United States Dressage Federation Official Page

09/09/2026

It's official... the USA Dressage coaches are set to headline the 2027 Adequan®/USDF FEI-Level Trainers Conference! 🎉

This program offers a unique opportunity for instructors and trainers to learn from the sport's best. This year, the FEI-Level Trainers Conference returns to High Meadow Farm in Florida, with George Williams (USEF Dressage High-Performance Pathway Advisor & Youth Coach), Christine Traurig (USEF Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor), and Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and Guenter Seidel (USEF Dressage Assistant Pathway Coaches) as the presenting trainers!

“Bringing in the full USEF Dressage Coaching Team will provide an unparalleled educational experience for our attendees and demo riders alike. I encourage anyone who is able to attend to make plans to join us. It is not often we are blessed with this much knowledge and experience together in one arena.” - Kevin Reinig, USDF President

Registration is set to open on October 1 - stay tuned!

Read the full press release 👉 https://www.usdf.org/e-news/September26/trainers-conference.asp

The Adequan®/USDF FEI-Level Trainers Conference is generously supported by Adequan® (Adequan.com). Visit the USDF website to learn more 🔗 https://www.usdf.org/education/other-programs/trainers-conference/index.asp

09/08/2026

REMINDER TO COMPETITORS AND COMPETITION MANAGEMENT 📢 The US Equestrian Board of Directors recently approved rule changes that will become effective on 12/1/2026.

📝 For a list of rule changes that were approved and are specific to dressage, visit the USDF website: https://www.usdf.org/competitions/usefrulechanges.asp

📝 For a complete list of rule changes that were approved at their June meeting, visit the US Equestrian website: https://www.usef.org/compete/resources-forms/rules-regulations/rule-changes

📸 "Partners" by Erin Ozminkowski: 2023 USDF Arts Contest 16-21 First-Place Art

09/08/2026

Teddy’s Legacy: A Mission to Change the World ❤️🌍

"I consulted with vets, [Equine Complex Vertebral Malformation] experts, surgeons at UC Davis, trainers… anyone I could talk to, I did. The consensus was clear: surgery wasn’t likely to be successful, and there’s no magic cure for spinal cord compression.

There was nothing to be done. I began to count down our days together. ...

When the day came to say goodbye, I took him to a shaded lush green pasture. The skies were blue and sunny after weeks of rain – it was like it was meant to be. He laid gently among the pines in the grass, and a soft breeze passed over us as he left this world. It sounds strange to say, but it was beautiful. Peaceful. ...

I grieved, but then I got angry. Someone had to do something. When I didn’t see anyone else doing it, I decided it had to be me."

After losing her once-in-a-lifetime horse, Teddy, to complications from ECVM and Wobblers, this rider did one of the most selfless things you can do to honor her horse: she started a nonprofit that helps horse owners through the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders, carrying on "Teddy's Legacy" and bettering the lives of so many horses and humans.

Read about her mission at the link below.

🔗 https://wp.me/padgUY-r4t

✍ Brianna Navarro, Founder of Teddy’s Legacy

09/07/2026

The Not-So-Straight Path to Gold 🥇

"What I remember most is the rain. It fell in sheets, soaking through my shadbelly, and running down Bob’s neck. At seventy, drenched and struggling to see through the water, Bob and I rode down the final centerline, halted at X, and saluted. For a moment, everything seemed still: the judge’s booth, the rain, and the long road behind us. When the judge returned the salute, ten years of work came to a close—not perfectly, but with a feeling of deep satisfaction."

No matter how many plans we make, sometimes things just take an unexpected turn. Despite several major setbacks (including a life-threatening car accident), this horse and rider pair from USDF Region 1 achieved the end goal of their plan, which was to earn her USDF Gold Medal!

Read it now at the link below.

🔗 https://wp.me/padgUY-r3C

✍ Carol F. Lippa, M.D.

📸 Bethany P Photography

09/07/2026

09/05/2026

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09/04/2026

Have you scored the latest tests through USDF's You Be the Judge module? How did your scores compare to our judge panel? 👩‍⚖️

Join Cindi Wylie and Debbie Rodriguez for an engaging look at this next round of tests. They will share insights from a judge's perspective and take a closer look at some of the movements in the featured tests.

📆 October 6, 2026
⏰ 8 PM / 5 PM ET
📍 Webinar via Zoom

Register now for the live webinar at the link below!

🔗 https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/6817849131750/WN_6DwW72oFRPyx49sAr_xLTQ

Have a question you'd like our judges to address? Members are encouraged to submit questions in advance to [email protected].

09/04/2026

The wait is over... USDF is proud to present the winners of the 2026 USDF Arts Contest! 🎨📸

The annual USDF Arts Contest allows USDF members to express their interest in the sport outside of the competition arena. Each year, entries are accepted in the divisions of art and photography, and in three different age categories.

Check out the winning pieces from each category at the link below. Congratulations, artists!

🔗 https://yourdressage.org/2026/09/04/2026-usdf-arts-contest-meet-the-winners/

USDF would also like to offer a special congratulations to this year's Grand Prize winner, "Spring Fling" by Huppert Photography. This amazing piece will be featured on the cover of the 2027 USDF Member Guide.

Thank you all for another amazing year of artwork!

Huppert Photography

09/03/2026

This September, we are celebrating 🔥

We recently asked our social media followers to share a photo of their favorite Norwegian Fjord and tell us a little about them for a chance to be featured on YourDressage. We are so excited to share all the beautiful photos we received! 💕

Check out part ONE of these galleries at the link below!

🔗 https://wp.me/padgUY-r30

📸 Winslow Photography LLC (submitted by Paige Christian Poupart) | Submitted by Thorncroft Equestrian Center | Kimberwick Visuals (submitted by Jennifer Underwood Sanders)

09/02/2026

Opening Doors to Dressage 🔓

"There’s no way around it: Horses and riding are costly. Financial-accessibility initiatives address this significant barrier to entry in equestrian involvement. Sliding-scale lesson programs, scholarships, and creative models such as horse-sharing or sponsored rides can help make participation more feasible for families that might otherwise be excluded.

Education-based outreach programs emphasize horsemanship by offering clinics, demonstrations, and hands-on learning opportunities that demystify the horse world. For many newcomers, learning how to groom and work around a horse is a powerful first step. Here are some of the programs working to make horses more accessible to all."

A lot of us credit horses for helping mold us into the people we are today, which is why we believe in broadening the opportunities for being around them. This article highlights the many amazing organizations and community outreach programs whose mission is just that.

🔗 https://wp.me/padgUY-qVc

✍ Amber Heintzberger

📸 Strides for Equality Equestrians aims to involve more BIPOC individuals in horse sports, especially eventing