Lexington, KY—Adding their names to a long list of respected breeders from across the country, Diana Dodge of Montpelier Station, VA, and Herb Kohler of LaGrange, KY, have been named the winners of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) 2004 Ellen Scripps Davis Memorial Breeders’ Award. Given in memory of American Saddlebred owner and breeder Ellen Scripps Davis, the Award recognizes an individual who consistently breeds outstanding show horses. The award also honors the role that unique breeding enterprises have in the development and improvement of show horses.

The owner of Nokomis Farm, Diana Dodge purchased the Thoroughbred stallion Sir Thompson, more than 30 years ago at Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale. This highly decorated horse became the foundation for the farm’s successful breeding program for hunters. Ms. Dodge’s horses have successfully competed in dressage, jumper and hunter divisions. She has also been named the Virginia Horse Shows Association Horsewoman of the Year, and this year, won both the J. Arthur Reynolds Perpetual Trophy and the Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF National Hunter Breeding Championship. Dodge continues to play an active role in USEF committees.

Herb Kohler, a breeder of Morgan horses, is a joint recipient of the Breeders’ Cup this year. Owner of Kohler Stables, Mr. Kohler has been in the breeding business for more than 30 years, beginning with the purchase of the Morgan stallion Vigilmarch. Starting out as a hobbyist, Kohler initially handled all of the breedings himself during his lunch hour. In addition to the Kentucky location, Kohler Stables’ original facility remains in Wisconsin, but plans are in the works to reunite both operations into one new facility in Wisconsin. Kohler continues to successfully breed champion horses and for the first time in Morgan horse history, three generations of Kohler’s stallions, were named the top ten producing Morgan stallions in the world.

These awards will be formally presented during the USEF annual meeting at the Seelbach Hilton in Louisville Kentucky, January 14, during the Pegasus Awards dinner. For ticket information, please contact Krista Greathouse on (859) 225-6961, or via e-mail at [email protected].

For more information, please contact Sarah Lane, Public Relations Manager on (859) 225-6974 or via email at [email protected]. USEF press releases are available on our web site – www.usef.org.