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Immerse yourself in the elegance of dressage as we invite you to join the Utah Dressage Society. Our mission goes beyond the arena; we're here to educate, inspire, and encourage dressage riders throughout the beautiful state of Utah. UNLEASHING THE ARTISTRY OF RIDING Immerse yourself in the elegance of dressage as we invite you to join the Utah Dressage Society. Our mission goes beyond the arena; we're here to educate, inspire, and encourage dressage riders throughout the beautiful state of Utah. LEARN MORE Welcome to the Utah Dressage Society! Discover the joy of dressage with the Utah Dressage Society. Founded in 1969, we're a passionate community of riders dedicated to educating, inspiring, and encouraging equestrians across Utah. From our humble beginnings to hosting prestigious events, UDS is the hub for those seeking the artistry of dressage. Join us and let the journey of elegance and excellence begin. ABOUT US Our mission is to educate, inspire, and encourage dressage riders around the state of Utah, and to promote the sport of dressage in our community. Our Sponsors Upcoming Events Sat, May 30 GVDS Summertime Show I / Mesa County Fairgrounds Details May 30, 2026, 8:00 AM Mesa County Fairgrounds, 2785 US-50, Grand Junction, CO 81503, USA Share Sun, May 31 GVDS Summertime Show II / Mesa County Fairgrounds Details May 31, 2026, 8:00 AM Mesa County Fairgrounds, 2785 US-50, Grand Junction, CO 81503, USA Share Fri, Jun 05 Color County Equestrian Club Schooling Show III / Iron County Fairgrounds Details Jun 05, 2026, 8:00 AM Iron County Fairgrounds, 550 E. Clinic Way, Parowan, Utah(opens in a new tab) Offering Traditional and Western Dressage Share Sat, Jun 06 2026 UDS Eva Adolphi Memorial Short Tour Show / Spanish Fork Fairgrounds Details Jun 06, 2026, 9:00 AM Spanish Fork Fairgrounds, 475 S Main St, Spanish Fork, UT 84660, USA - stabling available - Offering Traditional, Western, and USEA Dressage tests Share Fri, Jun 12 Sage Creek I / Sage Creek Equestrian Details Jun 12, 2026, 8:00 AM Sage Creek Equestrian, 3181 W 3000 S, Heber City, UT 84032, USA USEF/ USDF/UDS Recognized Share Sat, Jun 13 Sage Creek II / Sage Creek Equestrian Details Jun 13, 2026, 8:00 AM Sage Creek Equestrian, 3181 W 3000 S, Heber City, UT 84032, USA USEF/ USDF/UDS Recognized Share Fri, Jun 19 Benefit Idaho Dressage Show / C&M Farm Details Jun 19, 2026, 8:00 AM – Jun 20, 2026, 5:00 PM C&M Farm, 1352 Syphon Rd, Pocatello, ID 83204, USA Share Sat, Jun 20 C&M Farm Summer Dressage Show / C&M Farm Details Jun 20, 2026, 8:00 AM – Jun 21, 2026, 5:00 PM C&M Farm, 1352 Syphon Rd, Pocatello, ID 83204, USA Share Fri, Jun 26 Millbrook Farms Summer Dressage Festival I / Millbrook Farms Details Jun 26, 2026, 8:00 AM Millbrook Farms, 567 E 250 S, Fairfield, UT 84013, USA Share Sat, Jun 27 Millbrook Farms Summer Dressage Festival II / Millbrook Farms Details Jun 27, 2026, 8:00 AM – Jun 28, 2026, 5:00 PM Millbrook Farms, 567 E 250 S, Fairfield, UT 84013, USA Share Fri, Jul 17 Sage Creek III / Sage Creek Equestrian Details Jul 17, 2026, 8:00 AM Sage Creek Equestrian, 3181 W 3000 S, Heber City, UT 84032, USA USEF/ USDF/UDS Recognized Share Sat, Jul 18 Sage Creek IV / Sage Creek Equestrian Details Jul 18, 2026, 8:00 AM Sage Creek Equestrian, 3181 W 3000 S, Heber City, UT 84032, USA USEF/ USDF/UDS Recognized Share Sat, Jul 25 EIC High Desert Dressage Show / C&M Farm Details Jul 25, 2026, 8:00 AM – Jul 26, 2026, 5:00 PM C&M Farm, W Syphon Rd, Idaho 83204, USA Share Fri, Aug 07 Millbrook Farms Dressage Show I / Millbrook Farms Details Aug 07, 2026, 8:00 AM Millbrook Farms, 567 E 250 S, Fairfield, UT 84013, USA Share Sat, Aug 08 Millbrook Farms Dressage Show II / Millbrook Farms Details Aug 08, 2026, 8:00 AM – Aug 09, 2026, 5:00 PM Millbrook Farms, 567 E 250 S, Fairfield, UT 84013, USA Share Sat, Aug 15 Gem State Classic & Championship Show / C&M Farm Details Aug 15, 2026, 8:00 AM – Aug 16, 2026, 5:00 PM C&M Farm, W Syphon Rd, Idaho 83204, USA Share Sat, Sep 05 Idaho Dressage Festival I / Spurwing Stables Details Sep 05, 2026, 8:00 AM – Sep 06, 2026, 5:00 PM Spurwing Stables, 2333 W. Duck Alley Road, Eagle, ID Share Sat, Oct 10 Cottonwood Farm Fall Dressage Show / Cottonwood Farm Details Oct 10, 2026, 8:00 AM MDT – Oct 11, 2026, 5:00 PM MDT Cottonwood Farm, 6860 W Rome Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89131, USA Cottonwood Farm Fall Dressage Show | October 10-11, 2026 Share Load More Recent News UDS Newsletter: April 2026 Apr 1 UDS Newsletter: January 2026 Jan 9 Final 2025 Year End Results Jan 8 VIEW MORE

'L' Education Program L Program Dates Auditor Registration Resources Upcoming Events Sat, Apr 25 'L' Education Program - Session C / Details Apr 25, 2026, 8:00 AM MDT – Apr 26, 2026, 5:00 PM MDT Southern Belle Riding, 6245 W 10400 N St, Highland, UT 84003, USA Session C covers collective marks, equitation, rider biomechanics and basics. Share Sat, Feb 28 'L' Education Program - Session B / Details Feb 28, 2026, 8:00 AM MST – Mar 01, 2026, 5:00 PM MST Sage Creek Equestrian, 3181 W 3000 S, Heber City, UT 84032, USA Session B is about judging criteria for gaits, movements and figures. Share Sorry, but this form is now closed. L Education Program - Session C Auditing Saturday April 25, 2026 – Sunday April 26, 2026 Please be aware that each day we will be at a different location! Saturday 4/25 - Lecture: Southern Belle 6245 W 10400 N, Highland, UT 84003 Sunday 4/26 - Demo Rides: Rock N Horse 453 Healey Blvd, Alpine, UT 84004 First name Last name Email Phone USDF Number Session C Auditing UDS Member Saturday & Sunday $75 Non-Member Saturday & Sunday $100 Junior/Young Rider Saturday & Sunday $25 Saturday Only $50 Sunday Only $50 April 25, 2026, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM MDT April 26, 2026, 8:00 AM –3:00 PM MDT * Check-in begins at 7:30 AM Saturday 4/25 - Lecture: Southern Belle 6245 W 10400 N, Highland, UT 84003 Sunday 4/26 - Demo Rides: Rock N Horse 453 Healey Blvd, Alpine, UT 84004 Submit L Program Participant Resources 1 / L Program, Graduates, and Graduates with Distinction FAQs USDF Frequently Asked Questions CLICK HERE 2 / USDF L Program Participant Guide Revised 01/2025 CLICK HERE 3 / USDF L Education Program Recommended reading List USDF members receive a 10% discount on books purchased through the USDF Store. Please note, many of these recommendations are no longer available through USDF. CLICK HERE 4 / Access Judging Resources Access requires an annual fee of $15.00 (April 1- April 1) Criteria for purchasing access: Must be a current USDF member (any type) Must be one of the following: L Participant L Candidate L Graduate L Graduate with Distinction recorded Judge Registered Judge Senior Judge CLICK HERE

UDS Show Recognition Form The Utah Dressage Society recognizes two (2) show formats: Shows that conform to USEF and USDF Dressage division rules; Shows that conform to the UDS Short Tour Series rules. For either format, show management must pay a show recognition fee to UDS. The fee is $50 for each day of show recognition. If the show is one show over 2 days the fee is $50. (i.e. USEF issued ONE licensure #) The Show Recognition form must be submitted with the required fee a minimum of 6 weeks prior to the show's opening date. *** If you are a competitor (not show management) and would like to obtain UDS recognition for a show please contact the competitions director at competitions@utahdressagesociety.com first! Select Format* USDF/USEF Rated Show Recognition $50 UDS Short Tour Show Recognition Form $50 Is this one show over two days? * No - it is one day only Yes - it is two days with one license No - it is two days with two separate licenses. I will submit one form per show Date of Show* Month Day Year Name of Show* Name of Show Facility* Address* Next

Member Shout Outs 2025 Volunteer of the Year and Junior/Young Rider Sportsperson of the Year The UDS board had a firm goal to bring back the Volunteer of the Year and Junior/Young Rider Sportsperson of the Year awards to our last banquet. Unfortunately, with board shake ups as well as the whirlwind of chaos and last minute disasters that accompany any major event, these awards sadly got lost in the shuffle, and we were horrified to realize that they had, once again, gone un-awarded. Rather than wait another year, we tracked down the nomination spreadsheets that had gone missing and discussed the nominees, and it is my absolute pleasure to get to announce this year’s winners at long last. Congratulations all around! Christie Bogle on Fiona, photo by Gillian Steenblik Volunteer of the Year: Christie Bogle. If you show dressage in Utah, chances are you've seen Christie's encouraging smile beaming from the judge's box. When her own beloved Thoroughbred aged out of competition, Christie stepped into scribing, and she's been a stalwart of shows ever since. This year, she was at long last able to purchase a new dressage partner for herself, but she continues to split time between scribing and competing herself. Without the dedication of Christie and others like her, our shows could not run, and we are truly grateful for the time she gives. Junior/Young Rider Sportsperson of the Year. We have a number of truly top notch juniors and young riders in the Utah Dressage Society, and the more the board discussed the nominees, the more we determined that we could not pick only one. Because the distinction has not been awarded in a few years, and because some of these nominees might age out if we were to wait, we decided the only correct course of action was to choose our top three. Rhyan Andersen. Rhyan is the epitome of grace under pressure. As a working student for Sarah Simmons, Rhyan rides a variety of young horses as well as her own Hungarian Warmblood, Wradiant, who is himself far from a straight forward ride. At this past February’s Steffen Peters clinic, the six-time Olympian commented on just how very impressed he was not only with her riding but with Rhyan’s emotional maturity and generosity with her horse. Rhyan’s assiduous pursuit of learning has been rewarded in the show ring from rated shows to regional Rhyan Andersen on Wradiant, getting advice from Steffen Peters, photo by Bekka Tolman championships. Perhaps because she knows the lows as well as the highs, Rhyan is the first to notice when her fellow competitors have had a rough class, and she is quick with a hug or a word of support. Out of the show ring, she balances her scholastic work as a fulltime college student with an intense riding schedule. Even with the heavy load she carries, she still made time to scribe at last fall’s Pumpkin Event, supporting the Pony Club that has been so foundational to her. She participated in the L Program and attended Carl Hester's event in California, opportunities she funded herself to continue her dressage education. Isabella Querciali. Not one but two UDS members nominated thirteen-year-old Isabella. One wrote to say, “She has been riding the last four years and this summer earned her training level USDF rider certification award. She is the first to help anyone and everyone with absolutely any task at hand, whether it’s cleaning or grooming. She is a hard, hard worker who is always cheering on everyone on our team, as well as other riders from other barns.” her co-nominator added, “She is just so amazing how she supports others. She has overcome huge fears and succeeded this show season. The way she keeps herself happy and calm is she roots for others. She always shares how proud she is no matter what her score is. She creates a happy atmosphere at shows just by being herself.” This generosity of spirit for people and horses alike is what makes a true sportsperson. Alyna Taylor. If you have had the pleasure of meeting Alyna, you know that her smile not only lights up a room, it lights up an entire show ground. Whether making a friendship bracelet for Steffen Peters or demo riding in the L Program, nine-year-old Alyna approaches her riding with joy and a sincere desire to learn. As her nominator wrote, “She is always ready to lend a hand with providing water and boot cleaning to most anyone who is in the warm up ring before they go out to show. She cheers on her team mates and loves the whole show environment.” Our entire community is enriched by these phenomenal young riders. They make sure that the future is bright for Utah dressage! Nina Halvorson Earns Dressage Foundation Scholarship UDS member Nina Halvorson was awarded a grant to participate in the USDF Instructor/Trainer Development Program. Whether competing in both classical and western dressage or demo riding for the L Program, Nina shows the versatility and athleticism of her equine partners. (In fact, rumor has it that S judge Cindy Canace was repeatedly wowed by Nina’s ride at Millbrook this past weekend, earning “with distinction” scores on her Quarterhorse.) Congratulations, Nina!! You are truly an asset to our community. You can find the full Dressage Foundation article here. Medals and Bars Kathryn Blair earned the final score for her USDF Silver medal on BA Kamarade, “Kami,” a 2009 14.3 hand Egyptian Arab. Well done, Kathryn! Amber Russell on Sir Kimber, photo by Bekka Fullmer Amber Russell and Dana Dennison earned the scores for their Bronze Freestyle Bars. Amber is quick to add that she managed this with tests ridden on Gypsy Vanners. Margaux earned two scores at first level, Sir Kimber earned two scores at second level, and Kelly earned two scores at third level. Even more amazingly, they earned this achievement in the first freestyles they performed, earning the six scores required. Additionally, many riders are earning “with distinction” scores and many are on the cusp of pushing their USDF medals to the next level. Way to show up and show out! If I have missed any riders who earned their freestyle bars or USDF medals, please reach out! It’s not always easy to get a full list, and I would love to shout you out in the next newsletter. UDS News Show Season Starts This year’s show season is off to the races, with UDS-recognized short tours and rated shows happening across the state and in neighboring Idaho and Nevada. The season has already brought incredible highs and lows, both on systemic and personal levels. Competitions have struggled to fill this year, and show managers have shared their concerns about the economic viability of maintaining high quality shows, whether those be rated shows, short tours, or schooling shows. Shelbi Green on Ever So Clear at the Millbrook Summer Dressage Festival, photo by Terrece Pearman This year’s Millbrook Summer Dressage Festival had the added challenge of the Iron Fire burning an uncomfortably close ten miles away. Jan Lawrence stayed in daily contact with the local mayor, who understood that the facility would need an advanced heads up were evacuation orders to come so that all horses could be removed safely. Luckily for all concerned, the firefighters did a heroic job, the air in Fairfield stayed clear, and the show, while still beset by some fairly significant winds, was a triumph. This year also saw a brand new UDS Short Tour in northern Utah, put on by Mindy Simmons and Bethany Wilhelmsen at Buffalo Ranch in Farmington. Riders welcomed the chance to haul in and compete in a new, fun venue, with a full Western town staged in the indoor arena behind the judge. Multiple participants raved about the event, expressing sincere hopes that more short tours will be returning to the venue in the future. Terrece Pearman on Fifa at the UDS Eva Adolphi Memorial Short Tour, photo courtesy of Shelbi Green UDS’s own Eva Adolphi Memorial Short Tour in Spanish Fork saw riders earning top marks, with high points in both classical and western dressage all in the seventies! Utah’s riders, whether Open, Adult Amateur, or Junior/Young Rider, were uniformly showing what they can accomplish in the sand box. It is truly inspiring to see our UDS members putting their hard work to the test (quite literally), challenging themselves to new heights in front of top tier judges. Utah continues to show itself to be a real hub for dressage, and we hope you will continue to get out there and test your training. We are fortunate to have such outstanding show venues, and we hope you will join us in continuing to support them. Phase One of L Program Concludes The final weekend of the first portion of the L Program took place in April, with classroom sessions at Southern Belle and ridden sessions at Rockin’ Horse Ranch. Debbie Riehl-Rodriguez was joined by fellow USDF Senior (“S”) judge Teresa Stewart, as she certifies to become one of the L Program faculty herself. The two made a powerful combination, discussing both the videos and the demo rides to explain their scoring and methodology. L Program participants were often on the hot seat, judging alongside the faculty and being called on to report their scores and explain our reasoning. Both faculty members continually remarked on what a strong group of participants we had, and the future of judging looks bright in Utah. Participants and auditors have been quick to express their gratitude and praise the learning they gained through this program. In particular, many felt the program demystified many aspects of judging, clarifying what the scores mean and how the judge arrives at each. To offer just one example, we learned that the collective marks at the end of a test should reflect the scores throughout the test itself, so if the rider earns mostly 5s and 6s on their movements, they will likely see similar numbers for gaits, submission, position, aids, and so forth. This helps with overall scoring consistency. While it would be impossible to go into the full content of the three weekends of learning in this one short article, our L participants and auditors seem eager to share their learning and answer questions. We suspect that the benefit from this program will extend far beyond those who were able to attend–so if you have a question about your score sheet, why not ask one of our L program attendees? They may be able to shed some light. The UDS board is now busily working to ensure that we are able to offer part two of the program in the next year. Participation will be extremely limited, and the logistics are tricky, as USDF has strict criteria to ensure the program’s continued high quality. Luckily for us, UDS Director of Education Katie Lorens is on the job, working to make it happen. The board is united in our wish to have many more L graduates in Utah, and we hope to see them judging schooling shows and short tours once part two is complete. Member Articles Why We Leave Home Sydni Cook This winter I had the incredible privilege of spending four months in Florida as the recipient of the Debbie McDonald FEI Grant through The Dressage Foundation. On paper, I went for lessons and horse shows. In reality, I went because sometimes you have to leave home to truly grow. Utah has an incredible dressage community, and I am proud to call it home. But there comes a point in every rider’s journey when you realize that if you want different results, you need different experiences. Growth requires stepping outside of what is familiar. It requires surrounding yourself with people who know more than you do and being humble enough to start over. For four months, Leslie Edison and I immersed ourselves in that process. We brought four horses, rode six days a week, competed at four different venues, attended symposiums, watched CDIs with Olympic judge Anne Gribbons, and even had the opportunity to learn long-lining from legendary Swedish coach Bo Jenå. Every day was another chance to ask questions, make mistakes, and improve. The funny thing is, the biggest lessons weren’t complicated. They were often delivered in a single sentence. “When in doubt, shoulder-in.” “You can’t feel when your mouth is moving.” “Sometimes it feels worse on the road to better.” Those little Anne-isms became daily reminders that progress isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes the horse feels worse because you’re asking them to move in a way they’ve never been strong enough to before. Sometimes you have to stop analyzing every stride, trust your training, and simply ride. One phrase has stayed with me more than any other: “You don’t know what you don’t know.” It sounds blunt, but it’s incredibly freeing. It reminds us that there is no shame in not having all the answers. The only mistake is believing you’ve learned enough. Watching the best riders in the country was perhaps the greatest education of all. They weren’t searching for shortcuts. They weren’t chasing flashy movements. They were obsessing over basics, riding countless transitions, perfecting shoulder-in, and quietly doing the work that no one applauds. Excellence wasn’t built on talent alone. It was built on repetition, humility, and patience. I returned home with better scores, but that’s not what mattered most. I came back with a different eye, a different feel, and a deeper appreciation for classical dressage. My horses are better because of it, my students will benefit from it, and I hope, in some small way, our Utah dressage community will too. Leaving home isn’t about proving that what we have isn’t enough. It’s about bringing something back. For that opportunity, I will always be grateful—to The Dressage Foundation and the Debbie McDonald FEI Grant Committee for believing in me, to Leslie Edison for making the journey possible, and especially to Anne Gribbons for reminding me every day that this sport is less about finding the perfect ride and more about showing up, doing the work, and trusting the process. Explaining the L Ashley Adams Thank you, Utah Dressage Society board members, for putting on the USDF L-program part I! Are you confused by the process to become a judge? You are not alone! Even though the path is long and a little bit confusing to me still, what I’ve learned through this process and attending the L-program part I, is how much effort our USDF Dressage judges put into becoming a judge. A word of caution: While I’ve done my best to portray accurate information, I am not a USDF official and there are updated resources on the USDF website. If you are considering beginning or continuing the process, please look up all the current requirements. Many competitors and enthusiasts may not know, but the L-program does not make you a (licensed) judge. The “L” appropriately stands for learner, and as such, the L-program is for people who are interested in learning about the judging of dressage. With that being said, it is the start of the (long) process to becoming a licensed judge! In the US, there is a system of judge ranking to identify which levels someone is licensed to judge: • L graduate (can not judge at recognized events) • r, aka small r, recorded (can judge up to 2nd level) • R, aka large R, registered (can judge up to 4th level and some FEI Jr, pony, and para tests) • S, aka large S, senior (can judge all nation and FEI level classes) • FEI- uses their own system The L-program consists of 2 parts: Part 1 occurs over 3 weekends. Requirement: Must be USDF member (any type of membership). Part 2 occurs over 3 weekends. Requirements: Must be USDF PM member, meet the riding requirements (2 scores from 2-3 65% or higher and 1 scores from third level 62% or higher; or any combination such as 3 scores at 3rd level of 62% and higher would count), and complete sitting hours (60 tests: 20 at each training, first, and second level) and scribing hours (12 at any level) at shows. (Hint- you can be working on your scribing hours now!) Then, you test over two days. Candidates complete a written test, which is an untimed exam of true/false and multiple choice questions that takes approximately 1/2-2 hours. The second day, they judge 6 tests (2 at each training, first, and second level), complete oral judging, and answers questions from examiner, Our judges are extremely invested in their license! It’s hard to put an exact number on the cost of becoming a judge, but here’s an idea of some of the costs incurred: • Enrollment fee for each session of the L-program • Shows to earn required scores if not already achieved • Travel at least 6 times for L-program sessions plus more to finish scribing and sitting hours • Hotel for at least 12 nights minimum for educational sessions, plus more for scribe/sitting • Food while traveling • L-program materials purchased on USDF • Purchasing books • Hiring a scribe, paying for scribe’s travel, lodging, and food • And, if you pass- 8 hours of continuing education each year Becoming a judge is not only a financial investment, there is also quite a time investment! According to an article in “USDF Connection” by Amy Bradley (“The Road to Becoming a Dressage Judge”), the timeline is as follows: approximately 1 year to complete the L-program, then 1-3 years wait for an r-program, 1 year to complete the r-program, and then 2 years for R. That’s a total of 6 years, and that’s on the fast-track, if you have already met all the riding requirements. All of this- and you still are not a judge! So- how DO I become a judge??? The next step after L-grad to become a recorded judge (small r). To even apply for the r program, you must be 21 or older, a competing member, have graduated from L program with distinction within 5 years, and have 5 scores of 65% or higher from 4th level or above. If accepted, you have two years to complete the judge training program- online lectures, quizzes, 6-8 hours of classroom, practice judging via video and in person, judge’s clinic, and a final exam. You must also complete an apprenticeship. Our judges are extremely invested and very well educated in judging before they become licensed. Learning about the process to become a judge has given me great respect for the ladies and gentlemen who sit in the booth. I am thankful that in our sport, we can be confident that we are getting accurate feedback when we go to recognized events. Putting a UDS Scholarship to Work Paula Bailey In the fall of 2025, shortly after receiving the UDS Educational Scholarship, I stopped riding. I was transitioning from one barn/coach to a location closer to where I live. I wanted to increase my riding to three days a week. It was proving difficult to find a horse to lease as I don’t own my own. I am an adult amateur with a full-time job, so riding must be fit into life. Finding a coach, who has or knows of a horse for lease, with a covered/lit arena, was a challenge and to be honest it left me feeling frustrated. As it happened, I had been speaking with a friend and mentioned my struggles, feeling defeated and I was thinking about giving up riding altogether. She graciously offered one of her horses to ride until I found my way again. Unfortunately, winter happened and I was unable to ride due to weather. My last ride was December 14, 2025. Fast forward to mid-January 2026. I texted my new coach explaining I was experiencing mental health issues. Her response “let’s get you on a horse and see if that helps”. So, my journey back began. Shortly after, she matched me with a great horse, Chance and an awesome lease opportunity. I have since used the scholarship money in a couple of ways. First, I am a participant in the L Program and during this time we had Session A and Session B. One of the big take-aways was evaluating the “essence of the test movement,” judging the core purpose or intent of the movement. This is where you start then consider the modifiers that adjust the score either up or down. As a rider I should concentrate on improving the most important or the basic part of the movement on the test. This will help increase my score. It’s the details that matter. Second, I recently had the chance to audit the Steffan Peters clinic to further my education. I was struck by his kindness for the rider but more notably the horse, encouraging riding with finesse. Big movements by the rider are not required to get the desired result. I was glad for the reminder to encourage the horse to go forward 2-3 strides to help “unstick” so to speak as needed. Also, as riders I think we forget sometimes to reward the horse for good performance. I use my voice and of course, walk breaks but physical touch such as pats on the neck are important too! I left the clinic feeling more focused and ready to work. I’m learning to be kinder to myself too. I’m refocusing on enjoying the journey. It is totally different as an adult! I think we work so hard towards perfection and obtaining goals in dressage that we sometimes lose sight of the love and grace we need for ourselves and of course our equine partner!

Stephen Peters Symposium It started with a message from one of our members. Sarah Simmons had been in contact with six-time Olympian Steffen Peters, and she reached out to see if we would be interested in hosting him for a clinic. Our answer was immediate: “Heck yes!”  Steffen Peters Shares His Wisdom, Photo Credit: Becca Tolman, Impulsion Images Our Education Director, Katie Lorens, took the ball and carried it from there, finding a venue, booking flights and hotels and lunch catering, renting bleachers and tables and chairs, organizing sponsors, contacting our riders, buying shavings, and so much more, putting in countless hours to make sure we hosted a world-class event. Her hard work paid off in an incredible weekend of learning, for which we owe Katie an enormous debt of gratitude.  Peters’s teaching was marked by his patient, kind approach, and his focus on softness, relaxation, and rewarding the horse when he does well. He guided the horse-and-rider teams through a number of exercises designed to build strength and suppleness, and it was amazing to watch each pair bloom before our eyes. The event was nothing short of inspiring. Auditors Pack the Sidelines Taking Notes, Photo Credit: Becca Tolman, Impulsion Images A number of sponsors came through to help support the event. SkyRidge Equestrian donated their beautiful facility for the weekend, Premier Equestrian and JAAW Equine paid for a fantastic catered lunch– and JAAW Equine went the extra mile and covered the costs of the participating horses’ stabling, Uinta Sport Horses provided snacks, tables, and chairs, and last but not least, Impulsion Images donated photography, including the photos you see here. We hope you will help support the businesses who continue to support our sport. From start to finish, this clinic showed the truth of the old adage that “team work makes the dream work.”  UDS Board Members with Steffen Peters at the End of a Packed Weekend: Carrie Matteson, Mindy Simmons, Jasmine Beckstead, Steffen Peters, Katie Lorens, Dana Prior, John Maznicki, Siân Griffiths. Photo Credit: Becca Tolman, Impulsion Images L Program Bridging between the end of February and the beginning of March, we hosted the second weekend of the L Program with Dolly Hannon, who continued our education on judging criteria for gaits, movements and figures . Classroom sessions at the Heber Best Western were followed by live demonstration rides at Sage Creek Equestrian, who graciously hosted us at their beautiful facility. HUGE thanks to our demo riders for showing us how it’s done! The third and final weekend is right around the corner and will focus on collective marks, equitation, rider biomechanics and basics. The lecture portions will be at Southern Belle  with riding demos to follow at Rock ‘N’ Horse .  If you would like to sign up to audit on April 25-26, you can do so on our website . First Eva Adolphi Clinic Grant Awarded! In February, the UDS board voted to approve our first ever clinic grant to Ashley Adams, supporting her efforts to bring clinician Stacy Williams to southern Utah. The clinic was full, with nine riders schooling at a variety of levels from Training to Prix St. George across three days and an arena-side filled with auditors. Williams made sure to adjust times so Adams could add everyone who wanted to participate.   Clinic participant Kamryn with Stacy Williams, Photo credit: Ashley Adams Participant Bonnie East wrote in to express her gratitude, adding “I gained a wealth of knowledge (feel like my head is going to explode) and saw some significant changes in the way my horses are going. Stacy is obviously very knowledgeable, but it is her positive and encouraging way of presenting information that made this educational experience so valuable to me. I have been given homework with a toolkit and some very clear goals to strive for.” We are beyond excited to help Ashley and to open more educational opportunities to our friends and members in southern Utah. This grant is designed to give financial support to clinic organizers hoping to bring in top tier clinicians to all corners of our state, and we are thrilled to see it at work. Stepping Up to Second with Gary Lawrence Nina Halvorson  Over the fall and winter I have had the fantastic opportunity to utilize my Fall Scholarship Grant received from the Utah Dressage Society to further my own personal development in dressage, as well as gaining information I can disseminate to my students across different disciplines!  If you don't know me, I'm Nina Halvorson. I moved to Utah in the summer of 2024 from western Washington, where I was an active member of my local GMO and actively rode Western Dressage, Reining, and other western performance disciplines. Since coming to Utah, I found very little opportunity to ride Western Dressage and because of this I decided it must mean it's time for me to dip my toes into traditional dressage. Scared but eager, I entered Short Tour shows and bought a whole new wardrobe. Navigating into recognized shows, my horse and I competed well in First Level and gained confidence. But I knew that to continue to go up the levels I would need guidance from someone more knowledgeable in the sport.  After applying for and receiving the Fall Scholarship from UDS, I started lessons with Gary Lawrence at Millbrook Farms, focusing on second level movement and development. After attending the USDF Shows at their beautiful facility over the summer, the community I felt there secured the knowledge that I wanted to further my education with them! After my first lesson, I knew that the pairing of instructor and student was going to be a good one. I was greeted on my Palomino Quarter Horse with acceptance, respect, and genuine interest to help us grow and succeed. Both Gary and Jan have been warm and welcoming for me and my horse, coming from a strong background competitively in NRHA reining competitions.  Throughout the seasons now attending monthly lessons (when able!), I have learned so much about my position (second level fitness is a real hurdle!), my horse's strengths and positioning, as well as in depth knowledge gained about dressage basics, figures, and scoring. The extensive notes I have taken after each lesson is evidence of the wealth of information I have gained! And equally rewarding is being able to return to my next lesson and show my instructor the growth we've made after going home and working hard at what we learned.  I am so excited for the upcoming show season with UDS and USDF. Especially going into our first season at second level which is well known to be a big jump and often looked at with anxiety, disdain, or concern. I am going into this season with confidence. Confidence in myself and my horse, and moreover, confidence that I have an instructor and community that believe we are capable and are also eager to see us succeed. What a valuable thing to gain from a GMO grant! That's the kind of feeling that is gained only through people and community that is greater than money - though I'm grateful for the financial help!! Thank you to the Utah Dressage Society, Millbrook Farms including Gary and Jan Lawrence, and the Utah Dressage Community, for the grant, opportunity, and acceptance!  Nina Halvorson Showing Whizkey at Millbrook Farms, Photo Credit: Becca Tolman, Impulsion Images Preparing Flying Changes with Justin Giles and Brooke Voldbaek Alex Chase Over the past couple of months I have had several learning opportunities that I feel have helped better prepare me and my pony, Ella, to show third level this summer to earn our scores.  We had three clinic rides with Justin, in which we worked on several things. In the first session we practiced making my seat lighter and modifying my seat to modify Ella. We polished our trot to canter transitions as well as our walk to trot transitions since Ella tends to pop her head up in those. Ella tends to get very strong, so we worked on finding the sweet spot between her lazy side and strong side.  In our second ride we worked a lot on bed and not letting Ella fall towards the inside, which compromises my balance. Justin pointed out that I need to sit more in the center of the saddle when I ride, and we figured out that is why Ella and I were struggling with our lateral movements. We did a lot of leg yields and shoulder-in to haunches-in transitions.  In our third lesson Justin taught me the “punching method”, which is essentially pushing your arms back and forth to the pace of her strides in the walk, trot, and canter. The purpose of this exercise was to get Ella to relax by separating the different parts of my upper body. We worked more on getting Ella off my leg in the leg yields and not seeing coming down the quarter line as a trigger to get stronger. We worked on getting Ella to stay between my aids and not drop everything and run through my hands.  I also had the chance to do a clinic with Brooke Voldbaek. In this lesson we worked a lot on our flying lead changes, since that is something that I am teaching Ella currently. We practiced getting Ella more responsive between my legs. We worked on keeping my seat light, but also in tempo with her. Brooke taught me a technique that we are still implementing in our training currently. It was basically a two loop serpentine with asking for the flying lead change across X (centerline). If Ella got too strong, I wouldn’t ask her for the change but simply ask her to halt before she reached the wall. Something else we worked on was separating my upper body from my lower body and using my seat to adjust her speed, which is something that we have been working at very hard these past few months.  Overall, I am really grateful for these experiences and the knowledge that I have gained. I will continue to work and implement the techniques and exercises that I have learned, in the hopes of earning my bronze medal this summer!

~ Updated 01/28/2026~ Review period ends January 25th, 2026. Congratulations on a fantastic show season. We hope to see you at the upcoming awards banquet (featuring Q&A with Steffen Petters!) Discounted tickets when registration for both the banquet and Steffen Peters Symposium. UDS Short Tour YE Award Requirements UDS Year End Award Requirements Perpetual Trophy Requirements The UDS perpetual trophies are awarded based on scores earned only at UDS recognized shows that are physically in Utah and awarded at the UDS Annual Banquet. It is awarded to the highest percentage of that level regardless of the division. Equine Achievement Awards Equine Achievement Awards are awarded to an individual horse. The horse’s owner will receive, as an award, an engraved plaque for the first UDS Achievement Award the horse earns. An engraved notation will be added to the plaque for each subsequent UDS Equine Achievement Award the horse earns. A single horse may be awarded only one (1) UDS Equine Achievement Award at each level; however, a horse may be awarded a UDS Equine Achievement Award at every level. (Scores do not need to be earned with the same rider) There is no time limit for earning qualifying scores. However, because the UDS Equine Achievement Award program began in 2001, only qualifying scores earned during 2001 and later, shall count toward the award. To apply for the equine achievement award, BOTH the horse’s owner and the horse’s rider must be members of UDS at the time the score is earned. The rider must be a UDS member, having a USDF GMO membership number. The owner must be a UDS member, having a USDF GMO membership number. The horse must have a USDF Horse identification (HID) or Lifetime Horse Registration number (LHR). To earn a UDS Equine Achievement Award, the horse must earn five (5) scores at a given level, and each score must be a minimum of: 65% at Training Level 64% at First Level 63% at Second Level 62% at Third Level 61% at Fourth Level 60% at the FEI Levels and Para Scores must come from USDF/USEF recognized shows. Scores from the following classes do not qualify for the Equine Achievement Award: Freestyle, Opportunity, Pas de Deux, & Quadrille. Short Tour scores do not count towards Equine Achievement Awards. 2025 Short Tour YE Results LEVEL RIDER HORSE DIVISION AVERAGE RANKING INTRODUCTORY Brooklyn Frade Pearl Jr/Yr 58.81% CHAMPION TRAINING LEVEL Ila Smith Fit for Duty Jr/YR 65.39% CHAMPION Isabella Querciali Chicken Nugget Jr/YR 61.60% RESERVE Aspen Palmer Swayze Daisy Jr/YR 61.38% 3RD Jasmine Beckstead Maybe Just Maybe AA 57.84% CHAMPION Sara Kirby Roxette O 66.35% CHAMPION FIRST LEVEL Marie Pickett Her Highness AA 59.96% CHAMPION SECOND LEVEL Alex Chase Black Tie Affair Jr/YR 62.41% CHAMPION Brittani Frade Saint AA 61.07% CHAMPION 2025 Year End Results LEVEL RIDER HORSE DIVISION AVERAGE RANKING TRAINING LEVEL Isabella Querciali Chicken Nugget Jr/YR 66.96% CHAMPION Amelia Lords My Oh Maya Jr/YR 65.49% RESERVE Alyna Taylor Maverick Jr/YR 65.08% 3RD Alice Macleod KF Corcoran Jr/YR 63.72% 4TH Niel Kuhner Kary the Crown AA 73.87% CHAMPION Lindi Kopecko Ostentatious AA 70.48% RESERVE Leslie Edison Belialuna RTH AA 70.23% 3RD Lea Leathers Realta AA 68.69% 4TH Marianna Sochanska Fabelhaft Newton AA 66.12% 5TH Eliza Lyons Indy AA 65.51% 6TH Birgit Pulli Balu AA 64.79% 7TH Holly Lewis Drago Do This AA 62.95% 8TH Sydni Cook Pfanfare YF Open 74.53% CHAMPION Sydni Cook Secret Sauce WF Open 71.32% RESERVE Bethany Wilhelmsen Gustavo Open 67.24% 3RD FIRST LEVEL Rhyan Andersen HPB Wradiant Jr/YR 67.97% CHAMPION Alice Macleod Mulligan Jr/YR 67.96% RESERVE Amelia Lords My Oh Maya Jr/YR 64.39% 3RD Katherine Lavender Bravour van Buterheideveld AA 65.39% CHAMPION Jim Hicks Kwendra Open 69.21% CHAMPION Samantha McKay Gamine DDH Open 66.63% RESERVE Bethany Wilhelmsen Gustavo Open 63.47% 3RD SECOND LEVEL Ashley Adams Lopaka AA 68.16% CHAMPION Sian Griffiths Larimer Square AA 63.66% RESERVE Samantha McKay Gamine DDH Open 65.23% CHAMPION THIRD LEVEL Adrian Ward No Doubt AA 63.81% CHAMPION FOURTH LEVEL Cindy Yager JF Blackjackman AA 62.77% CHAMPION Kathryn Blair BA Kamarade AA 60.62% RESERVE Sara Kirby Sakari Open 66.20% CHAMPION Lori Barrett Fendi S Open 65.96% RESERVE Rebecca Harmon Hawk Open 62.94% 3RD PRIX ST GEORGE Sydni Cook Rosa Red Open 67.38% CHAMPION Sarah Simmons Gamarro Font Open 62.75% RESERVE Dana Denison River Shadow Open 60.54% 3RD Ammie Lords Dimora SCF Open 59.26% 4TH INTERMEDIATE I Lori Barrett Emeres Open 65.69% CHAMPION Rachel Ebbens Imposant Van SRF Open 64.90% RESERVE Ammie Lords Dimora SCF Open 64.02% 3RD Bethany Wilhelmsen Great Responsibility Open 62.01% 4TH Stacy Palen Eridani Open 53.24% 5TH GRAND PRIX Lori Barrett Lagerfeld K 62.62% CHAMPION FREESTYLE; 1ST-2ND Amelia McCandless Swiss Exploit Jr/YR 68.10% CHAMPION Brittani Frade Saint AA 68.35% CHAMPION FREESTYLE: 3RD-4TH Sydni Cook Rosa Red Open 72.10% CHAMPION 2025 Perpetual Trophies LEVEL HORSE RIDER OWNER SCORE TRAINING - Charles Bering Perpetual Belialuna RTH Sydni Cook Robin Compagno 78.79% FIRST LEVEL - UDS Perpetual Odin Samantha Mohlman Samantha Mohlman 78.15% SECOND LEVEL - Oquirrh Dressage Perpetual Lopaka Ashley Adams Ashley Adams 70.29% THIRD LEVEL - Anakako Melody Memorial Perpetual Dreamer Jaimie Ringger Debra McGee 70.14% FOURTH LEVEL - Laura Williams Tolman Memorial Perpetual Sakari Sara Kirby Bille Davidson 68.82% PRIX ST GEORGE - Deer Meadow Perpetual Rosa Red Sydni Cook Leslie Edison 68.53% INTERMEDIATE - Johanna Adolphi Perpetual Rosaria Sydni Cook Leslie Edison 65.74% GRAND PRIX - Millbrook Farms Perpetual Lagerfeld K Lori Barrett Lori Barrett 65.98% MUSICAL FREESTYLE - Nick Van Pelt Memorial Perpetual Rosa Red Sydni Cook Leslie Edison 76.93% PONY TOC - Sean Porter Buell Perpetual Maverick Alyna Taylor Katherine Lavender 66.80% 55+ - Sage Creek Master’s Perpetual Kary the Crown Niel Kuhner Niel Kuhner 76.90% PARA - Sage Creek Para Dressage Perpetual No qualified riders 2025 Equine Achievement Awards HORSE LEVEL OWNER Belialuna RTH Training Level Robin Compagno Bravour van Buterheideveld Training Katherine Lavender Dimora SCF Intermediate Ammie Lords Doeke W 3rd Dana Dension Fortius 2nd, 3rd, 4th Whitney Loftus Kary the Crown Training Niel Kuhner Larimer Square Training, 1st, 2nd Sian Griffiths Lopaka Training, 1st, 2nd Ashley Adams Ostentatious Training Level Lindi Kopecko Austin Rosa Red Prix St George Leslie Edison Wap Moonspot Training, 1st Lindi Kopecko Austin Please email competitions@utahdressagesociety.com with discrepancies or questions. Join us at the annual awards banquet and silent auction to accept your prizes! Steffen Peters will also be joining us for a presentation including a Q&A session before we let Steffen go to rest up for the second day of the clinic. Discounted ticket prices are available with registration for both the symposium and the banquet, so be sure to look for this package deal UDS Awards Banquet February 21, 2026 6:00-9:00 PM PUBLIK Coffee/Event Center 975 S W Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101