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VOLUME 7, NO.  2

USDF
NEWS

Until now, catching the glimpse of a dressage horse on American television is a very rare sighting. Thanks to a joint project with the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) and RFD-TV, several hours of dressage will be available each week on satellite television. RFD-TV is located on channel 9409 of the DISH Network System, and soon will also be available on DirectTV. RFD-TV is the nation's first 24-hour television network dedicated to serving the needs and interests of rural America and agriculture. It is a nonprofit 501(c) corporation, which provides informational and educational programming as a public interest channel. The dressage presentations are aired each Friday at 4 & 10 p.m. eastern time, with three repeats over the weekend. "Dressage is the #1 request from our viewers of horses on RFD-TV," said Patrick Gottsch, President RFD-TV. "The USDF has been instrumental in providing programming that will begin to fill this need. We look forward to working with the USDF to continue to expand this programming block on RFD-TV to showcase, and promote, dressage to millions of homes in North America." "We are very excited to be able to present dressage training through RFD-TV. With this technology, we have the capacity to reach over 17 million homes," explained Beth Wood, USDF's Director of Sales and Marketing. RFD-TV features 56 hours of programming each week to serve the entire equine industry. Training, events, and informational videos are featured each day in two-hour blocks. Broadcasting originates from Dallas, Texas, and the network is supported through sponsorships of its programming. For further information, www.rfd-tv.com. This month, the presentation features renowned German trainer Conrad Schumacher filmed at the 1999 USDF National Dressage Symposium. Viewing schedules are posted at www.rfd-tv.com/daily_schedule.htm, then look for the word "Dressage".

While I ride my new young horse, I am reacquainted with the basics of the training scale (along with steering and staying in the dressage arena!). As I begin in my new role as regional director, I would like to review some of the basics of our equestrian organization, USDF.

We are governed by a "from the bottom up" management style. Each year Participating Members elect delegates, and Group Member Organizations (GMO) appoint delegates to go the annual meeting. At this meeting these people meet to make plans and vote on issues that become the programs and rules that establish and monitor our sport. Elections are held each year on a rotating basis. In the first year of the rotation, the delegates elect the officers: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Next year, Dec 11-15, 2002 in Portland, we will elect new officers. The second year, delegates from the even numbered regions elect their regional directors, and the third year delegates from the odd numbered regions elect their directors.

After my election in December, my three-year term as Region 5 Director began on Jan 1st. I represent the interests of our 2,293 members on the Executive Board and am the liaison for USDF programs in our region. Our region includes members in Arizona, Colorado, eastern Montana, New Mexico, Utah, west Texas, and Wyoming and has 10 GMOs. The regional newsletter and GMO newsletters are our main sources of communication.

Next month I will review some of USDF programs and funding options. In preparing for the New Year, make sure to renew all your memberships. If you are planning to qualify for the Regional Championships to be held in Chandler, Arizona in October, review all the membership criteria. Advanced Young Riders need to declare their intent by March 1, 2002 (FREE OF CHARGE), March 2 - 15 ($100 LATE FEE). Looking forward to a New Year. Happy Riding! Theresa Hunt Region 5 Director