New Utah Dressage Society Website
Hey hey hey! We've updated our website! The new site should make it easier to find shows, check your membership, read the newsletter, and more. The change has been labor intensive, and we are still working out the kinks so we can get everything correct and fully functional. We appreciate everyone’s patience during the shift! Huge thanks to Adrian Ward for the massive amount of time and effort she's put into crafting this site!
Rule Changes
An updated policies and procedures manual is in the works. More news on this to come!
New Board Members
Sian Griffiths, Director of Communications
Siân Griffiths lives and rides in Ogden, Utah. A former jumper turned dressage rider, she competes as an adult amateur, working her way up the levels with her beloved Holsteiner, Larry.Â
After working in Development for the U.S. Equestrian Team from 1999-2000, Siân decided to pursue her passion for fiction writing at the University of Georgia. She now serves as a professor of English and Creative Writing at Weber State University and is the author of the novels Borrowed Horses (New Rivers Press), Scrapple (Braddock Avenue Books), the short fiction chapbook The Heart Keeps Faulty Time (Bull City Press), and, most recently, the essay collection The Sum of Her Parts (University of Georgia Press).Â
She is thrilled to join the Utah Dressage Society team and encourages members to reach out to her at sian@utahdressagesociety.com with any news they would like to share.
Kim Judd, Director of Membership
From the time Kim could say "horse," she has loved horses! When she was a teenager growing up in Sandy, she went down the street to a family's stables, and asked to work in exchange for riding lessons. Unfortunately they usually forgot to give her lessons, but she got very good at mucking out stalls! Kim graduated from BYU with a degree in Ballroom Dance (which was also how she met her husband: they were competition partners). After living out east for 14 years, Kim and her family moved back to Utah, and she finally realized her dream of starting to learn to ride! Dressage feels like a natural switch from ballroom dance: the partnership, the technique, the constant striving to be better, then even better! After riding for 6 years, Kim's husband asked "when are you going to do a dressage show?" Becoming part of the Utah Dressage Society and entering shows has been such an amazing experience, and Kim is excited to use her extensive secretarial skills (developed over 22 years and 5 kids!) to help support the board of the Utah Dressage Society!
Katie O’Neal, Director of Competitions
I moved to Utah from Boston a decade ago, and have been involved in the Utah dressage community ever since! Most recently, I've been working as the assistant trainer at Revel Ranch Hanoverians and have become more involved in hosting clinics as well as the USDF instructor certification. I have begun my L program, and have also served on the NEDA board when I lived in Boston as the marketing chair. I would love to serve on the UDS board and support the growth of dressage in Utah.
Dana Prior, Treasurer I grew up in southern California and started riding at age 10. I took a break from riding when I went to college in Washington to study Spanish and accounting. After passing my CPA exams I decided to get back into riding, which is not only where I was introduced to dressage, but also my lesson horse Harley, who I eventually bought. Because of my analytical brain, I immediately started loving dressage and we have been a team ever since!
We have participated in many short tour shows over the years and just started showing in recognized shows this past season. I volunteer wherever I’m needed from scribing to gate calling or test reading. I look forward to continuing to volunteer by serving the Utah Dressage Society!
Clinics
Revel Ranch has some exciting upcoming clinics. Schedules will be posted on their website the week prior to the clinic. Here’s more information:
April 5-6, Friday/Saturday, Sarah Geikie: Register here to audit!Â
We are excited to bring 4* FEI judge & USDF Faculty member Sarah Geikie to Revel Ranch. With a deep focus on fundamentals of dressage, Sarah is a gifted communicator capable of coaching horses & riders to their personal best. This clinic will focus on correct training of horse & rider, and offer feedback on test elements, as requested.
May 2-3, Thursday/Friday, Anne Gribbons: Register here to audit!
US Olympic Team Coach, FEI 5* judge, Olympic competitor, Anne Gribbons has had many titles & palmares in her life, our current favorite being coach! We are beyond excited to bring Anne to Utah for our third year; she is simply one of the most insightful coaches we have ever worked with. This symposium-style clinic will feature horses of all levels as they train correctly toward the pinnacle of the FEI work & Grand Prix.
Hope you see you all ringside.Â
If you have upcoming events at your barn that you would like me to share on Facebook or in a future newsletter, please let me know at sian@utahdressagesociety.comÂ
Summer Shows
Summer is around the corner with a wealth of competitive opportunities. As you start making your summer plans, be sure to check out the list of upcoming UDS-recognized shows on our website.
If you want to attend a show not currently recognized by the UDS, no problem! The process for how to get that show recognized can be found here.
Banquet Thank YousÂ
Our annual banquet was a huge success, thanks in no small part to our sponsors. We’d like to extend our appreciation to Bellwether Farm, Revel Ranch, Sage Creek Equestrian, and Southern Belle Riding for sponsoring cocktails, and to the following businesses for donating auction items: Amelia Newcombe, Anna Buffini, Anna Marek, Bit and Bee, BB's Apparel and Boots, Chile Dog Photography, Chris Dickinson Photography, Cloud 9 Therapy, CV Equine Therapy, European Equine, Feeling Fine Equine Therapy, Flying O Beef, Horse Crazy, Impulsion Images, In the Loop, Jenny Powers, JJ Tate, Joe Dickinson Dog Training, Katie Duerrhammer, Kaylee Jarvis, Korey's Canine Cuts, K1 Kouture, Lorri Karpinski, Lumiere Bridle, Manely Long Hair, Mountain Point Equine Hospital, Niche Homes Studio, Ogden's Own Distillery, OM Riding, Optimum Equine Services, Purple Hippo Soapery, Redmond Salt, Riposo Medical Spa, Rural Ave, Saddle Fit 4 Life, Select the Best, Simply Eden, Snowbasin Resort, South Valley Equine, Stable Wear, and The Wandering Chiropractor. If you’re looking for businesses to support, we encourage you to support those who support us back.
As someone new to the team, I also want to thank my fellow UDS board members. I joined as preparations were in full gear, and the amount of work board members put into obtaining auction items, calculating awards, fetching and updating perpetual trophies, ordering food, arranging bartending, processing banquet tickets, and doing so much more–well, I was blow away by the amount of time and effort board members put in. It’s an honor to work with such a dedicated team. My hat’s off to you!
Year End Awards
2023 Perpetual Trophy Winners
Charles Bering - Training Level Charell Garcia, Klassic 79.423%
Utah Dressage Society - First Level Charell Garcia, Klassic 75.833%
Oquirrh Dressage - Second Level Tara Miller, Adonis 64.857%
Anakako Melody Memorial - Third Level Lori Barrett, Magnum KV 68.75%
Laura Williams Tolman Memorial - Fourth Level Sydni Cook, Rosa Red 70.395%
Deer Meadow - Prix St George Sydni Cook, Quite Chocolate 64.559%
Nick Van Pelt Memorial - Musical Freestyle Sydni Cook, Rosa Red 72.55%
Sean Porter Buell - Pony TOC Lori Barrett, Magnum KV 68.75%
Sage Creek Master's - 55+ Gary Lawrence, Posh 73.448%
2023 Year End Award Winners
Training Level - AA
CHAMPION: Whitney Loftus, Fortius 68.382% RESERVE CHAMPION: Adrian Ward, Lucky Luke 67.8% 3RD PLACE: Leslie Edison, Rosaria 65.976% 4TH PLACE: Mindy Simmons, Piper 63.72% 5TH PLACE: Lindi Kopecko, Ostentatious 63.666%
Training Level - Open
CHAMPION: Charell Garcia, Klassic 79.022% RESERVE CHAMPION: Ashley Adams, Lopaka 70.505% 3RD PLACE: Sydni Cook, Last Man-O-Man 70.246% 4TH PLACE: Dana Denison, Doeke W 67.603%
First Level - AA
CHAMPION: Dana Prior, Harley 66.917% RESERVE CHAMPION: Siân Griffiths, Larimer Square 66.308% 3RD PLACE: Whitney Loftus, Fortius 65.348%
THIRD LEVEL - OPEN
CHAMPION: Ammie Lords, Dimora SCF 62.25%
FOURTH LEVEL - OPEN
CHAMPION: Ammie Lords, Dimora SCF 62.389%
PRIX ST GEORGES - OPEN
CHAMPION: Sydni Cook, Quite Chocolate 63.922% RESERVE CHAMPION: Stacy Palen, Eridani 60.49% 3RD PLACE: Bethany Wilhemsen, Great Responsibility 59.755%
FREESTYLE (Training-2ND LEVEL) - AA
CHAMPION: Kim Davis, Encore SS 64.583%
FREESTYLE (Training-2ND LEVEL) - OPEN
CHAMPION: Dana Denison, Doeke W 67.559%
FREESTYLE (3RD/4TH LEVEL) - OPEN
CHAMPION: Morgen Bastow, Hemmingway BL 71.608%
2023 Short Tour Year End Award Winners
Introductory level - Jr/YR
CHAMPION: Isabelle Auckland, Reddington 67.417%
Training Level - AA
CHAMPION: Lori Jameson, Parade Blue 67.823% RESERVE CHAMPION: Vanelda Ruth Moss, RAF USA War Hawk 63.300%
Training Level - Open
CHAMPION: Dana Denison, Doeke W 71.682%
First Level - AA
CHAMPION: Brittani Frade, Saint 66.203%
First Level - Open
CHAMPION: Sara Kirby, Davy Jones 63.759%
Second Level
No Qualifiers
Adolphi Educational Grant
This grant will be awarded to UDS members who are striving to increase their education and contribution to their GMO and USDF/USEF. The UDS will award one $500 Adolphi Educational Grant per year. Since Johanna Adolphi and her daughter Eva-Maria Adolphi have worked for years on the Board of Directors of the UDS, Eva would like past or present UDS Board Members to be given first consideration for the grant, in recognition of their service.
Deadline: June 1