other training sessions unless they have specifically been invited by another rider to audit.

These clinics will focus on developing horse and riders in the United States. USEF High Performance Dressage Committee anticipates continuing similar Developing clinics into the 2010 year and beyond in order to further identify and advance the dressage talent in the United States. Participation in at least one of the Developing clinics may be mandatory to remain on the USEF Developing Rider List.

For further information, please contact: Jenny Van Wieren, USEF Assistant Director of Dressage at jvanwieren@usef.org or (859)225-6949.
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The USEF is pleased to announce that the Performance Horse Registry has a new book for American-bred horses only. Beginning December 1, 2009, the American Performance Horse (APH) will be open to all American-bred performance horses. The goal for the APH is to showcase performance horses bred in the United States.

Q. What is considered an “American-bred?”
A. For competition purposes, bred means foaled. If there is documentation that states the horse was foaled in the United States, then it can be enrolled as an American-bred.

Q. How do I enter my horse into the APH?
A. You will need to fill out the request on a Federation Horse Recording form and submit a copy of the breed papers or a USEF Breeders Affidavit along with a $10.00 processing fee.

If the breed registry has a data share agreement with the Federation, your horse (if eligible) will automatically be placed in the APH at no additional cost to you. (For more information on this, breed registries should contact Ken Ball, PHR Registrar, at kball@usef.org or via phone at 859-225-2035.)

The following breed registries currently have a data share agreement with USEF:

• American Hanoverian Society
• American Holsteiner Horse Association
• Belgian Warmblood Breeding Association/NA District

Q. Does my horse have to be Recorded with USEF to be eligible for the APH?
A. No. Any horse born in the U.S. is eligible to enter the registry if they provide proof that they are American-bred. Horses enrolled by submitting breed papers or a USEF Breeders Affidavit will incur a small processing fee ($10.00).

APH horses will appear on APH Rankings Lists and will be eligible for APH Year-End Awards. Unless the horse is also recorded with USEF, it will not be eligible for future Incentive Fund payouts, Silver Stirrup Awards or USEF Horse of the Year Awards. However, the horse will appear on the APH rankings list and will be eligible for the APH Year-End Awards.

Q. How is the American Performance Horse recognized?
A. APH horses who are also USEF recorded will be designated with a special symbol in the USEF Horse of the Year standings. Additionally, if the APH horse is registered with a breed registry, that logo will appear as well.

Recorded and non-recorded USEF horses will be recognized on a ranking list for APH horses only. This list will also show the breed registry logo.

All horses enrolled will be eligible for APH Year-End Awards.

If recorded with USEF, horses get APH recognition printed on their recording certificate, but will not receive extended pedigree papers like with PHR.

APH horses can be enrolled in the Silver Stirrup Awards if they are also USEF recorded.

For more information on the American Performance Horse, breed registries should contact Ken Ball, PHR Registrar, at kball@usef.org or via phone at (859) 225-2035.

The vision of the United States Equestrian Federation® is to provide leadership
for equestrian sport in the United States of America by promoting the pursuit
of excellence from the grassroots to the Olympic Games, based on a
foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare
of its human and equine athletes.

WWW.USEF.ORG
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Lexington, KY— The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce that pending successful contract negotiations, Anne Gribbons will be named as USEF Dressage Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor through 2012. Gribbons will fill the role for dressage that Capt. Mark Phillips and George Morris fill for the Olympic disciplines of eventing and show jumping respectively.

The search and selection process to fill this role for the U.S. dressage program was exhaustive. It began in November 2008 when the high-performance dressage athletes met in Chicago, IL, seeking the successor to Klaus Balkenhol who had served as USEF Dressage Coach and Technical Advisor for the eight years ending in 2008. By recommendation of the High-Performance Dressage Committee, USEF Chief Executive Officer John Long formed a search committee and named Chester Weber to the Chair.

“This search was conducted following the same process that was used to place George Morris in his current role for show jumping. This model ensures that the Eligible Athletes Committee, representing the interests of their peers, makes the choice about who they want to lead their sport into the future. The role of the Search Committee is to steward all of the parties through this process, and I am quite pleased that they have done this so successfully. I thank everyone on the Search Committee for their objectivity throughout the process and their commitment to achieving the best possible result,” said Weber.

Eleven applicants met the qualifying criteria. The Search Committee narrowed the field to three candidates. Following interviews held in Denver, CO, the Eligible Athletes Committee, chaired by Sue Blinks, recommended to the USEF High-Performance Dressage Committee that Anne Gribbons be offered the position. At a meeting of that committee on August 10, the recommendation was approved.

“We are grateful to all those who put forth the time and energy to this important process,” said Long, who continued, “The USEF looks forward to continue building a strong dressage program for the future, and we believe Anne Gribbons is the ideal person for this job.”

Lexington, KY – With excitement building toward the annual U.S. showcase for future international dressage horses, the USEF has announced the final entries for the 2009 USEF National Developing Horse Dressage Championship presented by the Dutta Corporation & Performance Sales International and the 2009 Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships.

National Championships in four age divisions will be contested August 21 – 23, 2009 in the picturesque setting of Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois.

Final National Championship entry lists are now posted on the USEF website at the following links:
http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/alldressage/developingHorseInfo.aspx
http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/alldressage/2004yhProgram.aspx

Lexington, KY – The World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen, got under way with the Vaulting competition on Friday, June 26. The US finished the weekend of competition strong with a third place finish in the Team Freestyle by Team Mt. Eden Sun.

One of the most acclaimed competitions in the world continues into the Fourth of July weekend as both Dressage and Show Jumping take center stage. Representing the US in Dressage are Steffen Peters on Ravel and Catherine Haddad on Cadillac 35. Hot off their win at the Rolex FEI World Cup Final in April, Peters and Ravel are prepared to keep their impressive winning streak alive, having only ever been beaten at two competitions in their Grand Prix career – one was the 2008 Olympic Games where they finished fourth individually. This will be only the second time 11-year-old Ravel (who is owned by Akiko Yamazaki) has competed outside of the United States.

Haddad, who is based in Germany, and her 12-year-old rising star Cadillac have been steadily gaining momentum this season, winning the Grand Prix Special at the Vidauban CDI3*in June. This was the pair’s sixth Grand Prix victory in 2009. Haddad will also compete in the CDI4* with Maximus JSS. Chef d’Equipe Jessica Ransehousen will guide the US Dressage riders in Germany.

The Meydan FEI Nations Cup will continue in Aachen, and the US is prepared to defend their lead as the competition proves to get even tougher. After two impressive wins (out of the first four legs) on the tour, the US was second behind France after yet another two-way jump off in Rotterdam on June 19. Representing the US in Aachen will be: Ashlee Bond and Cadett 7, Lauren Hough and Quick Study, Olympic Gold Medalists Laura Kraut and Cedric and McLain Ward and Sapphire and Todd Minikus and Pavarotti. Chef d’Equipe George Morris will determine which four riders will jump at Thursday’s draw.

The Dressage and Show Jumping events will run June 30 – July 5.

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