For the First time in one Arena! The USEF National Coaches Present the American Program

The United States Dressage Federation is very excited to announce that the 2011 Adequan/USDF National Symposium, to be held December 3-4 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, CA, will feature the talented USEF national dressage coaches; Anne Gribbons (Technical Advisor and National Coach), Scott Hassler (Young Horse Coach), Debbie McDonald (Developing Coach), and Jeremy Steinberg (Youth Coach).

Working together for the first time in one arena, the coaches will present a step-by-step method to starting a young horse from breaking to riding and provide tips on improving seat and position for effective training as they show the ‘building blocks’ to success, through Grand Prix. “It’s exciting that USDF is able to provide such a wonderful platform to showcase the American program and talents of our four US dressage coaches. This will be an incredible and unique opportunity to hear their philosophies first hand and see how they work together towards a common goal,” stated George Williams, USDF President.

Anne Gribbons, Technical Advisor and National Coach, is an FEI 5* judge and a member of the FEI Dressage Committee. In the ring, she has had seven of her horses named Adequan/USDF Horse of the Year, competed in ten national championships, and, in 1995, was a member of the US PanAmerican Silver Medal Team. Anne states “For this year’s symposium, the USDF has graciously agreed to showcase the USEF teaching staff, and I am delighted at this opportunity for all of us to get together and share our collective knowledge”.

Scott Hassler, USEF National Young Dressage Horse Coach, co-chairs the USDF Sport Horse Committee, is a member of the USEF Dressage Committee, the USEF Breeders’ Committee, and the USEF Strategic Planning Committee. He is the director of training at Hassler Dressage at Riveredge, Chesapeake City, MD, has competed nationally and internationally through the Grand Prix level, with numerous national championship titles, and has coached numerous champions from the FEI Young Horse classes to Grand Prix.

Debbie McDonald, USEF Developing Coach, was named AHSA (now USEF) Equestrian of the Year, USOC Woman of the Year and, aboard Peggy Thomas’ mare, Brentina, won the team and individual Gold Medals in the PanAmerican games in 1999. In 2003, she went on to become the first American to win the FEI World Cup title and was named USOC Athlete of the Year. She led the US to the Bronze Medal at the 2004 Olympic Games, in Athens, represented the US again at the 2008 Olympic Games, in Hong Kong, and was named the 2009 USEF Development Coach of the Year.

Jeremy Steinberg, USEF National Youth Coach, was the 1996 winner of the North American Young Rider Championships individual Gold Medal and Team Silver Medal and was awarded the Fiona Baan “Pursuit of Excellence Memorial Trophy”. In 2010 Jeremy was awarded the inaugural “Albers Award”, presented to the Chef d’Equipe who best demonstrates an extraordinary level of dedication, enthusiasm and team spirit at the North American Jr/YR Championship. At Grand Prix, Jeremy has had many top three finishes in CDIs, wins in USDF Regional Championships, and received an invitation to the 2007 Las Vegas International Dressage Competition, held during the World Cup Finals, with Jennifer Smith’s Porocco.

For more information about the 2011 Adequan/USDF National Symposium, visit the USDF website www.usdf.org/convention/ or contact the USDF office .

Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage. For more information about USDF membership or programs, visit  www.usdf.org, e-mail [email protected], or call (859) 971-2277.

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Effective March 1, 2011, for dressage: Anyone mounted on a horse must wear protective headgear except those riders age 18 and over while on horses that are competing only in FEI levels and tests at the Prix St. Georges level and above (including FEI Young Rider Tests, the USEF Developing Prix St. Georges Test and the USEF Brentina Cup Test). For more details, please click here http://usef.org/documents/disciplines/dressage/HelmetMemo.pdf .