The United States Dressage Federation (USDF), in conjunction with the United States Equestrian Federation® (USEF), will host a weekend educational seminar for recent graduates of the USDF Young Rider Program. The seminar will be held October 20-22, 2006, at the USDF National Education Center at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Seminar participants, ranging in age from 21 to 25, will include amateurs, professionals and future high-performance riders in the sport of dressage. The purpose of the program is to provide graduates of the USDF Young Rider Program with information and support for an easier transition into the adult equestrian world.

To help bridge the gap between young rider status and the adult world of teaching, training and international competition, the USDF/USEF Young Rider Graduate Program weekend educational seminar will focus on crucial topics that young adults need to understand, such as goal setting, fundraising and equine business management. Discussion on these topics will be led by some of the top dressage professionals in the country.

The Dressage Foundation is generous in its financial support of this program. The Dressage Foundation's mission is to cultivate and provide financial support for the advancement of dressage. "We are glad to be able to provide financial support for this program, as these young adults will become the dressage instructors, competitors and judges of the future," said John Boomer, President and CEO of The Dressage Foundation.

USDF looks forward to utilizing the new USDF National Education Center to host the 2006 USDF/USEF Young Rider Graduate Program. With seminar facilities, the Dressage Resource Center, the Hall of Fame and the USDF Bookstore, the USDF National Education Center offers a wonderful opportunity for promoting educational event such as this.

If you would like to apply for this program or if you have any questions, please contact Sheila Forbes, USDF Director of Programs, at [email protected] or (859) 271-7879. Additional information and participant applications are also available at www.usdf.org/Programs/AdvancedYoungRider/Graduate.asp. The deadline to apply for the weekend educational seminar is August 1.



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