We live in an era where staying connected to one another is easier than ever, but sometimes, it can be overwhelming! With over 100 affiliate clubs, 130 supported educational programs, and 2,000 awards issued to members annually, USDF has a wealth of information to communicate to its members on a monthly, weekly, and even daily basis. So, to streamline our relationship with you, the member, we want to swing our doors wide open and show you the top five ways to stay connected to USDF!
1. Check Your Email!
We know you’re tired of hearing it, but checking your email is the most effective way to stay up to date on the important information that USDF (and our parent organizations) need to communicate to our members.
You can easily update your email preferences! Log in to the USDF website > click “My Account” > click “Update Account” > scroll to “Customize USDF Mailing Distributions” > select the information that you want to receive.
The USDF eNewsletter is deployed to members monthly, featuring general reminders, important dates and deadlines, upcoming events, governance updates, and other pertinent information for the month. Also included is a direct communication from your regional director, so make sure to follow the blue region buttons at the top of the newsletter to catch the latest information in your area!
The USDF Online Publications email highlights our recent publications, including the latest issue of the magazine, featured stories from our publications website, YourDressage, and updates regarding the most recent USDF Member Guide.
When we have them, you’ll also be the first to receive special offers from our sponsors and us, including discount codes on merchandise and exclusive opportunities available only to USDF members!
2. The USDF Member Dashboard
When you log in to the USDF website, you instantly gain access to another great way of staying on top of what’s going on at USDF, as well as your personal membership information, awards progress, regional resources, and education. Click to find out what you can discover in each section:
Membership
In the “Membership” quadrant, you can find out your status and type of membership, as well as when it will expire. This section will also detail the registration information for any of your horses, including their breed registry information. Here, you can also easily discover and join Group Membership Organizations (GMOs) in your area.
Competitions & Awards
The “Competitions & Awards” quadrant tracks your progress towards qualifying for the Great American/USDF Regional Dressage Championships and USDF Rider Performance Awards. As you are eligible for awards, you can easily apply using the links provided in this section.
Region
The “Region” tab is exceptionally important for staying connected to your local community. Here, you can find your regional director’s contact information, as well as links to your region’s website, monthly eNewsletter, and local competitions. In this section, you can also find and read stories straight from members of your regional dressage community.
Education
The “Education” tab will direct you to online courses, education lectures from GMOs, learning modules for Technical Delegates, and other educational dressage resources for your viewing, all courtesy of USDF University. In this section, you can also review your USDF University transcript to track progress towards diplomas.
3. Follow Us On Social Media
In this golden age of social media, you can directly engage with USDF and our content like never before. Join us and connect with a community of fellow dressage enthusiasts!
On our Facebook and Instagram pages, you can receive real-time updates on USDF activity (including when those pesky Kentucky thunderstorms take out our office phones…), reminders about important deadlines for valuable educational and award programs, and stories from our community publications website, YourDressage. We also have a USDF Youth Facebook page dedicated to the many amazing opportunities for junior and young riders – or, as we like to call them, the future of our sport!
When you visit our Facebook page, be sure to like, follow, and favorite to keep us at the forefront of your feed. To favorite, select the three dots on the far right side of our page > click “Follow” (or “Following,” if you are already) > tap “Favorites” to ensure our posts show up in your feed first. Additionally, turn on post notifications for our Instagram page so you don’t miss a single share!
Trying to connect on a more local level? Each of the USDF Regions* has its own web page for communicating information relevant to your region. You can also personally connect with your regional director and build a network of local contacts, because in this sport, it takes a village. Click the buttons below to visit your regional web page!
*Please note that Region 3 does not currently have a web page.
4. Looking for Someone or Something Specific?
On the USDF website, click “Connect with Us” on the top navigation menu to open our most comprehensive collection of helpful contacts and links. On this page, you can find an email contact for all USDF-related inquiries, as well as contact information for specific staff members, our Executive Board, L Graduates, Certified Instructors, officials, and more. If you haven’t followed us already, you can also find links to our social media accounts on this page.
At the end of each of these emails, you will find a real human ready to answer your specific question, so please do not hesitate to reach out!
5. Subscribe to YourDressage
Last but not least – while you’re here, why not subscribe to YourDressage? And, add us to your browser’s bookmarks! We launched our community publications website, YourDressage, to post content on event coverage, community stories, photo galleries, and, most importantly, share smiles! Now having surpassed 3,000 posts, YourDressage has become your one-stop shop for daily content from experts in the field, relatable testimonies from riders across borders, and helpful guides for navigating the various aspects of the horse world. Don’t miss out – subscribe today!
At the end of the day, however you prefer to receive your information, is the way we want you to get it, but we’d love for you to connect with us on our various platforms. That way, you’ll never kick yourself for forgetting that application deadline, missing out on coverage of major events, or overlooking exclusive opportunities for USDF members. The dressage world is big, but our community is tight – and we want you to be a part of it!
