Lexington, KY - Following a banner year in 2009 for the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the continuation of Markel Insurance as title sponsor as the 2010 Championship season gets under way.

Markel Insurance has been a steadfast supporter of the USEF Young Horse Dressage Program since 2002. A long time supporter of equestrian sport in many disciplines, Markel Insurance’s commitment to dressage helps ensure the development of a strong future generation of horses through the Young Horse Program.

“Markel Insurance Company is thankful to continue its involvement with the Young Horse Dressage Program”, notes John Seger of Markel Insurance. “We are inspired by the passion and teamwork that is shared between American young dressage horse breeders, owners, trainers and riders. These are the stars of the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program and we thank them for their commitment to excellence.”

The Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program promotes the importance of selective breeding and correct training of horses in the United States, and encourages participation of breeders, riders, and trainers of young horses in dressage competition. The purposes of this program are to encourage the properly structured development of young dressage prospects through the training scale; to identify and recognize outstanding talent and the training of international-caliber horses; and to prepare these horses for future careers at the FEI level and participation on U.S. High Performance teams.

“The Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program has continued to mature every year, and I am excited about the four and five-year-olds which we saw in last year’s Championships and which will be returning in 2010 as five and six-year-olds,” says Scott Hassler, USEF Young Horse Dressage Coach. “We have a terrific relationship with Markel Insurance, and without their continuing support this program would not be as successful as it is today.”

Qualifying is now under way for the 2010 Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program, with complete selection procedures, applications, and competition information now available on the Federation website, http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/alldressage/2004yhProgram.aspx.

The Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Selection Trials for the FEI World Breeding Championships will be held in late spring with two traditional sites including Dressage at Flintridge, California (Western) and Dressage at Lamplight May (Central). In an exciting development for 2010, the Eastern Selection Trial will be hosted by VADA/NOVA Summer June Dressage, June 4 – 6 in Leesburg, Virginia.

In addition, horses from across the nation will once again meet at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois for the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships, July 22 – 25, where new stars for the four, five, and six-year-old divisions will be crowned.

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For more information regarding the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program, please contact Jennifer Keeler, USEF National Director of Dressage, [email protected].