This August, we are celebrating youth riders on YourDressage!
From features on remarkable young dressage enthusiasts across the country, to articles about some of the opportunities USDF offers to youth, we want to hear from the future of our sport!
Here, a USDF Youth Convention Scholarship recipient reports on the various topics of focus discussed by members at the USDF Annual Convention, from equine health to business logistics.
By Tayla Damyanovich
December 4-7, 2024, I had the opportunity to attend the Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention in Houston, Texas, as one of the year’s USDF Youth Convention Scholarship recipients. Over the week, I had the opportunity to learn from many educational sessions, and meet so many knowledgeable people, including George Williams and Lilo Fore.
During the convention, educational session topics discussed included, but were not limited to, rider biomechanics, degenerative joint disease (DJD), and polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (Adequan® i.m.), the future of the sport of dressage, as well as a session on flying changes with commentary by Lilo Fore. I also attended the Youth Assembly, where we discussed questions regarding the FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) and the US Dressage Festival of Champions. During this assembly, we listened in on a portion of the Board of Governors (BOG) General Assembly. The Youth Assembly concluded with Lilo Fore reviewing a test from the 2023 On the Levels.
In the Rider Biomechanics session, I learned many things about proper alignment and posture. When a rider simply adds weight to the outside, the horse is likely to swing its haunches to the inside. Simple things like looking down can cause added weight on the forehand. Some common alignment issues were also covered, stating that the rider’s elbows should be slightly ahead of the shoulders, and the rider’s hands should give the appearance of being carried.
While attending the session on degenerative joint disease (DJD) and Adequan®, I gained a greater understanding of the needs that sporthorses have. During this hearing, I learned the significance of lameness in osteoarthritis, and how, when diagnosed, the synovial fluid becomes visibly inflamed, influencing the enzymes to attack the synovial fluid and cartilage. We were also informed of the many signs of DJD. Some early signs of this disease include behavioral problems, alterations in gaits, swelling, and lameness. In the late stages of this disease, the horse will likely have chronic joint enlargement, a decreased range of motion, and palpable bony abnormalities.
The difference between Adequan® and LEGEND® (hyaluronate sodium) was also expressed. While both treatments can be immensely helpful and are often used as a pair, Adequan® is an intramuscular (i.m.) injection that impacts the articular joints, whereas LEGEND® is an intravenous (i.v.) injection that affects the synovial fluid. Both LEGEND® and Adequan® can be used to preserve the longevity of sporthorses.
During the lesson on flying changes, Lilo Fore shared many tips and tricks on how to perfect and train the flying change. Lilo first went over her criteria for flying changes – the horse must be well balanced, be adjustable, have reliable transitions, and correct straightness. “Don’t make it difficult, it’s a natural thing,” stated Lilo. A few exercises that Lilo said she found helpful are a shallow loop with a simple change at centerline, slowly progressing to a flying change. She also recommended a figure eight using 20-meter circles, beginning with simple changes, and progressing to flying changes.
During the convention, I sat in on the Region 4 meeting. This meeting covered many topics, including statistics and annual reports, educational opportunities within the region, and – a big topic – how to get youth more involved. Many ideas were brought forward on how to achieve that – the cost of owning or leasing a horse is one thing, but when you add competition fees on top, it can be overwhelming, especially for parents of young riders new to the sport. To offset some expenses for youth in the sport, or new to the sport, an idea was mentioned that when a youth purchases a membership in their chosen GMO, the cost of their class is discounted, or free when competing at a schooling show. To make sure that the GMO is still making a profit, a youth group(s) could be made within the GMO to help with fundraising.
Whether it’s offering stall cleaning at shows, washing horses, or offering braiding services, there can be many ways to help make dressage more accessible to young equestrians. While in Houston, I gained additional insight regarding the many grant and scholarship opportunities that are available, both regionally and nationally. Whether you’re a young rider, adult amateur, or a professional, there’s something for everyone. The Dressage Foundation (TDF), for example, offers grants for riders of all ages and levels, as well as aid in areas like show management, and more. In addition, Region 4 offers two educational scholarships, one for Junior/Young Riders and one for Adult Amateurs/professionals, within the region. As a scholarship recipient, I can attest to the value that these scholarship opportunities provide and would encourage others to employ these opportunities as well.
In the 2024 show session, I earned my USDF Bronze Medal. In addition to attending the convention for educational purposes, I wanted to attend the Salute Gala & Annual Awards Banquet to receive my Bronze Medal in person. At the Gala, I was seated with Region 4 Director Anne Sushko and our region’s NAYC Chef d’Equipe, who were both immensely welcoming and knowledgeable. Both of them had great insight into any questions I had and were very encouraging when I spoke about some of my plans for the future.
Ultimately, I thoroughly enjoyed attending this event, representing Region 4, and the future of the organization. Attending the Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention allowed me to further my education on ideas and future developments within the dressage community. Having the opportunity to meet with industry leaders, along with other passionate youth, was truly an invaluable and inspiring experience. I hope to attend the convention again in the coming years and inspire more youth in my region to attend local competitions, GMO events, and represent at future USDF conventions.
