As we prepare for this year’s convention in Savannah, GA we look back on the 2016 convention held in St. Louis, MO
Photo Slide Show by Jennifer Bryant
Team USA members and officials from the 2016 Rio Olympics and Paralympics were recognized at the Salute Gala and Annual Awards Banquet. From left: FEI stewards Lisa Gorretta and Elisabeth Williams; Paralympians Margaret McIntosh, Angela Peavy, and Rebecca Hart; USDF president George Williams; USEF dressage technical advisor/chef d’équipe Robert Dover; USEF dressage managing director Hallye Griffin; Angela Peavy’s mother, Rebecca Reno; dressage owners/sponsors Betsy Juliano and Akiko Yamazaki; and dressage Olympians Steffen Peters, Allison Brock, and Kasey Perry-Glass. 
GOOD MORNING, ABS! USDF members get in touch with their core muscles as Pilates instructor Janice Dulak leads a session 
Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame: Margaret Scarff (holding portrait) accepts for the late Lilian Wittmack Roye from USDF vice president Lisa Gorretta, USDF Historical Recognition Committee chair Bettina Longaker, and USDF president George Williams 
Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame: Rocher’s owners, Charles and Joann Smith (second and third from left), accept from USDF president George Williams, Roberta Williams, trainer Kathy Connelly, USDF Historical Recognition Committee chair Bettina Longaker (behind Connelly), and USDF vice president Lisa Gorretta 
2016 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Sam Barish (3rd from L) with USDF VP Lisa Gorretta. USDF Historical Recognition Committee chair Bettina Longaker, and USDF president George Williams 
Inaugural USDF Member of Distinction award recipient Janne Rumbough (center) with USDF VP Lisa Gorretta, USDF Historical Recognition Committee chair Bettina Longaker, and USDF president George Williams 
2016 USDF Volunteer of the Year Sheila Woerth (center) with Lisa Gorretta and George Williams 
2016 USDF Youth Volunteer of the Year Sophia Chavonelle (L) with Roz Kinstler, Roberta Williams, and Catherine Chamberlain 
Adequan®/USDF
Dressage Breeder of the Year: On behalf of herself and her late husband Douglas, Louise Leatherdale (MN) (second from left) accepts the Hilltop Farm trophy from USDF president George Williams, Hilltop Farm head trainer Michael Bragdell and general manager/breeding manager Natalie DiBerardinis, and Adequan® representative Allyn Mann
DSHB Breeder of the Year Maurine Swanson 
Adequan®/USDF Grand Prix Horse of the Year: Legolas’s rider, Steffen Peters (left), and Four Winds Farm LLC owner Akiko Yamazaki (second from left) accept the Colonel Thackeray trophy 
Adequan®/USDF DSHB Horse of the Year: With her Welina (by Wilkens) the highest-scoring DSHB champion, Nancy Radtke (PA) (second from left) accepts the Traveling Trot trophy from USDF president George Williams, Dressage Extensions general manager Jill Waterman, and Adequan® representative Allyn Mann 
Adequan®/USDF Materiale Horse of the Year: For her Pantsa Fire HU (by Pik L), owner/breeder Anne Sparks of Horses Unlimited (NM) (third from left) receives the Sunshine Sport Horse Association trophy 
Adequan®/USDF Adult Amateur Third Level Champion: Amy Swerdlin (FL) (third from left) riding Quileute CCW (by Quaterback), a horse she also bred and owns. Presenters, from left: USDF executive director Stephan Hienzsch, Dressage Extensions general manager Jill Waterman, and Adequan® representative Allyn Mann. 
Amy Grahn, Vintage Cup Grand Prix AA reserve champion (Zabaco) 
Musical Freestyle Fourth Level Champion/Third Level Reserve Champion Jennifer Roth (OH), owner and rider of Reebok (by Royal Prince) 
Lara Oles (UT), Para-Dressage Rider of the Year Grade III reserve champion (Bella) 
Gold medalist Patricia Hart (CA) 
Silver medalist Molly Fine (WI) 
Bronze medalist Adrienne Owen (FL) 
Bronze medalist Becky McMillin (MO) 
Bronze medalist Matthew Beasley (CT) 
American Trakehner Assn. All-Breeds group photo. Center: Adequan rep Doug Thomas. 2nd from R: ATA rep Brad Kerbs. 
ISR/Oldenburg All-Breeds award winners gather for a group photo 
KWPN of North America All-Breeds award winners gather for their group photo 
The AHS All-Breeds award winners pose for a group photo with AHS executive director Hugh Bellis-Jones (right) and Adequan® representative Doug Thomas (third from right) 
MEETING THEIR IDOLS: Fans line up for autographs after the “Reflecting on Rio” session with 2016 Paralympians Rebecca Hart, Margaret McIntosh, and Angela Peavy; Olympians Allison Brock, Kasey Perry-Glass, and Steffen Peters; and dressage chef d’équipe Robert Dover. (Yes, those are Perry-Glass’s and Peters’ dressage bronze medals on the table!) 
MEETING TO REMEMBER: Kathryn Cromer (FL) (second from left) gets a selfie with Olympians Steffen Peters, Kasey Perry-Glass, and Robert Dover 
MEET AND GREET: The Olympians and Paralympians seemed to enjoy the autograph session as much as the fans. Paralympian Margaret McIntosh signs a copy of USDF Connection. 
THE LEADERS: Current, new, and outgoing USDF Executive Board members gathered for a group photo. From left: Sue Bender, Terry Wilson, Kevin Bradbury, Carol Tice, Steven Schubert, Anne Sushko, Sherry Guess, George Williams, Heather Petersen, Carolynn Bunch, Lisa Schmidt, Bettina Longaker, Debra Reinhardt, Carolyn VandenBerg, Lisa Gorretta. Not pictured: Margaret Freeman, Sue Mandas. 
FEATHERED FRIEND: Fredbird, the St. Louis Cardinals mascot, flew in to mingle with USDF members at the convention welcome party. Thanks to the USDF GMO CenterLine Dressage for sponsoring Fredbird. 
SCENIC VIEW: Convention host hotel the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch overlooked not only that iconic structure but the city’s Old Courthouse, a mid-1800s historic landmark 
GATEWAY TO FUN: USDF members pose beneath an arch of balloons at the convention welcome party 
ALWAYS LEARNING: USDF members check out books including those written with convention presenter Coralie Hughes before Hughes’s session on equine biomechanics 
SPECIAL GUESTS: Dressage Today editor Jennifer Mellace (left) with The Dressage Foundation’s Jenny Johnson, Jane Fucinaro, and Beth Baumert at the welcome party 
EVERYTHING USDF: Merchandise on display
