By Olivia Martz
Attending the 2025 Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention in Lexington, Kentucky, as a Region 6 youth delegate allowed me to participate in the sport beyond the arena. Having grown up in dressage and attended a USDF convention previously, I was familiar with much of the content, but this experience placed me directly into conversations about governance, education, and long-term development. Sitting in on the meetings and discussions made clear how intentionally the sport is guided and how much collaboration goes into shaping its future.
Through these governance sessions, I gained insight into how rules and policies are developed and refined. Decisions were grounded in horse welfare, fairness, and sustainability across all levels of the sport. As a youth delegate, I was able to contribute to conversations about youth opportunities and athlete development, reinforcing the importance of including younger riders in discussions that directly affect their pathways within dressage.
This year, Tony Sandoval led a featured education session on “The Assessment and Training of the Dressage Athlete,” emphasizing principles that are central to effective riding. Strength alone does not equal effectiveness; a rider may be strong off the horse, yet asymmetrical or inefficient in the saddle. Balance, coordination, stability, mobility, and elasticity must work together to support the horse rather than interfere. Training was framed as a layered process, beginning with evaluation and work capacity before progressing toward sport-specific application.
One of the most engaging educational experiences came from the “You be the Judge” module, a judges-focused activity that explored how Grand Prix movements are evaluated in both national and international competition. Presented by Janet Foy, William Warren, and Dr. Jane Manfredi, we were asked to predict how judges would score specific Grand Prix movements across multiple scoring components. This activity highlighted how judging is systematic and detail-oriented, prioritizing correctness, clarity, and harmony, and helped place scoring into a clearer perspective.
Beyond the formal sessions, the USDF Annual Convention strengthened my connection to the dressage community. I spent time with peers from across the country, many of whom I usually only see at major competitions such as the FEI North American Youth Championships, and shared experiences both educational and social, including ice skating and bowling. These moments reinforced how community sustains the sport alongside competition and how shared investment, both inside and outside the arena, shapes its future.
That sense of shared commitment carried into the closing events of the convention. At the Salute Gala & Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday night, I received my USDF Silver Medal and was awarded a USDF Youth Convention Scholarship based on my convention notes. These recognitions reflected not only competitive milestones, but active engagement with the sport beyond riding. Participating in the convention as a youth delegate reinforced my role not only as a competitor, but as an engaged member of a sport built on thoughtful decision-making, education, and community.
Read about what past Youth Convention Scholarship winners have learned by attending the Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention here, and we hope to see you in Lexington for 2026!
