USDF Offers Educational Opportunities

Throughout 2018, the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) will be offering unique and dynamic educational opportunities geared towards the selection and development of the dressage sport horse. All relevant information regarding each event is included below, along with links to the events on the USDF website and a brief synopsis of what attendees can expect to experience.

USDF Youth/Young Adult Dressage Sport Horse Breeders Seminar 

o Oak Hill Ranch: Folsom, LA
o June 22-24, 2018
o Instructor: Susan Mandas; “S” Dressage and “R” Dressage Sport Horse Breeding Judge
o This two-day course is an introduction for youth and young adults, ages 14-27, to the various roles and functions within the management of a sport horse breeding farm. The 2018 USDF Dressage Sport Horse Youth/Young Adult Breeders Seminar will be held June 22-24, at Oak Hill Ranch, in Folsom, LA. Participants in this course will have an orientation on the evening of Friday, June 22, followed by two full days at Oak Hill Ranch, where lessons specific to mare and stallion management, as well as handling and training young horses, will be presented. Attendees will also be given the unique opportunity to observe an inspection held by the Oldenburg Horse Breeders’ Society North American Division of the GOV.

For more information, go to https://www.usdf.org/education/other-programs/sport-horse-seminars/YouthBreederSeminar.asp.

USDF Sport Horse Seminar, held in conjunction with the USEF Dressage Sport Horse Breeding Judges Clinic

o DG Bar Ranch: Hanford, CA
o August 5-6, 2018
o Instructors: Kristi Wysocki & Hilda Gurney; “S” Dressage and “R” Dressage Sport Horse Breeding Judges
o This two-day seminar focuses on the understanding and evaluation of the dressage sport horse, and combines classroom and hands on demonstrations with live horses. This seminar will touch on judging methodologies, along with evaluations of conformation, movement, and mechanics, and also serves as a prerequisite to become a USEF Dressage Sport Horse Breeding Judge. Registration is open to both participants and auditors.

For more information, go to https://www.usdf.org/education/other-programs/sport-horse-seminars/seminar.asp.

USDF Sport Horse Prospect Development Forum

o Sonnenberg Farm: Sherwood, OR
o October 20-21, 2018
o Instructors: Scott Hassler & Michael Bragdell
o This event features a live forum approach with an emphasis on providing a correct, fundamental system for starting sport horse prospects. There is usually an in-hand component to the forum as well, with at least one forum Instructor demonstrating the ties between in-hand and under saddle training. Demo riders and horses are utilized for the forum, with the horses generally being three and four-years-old. Interested riders with appropriately aged horses are encouraged to apply to serve as demo riders, while auditor registration is available for attendees.

For more information, go to https://www.usdf.org/education/other-programs/sport-horse-seminars/forum.asp.