Violet Hopkins (1902-2002)
The first woman inducted into the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame in 1998, Violet Hopkins’ influence on the development of dressage in the United States is unmatched. The Violet Hopkins Seminars for Dressage Instructors laid the groundwork for the development of the USDF Regional Workshops, the National Symposium (previously held in conjunction with the USDF Annual Convention), and the USDF Instructor Certification Program, which has certified 139 instructors to date (33 hold Training-First Level certification, 51 are certified at Second Level, 46 are certified at Third-Fourth Level, and 9 have achieved FEI B certification). In addition to her work with riders and trainers at the top levels of the sport, she was a vocal proponent of supporting educational opportunities for grassroots dressage instructors and riders alike.
Violet was a founding member of the United States Dressage Federation, and her dedication to providing education for dressage riders of all levels continues through the Violet M. Hopkins Fund for GMO Events through The Dressage Foundation.
Violet Hopkins’ contributions to dressage in the US also earned her recognition in our American Dressage Legends series in USDF Connection.
Margarita Serrell (1917-2008)
Margarita “Migi” Serrell was inducted into the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame in 2003 to honor her contribution to raising the profile of dressage in the United States. She was a leading visionary in hosting educational dressage seminars and sought to promote the sport across the country.
Margarita was one of the founders of the American Dressage Institute (ADI) and served as the program’s first president. During that time, the ADI funded travel expenses for the 1976 Team Bronze Medal winning squad of Hilda Gurney and Keen, Dorothy Morkis and Monaco, and Edith Master and Dahlwitz – culminating in the first Olympic medal for US dressage since 1948, and demonstrating that the United States could be a dressage powerhouse on an international stage. The continued dedication to the legacy of classically trained dressage horses and riders in the US, a founding principle of the ADI Dressage Seminars, can be seen in the content of today’s USDF Instructor/Trainer Development Program.
Serrell was a founding member of USDF, and her experience organizing a broad-based, member-driven organization was integral to getting USDF off the ground at 1973’s inaugural meeting in Lincoln.
Margarita Serrell’s contributions to dressage in the US and dedication to dressage education also earned her recognition in our American Dressage Legends series in USDF Connection.
Janine Malone
Awarded the USDF Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 and inducted into the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame in 2022, Janine Malone’s name is synonymous with dressage in the US. Janine’s dedication to volunteerism (notably being the first recipient of USDF’s Volunteer of the Year Award in 1998) and extensive involvement in the sport at every level – as both a rider and official, a part of the governance structure, and as Chair of multiple committees within both USEF and USDF, to name a few – have left very little about the structure and growth of the sport that Janine has not touched in some way, furthering USDF’s “dedication to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage in the United States.”
In recognition of her position serving as chair of the US Dressage Finals Organizing Committee, Janine was honored at the 2013 inaugural US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® with a perpetual trophy dedicated in her name, awarded to the Adult Amateur Prix St. Georges Champion.
Sally Swift (1913-2009)
Sally’s dedication to disseminating dressage education earned her a spot on our list. Her book, Centered Riding, has sold over half a million copies and is available in 14 languages. Sally’s incorporation of Tai Chi, martial arts, and the Alexander Technique (a theory of mind-body connection) was revolutionary in pushing forward and understanding the importance of both horse and rider biomechanics to achieve a balanced and harmonious riding partnership.
Additionally, her involvement in the USDF Group Member Organization (GMO) New England Dressage Association (NEDA) helped lay the foundation for NEDA’s continued dedication to education and its clinic structure. She was a vocal supporter and valued the importance of accessible education and instructors who could teach both able-bodied and para-dressage riders.
Sally was inducted into the Roemer Found/USDF Hall of Fame in 2006 in honor of her contributions to the education of dressage riders worldwide, and her work in promoting dressage at all levels. She was also honored as an American Dressage Legend in USDF Connection’s series.
Ellin Dixon Miller
USDF Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Ellin Dixon Miller was a pivotal force in developing USDF’s educational and awards programs. Her presidential term (1994-1999) saw the introduction of the USDF Hall of Fame, Instructor Certification program, Young Rider program, FEI-Level Trainers Conference, Breeders Championship program, and USDF Connection (which currently stands as the only nationally distributed magazine dedicated to the sport of dressage). Ellin also laid the groundwork for the building of a permanent home for USDF’s headquarters at the National Education Center in the Kentucky Horse Park.
These five women are just a few in a very long list of USDF’s storied history, whose efforts pushed forward our mission of demonstrating a dedication to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage in the United States. Do you know a woman who exemplifies USDF’s mission and deserves to be recognized? Send us an email at yourdressage@usdf.org, and we would love to feature them!
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