USDF Congratulates 2019 GMO Award Winners

For Immediate Release
Friday, October 18, 2019

Lexington, KY (October 18, 2019) - The United States Dressage Federation™ (USDF) is pleased to congratulate all of the winners of the 2019 GMO Awards, which will be presented during the Board of Governors General Assembly at the 2019 Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention, in Savannah, GA. These awards are given annually, to recognize outstanding achievement within USDF’s GMO community. Recognition is given in the following categories: GMO amateur photograph, website user experience, newsletter first person experience and general interest articles, and creative GMO-sponsored program. USDF also recognizes outstanding volunteers at the regional level, along with the recipient of the Ruth Arvanette Memorial Fund grant.

This year’s winners are:

GMO Photography Awards:
Best Amateur Photograph:
GMOs with less than 75 members: No nominations
GMOs with 75 to 174 members: First Place: Southern Eventing & Dressage Association, Off Course Online-The Bleep, April 24, 2019, Photographer: Nicole Miller
Honorable Mention: St. Louis Area Dressage Society, Hoofprints, July 2019, Photographer: Kristin Matheny
GMOs with 175 to 499 members: First Place: Central States Dressage & Eventing Association, Cross Country, July 2019, Photographer: Anne Mary Field
GMOs with 500 or more members: First Place: New England Dressage Association, A Tip of the Hat, August 2019, Photographer: Diane Holston
GMO Newsletter Awards:
First Person Experience Article:
GMOs with less than 75 members: No nominations
GMOs with 75 to 174 members: First Place: Southern Eventing & Dressage Association, Off Course Online-The Bleep, April 24, 2019: The View from C by Nicole Miller
Honorable Mention: Lehigh Valley Dressage Association, The LVDA CenterLine, December 2018: PVDA Team Competition: Reflections of a First Timer by Sue Kinney
GMOs with 175 to 499 members: First Place: Northern Ohio Dressage Association, NODA News, 2019 Issue 5: “Horses and Happiness” Reflections on the Benefits of Riding for Mental Health by Maria Sandy
Honorable Mention: Central States Dressage & Eventing Association, Cross Country, July 2019: Tracing Your Hoofprints by Maggie Elsbernd
GMOs with 500 or more members: First Place: Rocky Mountain Dressage Society, The Centaur, March 2019: Classical Dressage: From Dallying a Rope on my Saddle Horn to Breeches and Tall Boots by Sgt. Joe Cummings
Honorable Mention: New England Dressage Association, A Tip of the Hat, January 2019: Ode to Zoomie! by Kristen Becker
General Interest/Informational Article:
GMOs with less than 75 members: No nominations
GMOs with 75 to 174 members: First Place: Lehigh Valley Dressage Association, The LVDA CenterLine, April 2019: Tips to Set, Structure and Focus Your Riding Goals by Ellen Broadhurst
Honorable Mention: St. Louis Area Dressage Society, Hoofprints, July 2019: Perseverance & Triumph by Taffy Ross
GMOs with 175 to 499 members: First Place: Central States Dressage & Eventing Association, Cross Country, July 2019: Installation and Use of Mirrors in an Indoor Arena by Jennie Hakes
Honorable Mention: Northern Ohio Dressage Association, NODA News, 2019 Issue 7: Tidbits From the USDF L Program – Notes From a Silent Auditor by Mosie Welch

GMOs with 500 or more members: First Place: New England Dressage Association, A Tip of the Hat, November/December 2018: Charlotte Dujardin Symposium by Sophia Chavonelle
Honorable Mention: Georgia Dressage & Combined Training Association Inc., Collected Remarks, May 2019: Barn Gossip by Brooke Taylor
GMO Website Awards:
Best User Experience:
GMOs with less than 75 members: First Place: Columbia Dressage & Combined Training Association (www.cdcta.org)
GMOs with 75 to 174 members: First Place: Nebraska Dressage Association (www.nebraskadressage.org)
Honorable Mention: Eastern Iowa Dressage & Eventing Association (www.easterniowadressageandeventing.com)
GMOs with 175 to 499 members: First Place: Northern Ohio Dressage Association (www.nodarider.org)
GMOs with 500 or more members: First Place: Georgia Dressage & Combined Training Association, Inc. (www.gdcta.org)
Honorable Mention: California Dressage Society (www.california-dressage.org)
Creative GMO-Sponsored Program Award:
First Place: South Carolina Dressage & Combined Training Association – SCDCTA Annual Junior Clinic

Honorable Mention: Eastern Iowa Dressage & Eventing Association – Ride Pain Free with Biomechanics Expert Dave Thind
Regional GMO Volunteers of the Year:
Region 1: Carey Williams (Allentown, NJ - Eastern States Dressage & Combined Training Association)
Region 2: Diona Liebenthal (Aurora, OH – Northern Ohio Dressage Association)
Region 3: Caren Caverly (Alpharetta, GA – Georgia Dressage & Combined Training Association Inc.)
Region 4: Jean Rude (Iowa City, IA – Eastern Iowa Dressage & Eventing Association)
Region 5: Mary Jo Hoepner (Colorado Springs, CO – Rocky Mountain Dressage Society)
Region 6: No nominations
Region 7: Joan Williams (Watsonville, CA – California Dressage Society)
Region 8: Stanley Horton (Glenville, NY – Eastern New York Dressage & Combined Training Association)
Region 9: Deryn Stewart (Ponca City, OK – Central Plains Dressage Society Inc.)
Ruth Arvanette Memorial Fund Grant
Jessica Foschi (Mountain Iron, MN – North Woods Dressage Association)

For more information on GMOs in your area or GMO award programs, please visit the USDF website at www.usdf.org or contact the USDF Group Member Organizations Committee liaison at gmoliaison@usdf.org.

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 on USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org, e-mail usdressage@usdf.org, or call (859) 971-2277.

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, email usdressage@usdf.org, or call (859) 971-2277.