The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) has announced a membership dues and horse registration fee increase for the 2011 membership year, which begins December 1, 2010. At the 2009 Adequan/USDF Annual Convention in Austin, TX, the following dues and fees were approved by the Board of Governors (BOG); 1-year Participating Membership (PM)-$75, Youth PM-$60, 5-Year PM-$300, Life PM-$1,500, Business Membership-$200, Group Member Organization (GMO) Membership-$20, GMO Supporting Family Membership-$10, Horse Identification Number (HID)-$25, and Lifetime Horse Registration (LHR)-$95.

This is the first dues increase the USDF membership has seen in seven years. Following a presentation before the Board of Governors (BOG) on December 3, 2009, by Ken Levy, Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee, to Evaluate the Membership and Fee Structure, which was formed the previous year at the Board of Governors in Denver, CO, the BOG passed all recommendations made by the committee. In his presentation, Levy stated: “Costs change, unfortunately they never go backwards. Things have gone up. We’re just trying to catch up cost wise. “

Sam Barish, former president of USDF, who presided over the 2009 BOG, was pleased with the passage of the dues increase, and the subsequent balanced budget that was also approved. Barish stated, “The new budget puts USDF on firm financial footing for the future.”

For more information on USDF membership and horse registrations, or to find out more about the annual convention and board of governors, visit the USDF website at www.usdf.org, or contact the USDF membership department at [email protected].