Founding members Dan and Melba Kirtley discovered dressage in the late 1960s while Dan’s Navy unit was stationed in Colombia. On their return home to Indiana, they found a group of Hoosiers who were just learning about dressage themselves, and formed the Indiana Dressage Society in 1972.
Dan Kirtley was the IDS’s official delegate at USDF’s organizational meeting in 1973. Fellow IDS member George Glass, an attorney, served on the committee that formulated the USDF bylaws.
A thriving mixture of educational events and schooling and recognized shows, including the Indy Dressage Classic I & II, keeps the IDS vibrant and active today.
[…] Following the Makeover, I continued with Kai’s dressage training and prepared for the 2025 competition year. In 2025, he broke 70% at Training Level at recognized dressage shows, won several TIP High Point awards at individual shows, qualified for the Great American/USDF Regional Championships, and won the 2025 Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Adult Amateur Training Level Champion and Open Training Level Reserve Champion for The Jockey Club. He was also the 2025 Adult Amateur Training Level Reserve Champion through the Indiana Dressage Society. […]