A Farewell Look at San Diego

The 2011 Adequan/US Dressage Federation National Convention and Symposium has come to a close. In the few days that have passed since we packed up and left sunny San Diego, the congratulatory notes and thank-you e-mails have begun flowing in to the USDF office. It's gratifying to know that attendees and trade-show vendors alike found the event stimulating, successful, and worthwhile.

Detailed convention and symposium reports, and many more photos, will be in the February 2012 issue of USDF Connection (the 2011 yearbook issue). To help tide you over, enjoy this smorgasbord of images from a wonderful event in a beautiful city.

CDS tribute to USDF Lifetime Achievement Award honoree
Peter Lert

CDS tribute to USDF Lifetime Achievement Award honoree
Elizabeth Searle

Board of Governors delegates queue for a roll-call vote

USDF president George Williams and 2011 Ruth Arvanette Memorial Grant recipient Viva Medina of Hawaii

Karen Winn of Kentucky (pictured with USDF executive director Stephan Hienzsch) was among several lucky winners of a Harwich dressage bridle donated by SmartPak

Chad Compton, USDF's IT director (left), chats with BOG delegate Don Faso of Georgia during a roll-call vote

Edwin Miller (OR) accepts the USDF Region 6 Volunteer of the Year award on behalf of Norma Talburt

Olympian Debbie McDonald (center) and Grand Prix-level competitor Adrienne Lyle (right) with USDF president George Williams during the Salute Gala/awards banquet cocktail reception. In the background is Robert Higgins.

Happy awards recipients and supporters at the reception

And a few more Gala-goers

USDF staffers Kim Sodt and Ben de Jesus working the AV during the Salute Gala and awards banquet

Custom Saddlery held its second annual saddle drawing during a USDF convention. Sponsored rider Steffen Peters (right) helped present to the winner, Amelia Child of California. At left are Custom Saddlery president Cary Wallace (holding saddle) and San Diego-based Custom Saddlery rep Graham Newell.

Adjacent to the Del Mar (CA) Fairgrounds, site of the 2011 symposium, is the famed Del Mar Racetrack 

The California Dressage Society did a brisk merchandise business at the symposium trade fair

California-based USDF-certified instructor Susan Hoffman Peacock kicked off the symposium by demonstrating a seat lesson

International competitor Leslie Morse and one of her young horses enjoy a cruise around the outside of the arena

2011 Pan Am Games double gold medalist Weltino's Magic is a quick study. He soon learned to look for his sugar reward as USEF technical advisor Anne Gribbons coached rider Steffen Peters on developing the piaffe. 

2010 World Equestrian Games bronze medalists Ravel and Steffen Peters thrilled the symposium crowd with a demonstration of their new freestyle

Adrienne Lyle and Wizard showed why they're contenders for the 2012 US Olympic dressage team

The USEF dressage coaches (Scott Hassler, Debbie McDonald [no, she's not tall; she's standing on the arena rail!], Anne Gribbons, and Jeremy Steinberg are all smiles at symposium's end as they accept thank-you gifts from USDF executive director Stephan Hienzsch and USDF senior education-programs coordinator Kathie Robertson