USDF Announces 2005 FEI Junior / Young Rider Clinic Series Funding Provided by The Dressage Foundation
USDF is pleased to announce the 2005 USDF FEI Junior / Young Rider Dressage Clinics, made possible with financial support from The Dressage Foundation. Debbie McDonald, Sue Blinks, and George Williams, all highly respected teachers and international high performance dressage athletes, will be serving as the featured clinicians. USDF is honored to welcome them as part of the clinic series.
Debbie McDonald, one of the most successful American dressage riders today, is a two-time National Dressage Champion and a member of the 2002 U.S. dressage silver medal World Equestrian Games team, and 2004 bronze medal Olympic Games team. Together with the famous Hanoverian mare, Brentina, they were 2003 World Cup Champions and have captured team and individual gold medals in the Pan American Games and numerous other international awards. She has been named AHSA (now USEF) Equestrian of the Year and US Olympic Committee Horsewoman of the Year.
Sue Blinks, also a member of the 2002 U.S. silver medal U.S. World Equestrian Games team has numerous accomplishments to her credit. Sue Blinks and Flim Flam competed for the U.S. on the 2000 Sydney Olympic Bronze medal team dressage squad, where they were the highest-placed individual American entry with eighth place overall. Blinks, riding Delano, was also a member of the fourth-place USET team at the 1998 World Equestrian Games in Rome, finishing 12th individually. She wrapped up her season by being honored as the USOC Female Equestrian Athlete of the Year. Other accomplishments include second- and third-place ribbons in the 1997 USET Grand Prix Championship and second- and third-place finishes in the Grand Prix, Special and Freestyle at the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions that same year. Blinks is also a US Equestrian Federation dressage judge.George Williams won two national AHSA and USDF Championships in 1981 and he has coached four NAYRC Individual Medal Winners and numerous NAYRC Team Medal winners. He has earned the USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals and his German Bronze Rider Medal. He has successfully competed in Europe on the popular lop-eared, black Westfalen mare, Rocher. Williams set record high scores in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle at Dressage at Devon CDI *** in 2002 and returned in 2003 to win three of the four Grand Prix classes on both Rocher and Marnix. In 2003 Williams and Rocher represented the United States, placing 5th at the World Cup Freestyle Championships in Sweden. They continued a successful European tour, earning them a BCM World Ranking of 16th. This was followed by the Chronicle Dressage Horse of the Year Award, the USDF Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle Horse of the Year Awards.
The Dressage Foundation is generous in its financial support of this clinic series. 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 these clinics, as these young riders will become the dressage instructors, competitors, and judges of the future," said John Boomer, president and CEO of The Dressage Foundation.The 2005 clinic schedule is:
| Region 1 | April 16-17 | George Williams | Fulton, MD | Evergreen Stables |
| Region 2 | September 24-25 | Sue Blinks | Richwood, OH | Gypsy Woods Farm |
| Region 3 | TBA | |||
| Region 4 | TBA | |||
| Region 5 | October 22-23 | Debbie McDonald | Larkspur, CO | Crooked Willow Farm |
| Region 6 | September 3-4 | Debbie McDonald | Woodinville, WA | Bear Creek Farm |
| Region 7 | June 11-12 | Debbie McDonald | Corona, CA | Hidden River Ranch |
| Region 8 | July 9-10 | Sue Blinks | Bedford, NY | Gleneden Dressage |
| Region 9 | October 1-2 | Sue Blinks | Fulshear, TX | Freestyle Farm |
Rider participation in the clinic series is intended for young dressage enthusiasts between the ages of 14-21, who are currently riding at Third Level or above.
Rider applicants must be current USDF participating, group, or intercollegiate/interscholastic members. Auditors of all ages and all disciplines are also encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to observe the training methods of these respected teachers. Auditors who pre-register receive discounted rates. For further information and online registration, visit http://www.usdf.org/Programs/AdvancedYoungRider/index.asp , or contact USDF at (859) 271-7879 or sforbes@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 about USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org, email usdressage@usdf.org, or call (859) 971-2277.
