North Florida Dressage Association to Host Events during 2010 Adequan/USDF National Convention and Symposium in Jacksonville, Dec. 1-5

  • Save

Jacksonville, Fla. – September 22, 2010 – North Florida Dressage Association (NFDA) will be holding a variety of events in Jacksonville, Fla. during the upcoming 2010 Adequan/USDF National Convention and Symposium. From Wednesday through Sunday, Dec. 1-5, equestrian activities will be held at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Riverfront, 223 E. Coastline Drive and the Jacksonville Equestrian Center, 13611 Normandy Blvd. Many events are free and open to the public. Registration and cost is required for some activities and classes. Visit www.DressageontheFirstCoast.com and www.usdf.org/convention.

According to Mary O’Brien, event spokesperson, the activities begin on Wednesday and continue through Sunday at the hotel and the equestrian center with classroom instruction on a variety of topics including the  2011 tests for horse and rider competitions and training methods, health and nutrition information, and tips and trends in dressage, to name a few. Riding events will include Dressage on the First Coast, a USEF and USDF recognized dressage show and the USDF/Adequan Symposium designed to instruct riders about the new 2011 USEF dressage tests and how best to perform them in the show ring.

On Wednesday from 5 pm until 9 pm, an equestrian-themed ArtWalk in downtown Jacksonville will be held. ‘Top Hat and Tails’ will attract hundreds of equestrian enthusiasts who will view the specialized art and traditional artists during the monthly art walk. For more information, visit www.downtownjacksonville.org.

On Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 4-5, NFDA and USDF will hold events at the equestrian center to include prize purse competitions, freestyle riding events and awards along with training classes for the discipline’s 2011 riding tests. On Dec. 4, beginning at approximately 3pm the NFDA will host a cocktail party followed by a Freestyle Challenge sponsored by Advanced Disposal. The party will culminate with a $3,000 purse for Freestyle riding starting at 4pm.  Dressage freestyles are self-created dressage tests ridden to music to give the impression of dancing horses and riders.  Also, on Dec. 4-5, an Equestrian Trade Fair will take place at the equestrian center with equestrian items of all kinds for sale. There is no charge to attend the trade fair or the Freestyle Challenge.

For more information, contact Mary O’Brien at 904.616.5322 or email mobrien@advanceddisposal.com.

“We are honored to have some of the Southeast’s top horses and riders converge in Jacksonville while they compete, train and learn,” said O’Brien. “The 2010 Adequan/USDF National Convention and Symposium will provide dressage enthusiasts with important education and training tips,” she said.

According to O’Brien, the theme for this year’s Symposium is “Cross the Bridge from Training to Showing” and will feature Lilo Fore, an International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) “I” judge and trainer. Fore helped to develop the USDF Instructor Certification Program. Also, Gary Rockwell will be a featured instructor. Rockwell was a member of the United States Equestrian Team and represented the U.S. in competition throughout Europe.  He currently is an internationally rated FEI “O” judge, the highest level of judging credentials possible.

About Dressage:

Dressage is the largest International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) discipline within the sport-horse category in the United States and is the fastest growing discipline (English or Western) in the United States. United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is the national membership organization of dressage riding in the U.S. and includes a national membership of 34,000. Approximately 35 percent of the membership resides in Region 3, which includes Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage. For more information, visit www.usdf.org.

Contact:

Mary O’Brien

904.616.5233

mobrien@advanceddisposal.com

One thought on “North Florida Dressage Association to Host Events during 2010 Adequan/USDF National Convention and Symposium in Jacksonville, Dec. 1-5”

Leave a Reply