No matter where you looked around the show grounds in Omaha, you were sure to see a familiar face. Here, USDF Region 5 Director Heather Petersen is pictured scribing during the Grand Prix Freestyle
If you were at the FEI World Cup Finals in Omaha, or if you watched any of it via livestream, you were likely to see some familiar faces from USDF. Across the showgrounds, past and present members of the USDF Executive Board and others in leadership positions with our organization were busy working or volunteering to make the show run smoothly.
Photos by Chelsey Burris
Past USDF President Lisa Gorretta served as Chief Steward for Dressage.
Lisa had a great group of stewards on her team: Jean Kraus, Camille Kopcik, Fran Cross, and Walter Nef. Pictured: 2020 USDF Volunteer of the Year Jean Kraus at the in-gate.
Some of the members of the show staff and many of the scribes at the 2023 FEI World Cup Dressage Finals pictured with the beautiful trophy on Grand Prix Freestyle night. Among them are USDF Group Member Organization (GMO) Committee Chair Cindi Wylie, USDF Region 4 Director Anne Sushko, USDF Region 6 Director Noah Rattner, and USDF Region 5 Director Heather Petersen.
USDF Region 4 Director Anne Sushko was the dressage secretary. She is pictured here, looking on as the USA’s Anna Buffini performs her freestyle aboard Davinia la Douce.
As part of her role, Anne arranged the scribes and gate keepers. She is also on the Omaha Equestrian Foundation board. She is pictured at the in-gate behind Nanna Skodborg Merrald of Denmark, who finished in second place in the Grand Prix Freestyle aboard Blue Hors Zepter
USDF Region 5 Director Heather Petersen stayed busy at the competition as a scribe.
Here, Heather is pictured with the Grand Prix Freestyle champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, who successfully defended her title with an amazing ride on TSF Dalera BB. The pair earned an astounding 90.482%!
USDF Region 6 Director Noah Rattner was the scribe for the Judges Supervisory Panel (JSP) at the Grand Prix, where he was responsible for all the score corrections made to the final results during the rides. On the left, Noah is pictured with Dr. Evi Eisenhardt (5* GER), Lilo Fore (Ret. 5* USA) and David Hunt – the Judges Supervisory Panel for the 2023 World Cup Dressage Finals. Photo credit: Noah Rattner.
Noah was also a scribe during the Grand Prix Freestyle.
Noah is pictured scribing here as USA’s Steffen Peters rides by on Suppenkasper, a 3-time Adequan®/USDF Grand Prix Horse of the Year.
USDF Executive Board members stop by The Dressage Foundation (TDF) booth in the trade fair. From left to right: USDF Region 2 Director Debby Savage, USDF Activities Council At-Large Director Sue Mandas, USDF Secretary Debra Reinhardt, USDF Technical Council At-Large Director Sue McKeown, Jenny Johnson from TDF, USDF Region 1 Director Bettina Longaker, and Sara Weiss from TDF
USDF Executive Board members stopped by the USDF booth to visit the staff members and check out the latest merchandise from the USDF store. From left to right: USDF Vice President Kevin Reinig, USDF Region 1 Director Bettina Longaker, USDF Senior Marketing & Sales Coordinator Amber Wiseman, USDF Technical Council At-Large Director Sue McKeown, USDF Treasurer Lorraine Musselman, USDF Senior Marketing Coordinator Chelsey Burris, USDF Activities Council At-Large Director Sue Mandas, USDF Region 2 Director Debby Savage, USDF Secretary Debra Reinhardt, and USDF Region 7 Director Carol Tice
Cindi Wylie, the Chair of the USDF Group Member Organization (GMO) Committee, was a scribe throughout the show.
Cindi is pictured here with USA’s Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper. They were the top-ranked pair representing the US, narrowly missing the podium when they finished 4th in the Grand Prix Freestyle.
USDF Region 9 Director Bess Bruton was in town for the USDF Spring Executive Board Meeting. She is pictured here with USDF Senior Marketing Coordinator Chelsey Burris on Grand Prix Freestyle night.
It was a busy few days in Omaha, but it was a wonderful show filled with memories we’ll never forget. Pictured: Lisa Gorretta and Anne Sushko at the in-gate, awaiting score results for a ride.
The United States Equestrian Federation licenses dressage judges at three levels. Here we give a brief explanation of licenses, as well as requirements for judging specific classes.
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