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Dallas McCullough and Cambry Kaylor have both qualified to ride in this year’s North American Junior Young Rider Championships and making the Team is very exciting for both them and the UDS!Dallas McCullough will be riding the FEI Junior Third Level test on her Swedish Warmblood Bailer with her coach Patti Thurman by her side. Their hard work and determination has paid off in spades! Cambry Kaylor will also be competing in the very first Para Junior Championships. This is the first year that the NAJYRC is including the discipline of Para Dressage! Cambry will be riding her Danish Warmblood Markgaards Donnewind in the Para grade Ib and will be accompanied by her coach David Macmillan. For those who are not familiar with the Para grades – they go from Ia as the most severely disabled then to Ib, II, III and grade IV. Those riders classified through the USPEA as grade IV have the least amount of impairment. This is only Cambry’s 2nd year showing in Para Dressage and is making her name known as she makes her way closer to qualify for the Paralympic Selection Trials along with our very own Lara Oles!

Lexington, KY (June 30, 2015) - The United States Dressage Federation is pleased to announce the new USDF Youth Dressage Rider Recognition Pin Program, which will take effect on July 1, 2015.  This program will recognize the accomplishments of youth dressage riders in not only dressage, but also in academics, volunteerism, and equestrian education.  Students who are currently enrolled in grades six to twelve of a middle/high school or home school program, and are current USDF Group or Participating Members, are eligible to enroll.  The program year runs July 1 through June 30, and pins can be earned in each year of enrollment.  In order to earn the recognition pin, participants will be required to submit two dressage scores of 60 percent or higher at any level, maintain a 2.5 GPA, record 16 hours of equine related education, and complete 20 volunteer hours each year. USDF Youth Programs Committee Chair Roz Kinstler explained, "With more and more youth participating in dressage at all levels, we think it's important to acknowledge their dedication to the sport.  This award is designed to recognize these riders regardless of their level of expertise, and reward them for their efforts both with their involvement in dressage and in their community." For more information about this or other youth programs and offerings, visit the USDF website at www.usdf.org, e-mail youth@usdf.org, or contact us by phone at (859) 971-2277. Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage.  For more information about USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org, e-mail usdressage@usdf.org, or call (859) 971-2277.

The Jr/YRs held their annual summer trail ride on June 20th and invited the rest of the UDS to join. Even though it was 100 degrees,  the trail up in American Fork Canyon was cool  and the highlight was swimming with the horses in Silver Lake Flats Reservoir. To see what other events the Jr/YRs have planned, please visit our new Jr/YR Activities tab!

Rancho Murieta, California – June 14, 2015: Lara Oles of Heber City, Utah and her mare, Bella, earned qualifying scores while showing at the Golden State Dressage Classic in Rancho Murieta, California last weekend. The pair took two firsts and a second with scores of 69% in the Grade III Team Test, 67% in the Grade III Individual Test and 69% in the Freestyle. They are now eligible to compete for a slot on the 2016 United States Paralympic Equestrian Team.The Paralympic Selection Trials will be held in early 2016 at a yet to be determined site. Para-Dressage riders from all over the United States will be vying for four slots on the Paralympic Team. “This was our first International show, and I am very happy with our results. Over the next year as Bella and I develop our partnership and skills, I think we will be even more competitive. I am excited for our future!” Oles was in a freak skiing accident in 2006 that damaged her spinal cord, leaving her right arm permanently paralyzed and stroke-like symptoms in her right leg. Oles and Bella train with Annie Sweet at Sage Creek Equestrian in Heber City, Utah. Oles is well known in the Utah horse community as a determined competitor and as the state’s first internationally classified Para Dressage rider. Dressage is an equestrian discipline where a horse accurately performs a series of precise patterns while receiving subtle cues from the rider. Para Dressage adapts dressage for physically disabled riders and has been a Paralympic event since 1996. Oles thanks all her supporters and sponsors who have helped her along the way and says, “All competitive sport is expensive at the high performance level, but when a horse is your team mate the costs are out of reach for middle-income workers like my husband and I. Without their help, we will not be able to afford to compete at the Paralympic Selection Trials.”

CALLING ALL Trainers/Instructors!We are now accepting applications for the USDF's Instructor Certification Program for Training/First and Second levels! Detailed info will be coming out in the June newsletter soon! We will hold the 3 essential workshops in October and November. Applications are due by July 1st! Email Stacey Hornsby at stacey.hornsby@gmail for an application or questions!!

Notice to all members: The UDS Board will not be meeting in person this Wednesday May 6. We have decided to take care of business this month via email reports instead. If you have any business for the Board please email it to Lara Oles: lara.n.dan@gmail.com. Formal Board meetings will resume in June.

The Junior/Young Riders attended a Horse Care/Show Prep clinic at Sage Creek Equestrian in Heber on April 18, 2015. They were treated to presentations on braiding, leg wrapping, stretches, and clipping. All the attendees had a great time and we are looking forward to future clinics that will cover the topics more in depth. Please note that we won't hold a Jr/YR activity in May. Our June 20 activity will be a trail ride; please watch for more details about location, transportation for horses that need it, etc. If you haven't already, please renew your Jr/YR membership so you don't miss out on any of our great activities. And remember to join our closed Facebook group so you can keep up with all the latest Jr/YR news: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583808938500638/.

Hi all! The May 30th and 31st rated dressage show, "Dressage Undercover" will be held at the South Jordan Equestrian Park as previously scheduled.

ATTENTION UTAH DRESSAGE TRAINERS! It's time to update the UDS Trainer List! Please send name, address and contact information (web address if you have one) to Nance Allen at nance@xmission.com We look forward to hearing from you and updating our list to better serve the Utah dressage community.

The Junior/Young Riders had a great turnout at their lunging clinic at Sweetwater Equestrian Center on February 28. UDS President, Stacey Hornsby was a fabulous coach as she taught the girls the fundamentals of safety, technique, and the "whys" of lunging. Thanks to everyone who helped make the clinic a success! Remember there is no Jr/Young Rider activity in March. The next activity will be the Horse Care and Show Prep Clinic at Hilltop on April 18. We hope to see everyone there! Please contact Tiffiny Felix with any questions, tiffinyfelix@yahoo.com.

How to get some of those show nerves settled? The answer might just be the Ride-A-Test Clinic at Zephyr Ranch Equestrian on Saturday, April 11. This clinic will offer you an opportunity to ride the test(s) of your choice from Intro A to 4th Level. First you will ride the test to your best ability. Then you will get immediate feedback from the judge and have an opportunity to ride the same test again. This has been a very popular method for riders to go over their tests and to practice before the show season. Lot less pressure than in an actual show and a perfect way to get some objective feedback and advice to take back to home arena! The tests will be judged by our local "L" Judge, Marlo ViVenzio. The atmosphere will be very realistic. The tests will be scribed by the participants of the Scribe Certification Clinic.

The Scribe Certification Clinic will be a good place to learn how to scribe or to sharpen already existing skills. Scribing is more than simply writing down the judges comments on the tests. There are many details that makes one a competent scribe. This clinic will help the participants to understand the responsibilities of the scribe and offer many helpful hints on how to be a organized during the show. The clinic be offered in two parts. April 2nd is the classroom portion and on April 11th will be the practical application portion. First part will utilize videos in a classroom setting and Alison Child will offer her "L" Judge experience as a teacher with Stacey Hornsby. The second part is held in conjunction with the Ride-A-Test Clinic. The scribes get to practice as the riders and horses are being judged during the clinic by Marlo ViVenzio, "L" Judge. This is a nice way to learn in a situation where there is less pressure than in an actual show. The participants who finish both sessions to the satisfaction of the clinic teachers, will receive a certification for scribing from UDS. If you have always wanted to volunteer to be a scribe in some local shows, but lacked the confidence, this is a good opportunity to gain the knowledge and practice needed.