As this year’s convention in Savannah, GA is underway, we look back on the 2017 convention held in Lexington, KY.
Photo Slide Show by Jennifer Bryant
ONE-STOP SHOPPING: Host hotel the Hyatt Regency Lexington connects to a convention center, a sports arena, and shops and eateries 
BLUEGRASS IN THE BLUEGRASS: Folksy trio performs at the convention welcome reception, sponsored by USDF Region 2, Kentucky Dressage Association, NEW Dressage Association, CenterLine Dressage, and the Indiana Dressage Society 
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY: USDF members meet and greet in the exhibit area during the convention welcome reception 
BENEFICIARY: Brooke USA annual gifts officer Cindy Rullman oversaw the convention silent auction, proceeds from which benefited the international equine-welfare organization 
TEST RIDE: USDF VP Lisa Gorretta tries out an EQ Saddle Science flapless saddle (which debuted at the USDF convention) as USDF member Arielle Brodkey looks on 
EVERYTHING USDF: Before being inducted into the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame, Lilo Fore browsed the USDF booth in the convention exhibit area 
TEMPTED: Dressage Today staffers Susan Lee and Jennifer Mellace check out the silent-auction items 
CLIENT PRIVILEGE: USDF senior education coordinator Sharon Vander Ziel (left) introduced many of the education-session speakers, including lameness expert Dr. Laura Werner—who’s also Vander Ziel’s equine veterinarian 
REUNION: Convention is a time for reconnecting with friends, like Board of Governors delegates Anna Lucy Keller of Region 6 and Anne Moss of Region 1 
COLORFUL DUO: New England Dressage Association past president Paul Cormier sports his traditional convention t-shirt while chatting with USDF IT expert Chad Compton 
DEMOCRATIC: Convention-goers appreciate the opportunity to communicate directly with those in governance positions, as these BOG delegates are doing with USDF secretary Margaret Freeman (right) during a meeting break 
THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS: Many important decisions regarding USDF governance and programs are made at the annual Board of Governors assembly 
GMO ROUNDTABLE: Freewheeling idea exchanges, like this one moderated by USDF Group-Member Organizations Committee members Stanley Horton of Region 8 and Carol Tice of Region 7, have become a convention institution 
ALWAYS LEARNING: Equine-biomechanics expert Dr. Hilary Clayton discusses the equine spine with USDF members after her lecture 
BLUE CHRISTMAS: A sea of blue filled the convention hotel for a Saturday Kentucky Wildcats basketball game in the adjacent Rupp Arena 
HIGH PERFORMANCE: International dressage stars (like Olympians Laura Graves and Lisa Wilcox, front row, second and third from left) and sponsors (like Betsy Juliano, front row left, who sponsors Graves and others) mixed with hopefuls, officials, and supporters at the USEF Athlete Forum 
READY TO CELEBRATE: The stage is set for the Salute Gala & Annual Awards Banquet 
SPECIAL MOMENT: Honors and awards are even sweeter when well-wishers attend, like these friends who came to see dressage instructor Gale Wolfe of New York (right) receive her USDF gold medal 
ALL DRESSED UP: Horse people clean up well! Horse of the Year winner Alyssa Pitts, Hall of Fame inductee Lilo Fore, Olympian Debbie McDonald, and sponsor and award recipient Betsy Juliano mingle at the banquet reception. 
REGION 6 PARTY: Award winners and supporters make merry before the awards banquet 
GMO basket from Northern Ohio Dressage Association 
GMO basket from Wisconsin Dressage and Combined Training Association. 
Longtime USDF Instructor/Trainer Program chair, retired FEI 5* dressage judge, sport-horse breeder, and trainer/rider Lilo Fore of California (right) was inducted by USDF Historical Recognition Committee chair Charlotte Trentelman and USDF president George Williams 
Winnie Heiney-Duncan (second from left) was recognized for her contributions to USDF Region 6 and the Oregon Dressage Society. Presenters were Charlotte Trentelman, USDF vice president Lisa Gorretta, and George Williams. 
The late judge and instructor/trainer Lois Heyerdahl was honored for her efforts in the Wisconsin Dressage and Combined Training Association and throughout the Midwest. Accepting were Heyerdahl’s widower, Charles “Chuck” Heyerdahl (center), and daughter, Theresa Heyerdahl (second from left). 
Debbie DelGiorno’s (DE) many USDF volunteer efforts, including on behalf of Region 1 and its juniors and young riders, were recognized 
Meghan Slaughter (ID) was honored for her efforts in promoting dressage, especially with the Intercollegiate Dressage Association. Slaughter’s mother, May Slaughter (right) accepted from USDF Youth Programs Committee chair Roz Kinstler, USDF FEI Junior/Young Rider Committee chair Roberta Williams, and USDF Youth Programs Advisory Subcommittee member and 2016 Youth Volunteer of the Year Sophia Chavonelle. 
Laura Graves (third from left), owner and rider of Verdades, accepts the Col. Thackeray Perpetual Trophy from Adequan® representative Allyn Mann, Dressage Extensions representative Andrenna Flores, and USDF president George Williams 
Owner/rider Claire Darnell (third from left) accepts the award for the Materiale highest-scoring champion for her Dutch Warmblood gelding, Harrold S (by Vivaldi). Harrold S was also the 2017 Adequan®/USDF Training Level Dressage Horse of the Year. 
Owner Kari McClain (center) and Rick Edwards (second from right) accept the award for four- and five-year-old mares for Eye Candy (by Sir Donnerhall) 
Owner/rider Alyssa Pitts (third from left) accepted two Horse of the Year awards: for Selestial R (by San Amour I), Fourth Level; and for Quintessential Hit (by Quaterback), Prix St. Georges 
Craig Stanley (third from left), breeder, owner, and rider, accepts for his Dutch Warmblood gelding, Habanero CWS (by Idocus) 
Second Level competitor rider Kasey Cannon (right) topped the list of 2017 USDF/Dover Saddlery Adult Amateur Medal winners with an average score of 74.797 percent. USDF executive director Stephan Hienzsch presented the award. 
USDF president George Williams USDF gold medalist Karen Lee (WI) 
USDF president George Williams USDF gold medalist Cassandra Cherry Nolte (CA) 
Gold medalist Douglas Puterbaugh (MI) 
USDF president George Williams USDF silver medalist Celeste Brown (TX) 
USDF president George Williams USDF silver medalist Toni Mueller (WA) 
USDF president George Williams USDF silver medalist Debra Reinhardt (CT) 
USDF president George Williams USDF silver medalist Peter Rothschild (WA) 
USDF president George Williams USDF bronze medalist Kasey Denny (TX) 
Bronze medalist Julie Loudon (WA) 
USDF president George Williams USDF bronze medalist Madelyn Taray (KY) 
USDF president George Williams USDF gold freestyle bar recipient Heather Salden Kurtz (MN) 
USDF president George Williams USDF silver freestyle bar recipient Callie Jones (KY) 
USDF president George Williams USDF Master’s Challenge Third Level award recipient Loretta Lucas (FL) 
Dressage Extensions rep Andrenna Flores Angela Jackson (KY) riding Gaston TF, Third Level Professional Vintage Cup champion Adequan rep John Cashman 
Dressage Extensions rep Andrenna Flores Penelope Sachs (IL), owner/rider, Frisbee 55, First Level AA Vintage Cup reserve champion & Second Level AA Vintage Cup champion Adequan rep John Cashman 
Prix St. Georges AA award recipient Amy Swerdlin (FL) 
USDF executive director Stephan Hienzsch Christine Malpartida (FL) riding Freudentanzer, American Hanoverian Society All-Breeds champion, Training Level adult amateur Hugh Bellis-Jones, AHS executive director 
USDF executive director Stephan Hienzsch Gloria Keys, owner/rider, Dazzling Nevada Jasper, American Mustang & Burro Assn. Inc. Training Level Open All-Breeds champion 
USDF executive director Stephan Hienzsch Paula Briney, rider, Sir Earl Grey, American Saddlebred Registry Training & First Level open champion Jeff Winton, owner 
USDF executive director Stephan Hienzsch Morgan-Bailey Horan (AL), owner/rider, August Rush, Friesian Horse Society Third Level Jr/YR & Third Level Musical Freestyle champion 
USDF executive director Stephan Hienzsch Jacqueline Beasley (KY), owner/rider, Heradore, KWPN/NA Training Level Adult Amateur All-Breeds champion 
American Warmblood Society & Sporthorse Registry All-Breeds awards group photo 
International Andalusian & Lusitano Horse Association winners group photo 
USDF executive director Stephan Hienzsch North American Danish Warmblood Assn. All-Breeds awards group photo 
Oldenburg Horse Breeders Society NA Division of GOV winners group photo
[…] Memories from the 2017 Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention […]