The USDF Dressage Development Seminars

By Megan McIsaac

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) has recently launched its revamped Instructor/Trainer Development Program and Dressage Development Seminars, which provide a new pathway designed to support all members in furthering their dressage education.

My name is Megan McIsaac, and I am based in Oregon, Wisconsin. I have completed the USDF Instructor Certification through Fourth Level, which included two series of three workshops (Riding, Teaching, and Lunging), followed by rigorous testing and exams. I am fortunate to be part of a small group of dedicated professionals who believe deeply in education, personal growth, and continued professional development. My next milestone is to become an FEI-certified instructor.

The new Dressage Seminars, and the Instructor/Trainer Development Program as a whole, have been invaluable in my journey as a young professional. They have helped me become a more organized and thoughtful instructor, provided clear guidelines and standards to follow, and given me greater confidence in my teaching. As the only certification program of its kind in the United States, this credential carries true significance. The testing process is demanding, as it should be. It evaluates knowledge and application of the Pyramid of Training, teaching methodology, student rapport, professionalism, and even safety practices. Thank you to USDF and its faculty for continuing to grow this program for the next generation of instructors and myself.

Now, I am honored to give back to the dressage community by hosting these educational seminars. While I had prior experience hosting events and participating in the earlier workshop format, organizing these new Dressage Development Seminars as an individual has been eye-opening. 

Hosting independently comes with pros and cons. Without the support of a GMO, there is less financial backing and fewer volunteers, but there is also the freedom to make decisions quickly, without committee constraints. My advice to anyone considering hosting is to be prepared for more work than expected, and stay very organized! Also, make sure you get to know USDF Education Director Kathie Robertson, as she will be helping you organize your seminars!

Most recently, I hosted a USDF Dressage Development Seminar focused on riding, which, like all USDF seminars, is open to everyone, not just instructors. Day one began with classroom sessions led by Ann Guptill and Bailey Cook, both USDF Certified Instructors and members of the USDF Instructor/Trainer Faculty. Their presentations covered the Pyramid of Training, the double bridle, lesson organization, and how to assess both horse and rider. Both ladies are approachable, encouraging, and knowledgeable professionals! I am so grateful to have them scheduled for all three seminars that I am hosting!  

We had roundtable discussions for smaller conversations and larger group exchanges, offering a chance to meet new people, reconnect with old friends, and engage in thoughtful dialogue.

The afternoon featured live demonstrations with four horse-and-rider combinations (including myself, which I do not recommend that hosts also participate in the riding demos). My students and school horses, ranging from First to Fourth Level, rode in front of the faculty and audience. Bailey and Ann worked with all four combinations on day one! While one was working with the horse and rider combination, the other was having discussions with the auditors, as we are all learning!  

For many of my students who do not compete, this was a unique chance to receive feedback from professionals other than myself, and to experience riding in a public setting. I was incredibly proud of how they rode, and I also valued the fresh perspective I received on my own riding and teaching, which deserves a big thank you to Ann and Bailey for their knowledge and leadership during this seminar. My students enjoyed their lessons and felt it was an encouraging and positive atmosphere.

Day two was a closed session for Participating Instructors (PI) continuing on in the certification process. Each PI worked with two of my school horses, beginning with an initial assessment, followed by a training session, and concluding with a final evaluation. This format created a supportive environment for professionals to learn, grow, and collaborate. Discussions focused on applying the training pyramid, refining approaches when things weren’t going well, and developing future training plans for the horses. At the end of the day, each PI received detailed evaluations from the faculty, which is a valuable tool for professional growth.

This event would not have been possible without the many people who supported me: My heartfelt thanks to USDF, Kathie Robertson, Ann Guptill, Bailey Cook, Lisa Lemke (for her amazing snacks and lunches), Derek Dembroski (for all of the audio/visual work), Holly (for the deliveries), Anne, Karen, Mumsie, and AV (for a week long preparation and cleanup), as well as the PIs who pushed themselves to grow. Thank you to my students for their openness to being part of the learning process, and of course, our incredible horses.

Looking ahead, I am excited to host two more upcoming seminars:

• October 11 – Teaching
• November 8 – Lunging

Auditors are warmly welcome at both events. If you are an instructor, I strongly encourage you to join the program as it is an opportunity to help shape and elevate the standard for dressage instruction in the United States.  

Please share and help get the word out about this fabulous program; we are really looking forward to hosting!