Photo Cred: CentreLine Media

Lexington, KY (September 25, 2026) – The United States Dressage Federation™ (USDF) is pleased to announce that Bennett McWhorter has been named 2026 USDF Youth Volunteer of the Year. Each year, this award bestows prestige and honor upon one outstanding youth volunteer who has contributed, both nationally and locally, to USDF and dressage.

In her nomination, Lendon Gray spoke of Bennett’s passion and motivation, specifically in his development and implementation of Dressage4Kids ACT (Advocacy, Community, and Team) Program, which requires several hours each week of his own time coordinating volunteer activities with peers across the country, maintaining records and volunteer logs, drafting communications to show organizers and facilities, and much more. Established through Dressage4Kids (D4K) in 2025, by Bennett himself to address a clear need he identified within the dressage community, the D4K ACT program was awarded a $5,000 grant from The Dressage Foundation’s Michael Poulin Fund for Innovative Programs. Through this funding and the support of D4K, Bennett has recruited over 120 youth members, representing 30 states and eight USDF Regions, who to date have contributed over 2500 volunteer hours to a plethora of community efforts, as well as to over 60 dressage shows including Great American/USDF Regional Championships, North American Youth Championships, and USEF Festival of Champions.

Bennett’s efforts and contributions, which clearly align with USDF’s mission of ‘education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage’, make this honor very well-deserved, as USDF National Youth Programs Committee Chair Roz Kinstler agreed, “Bennett shows a real desire to share his commitment and love of the sport. Not only is he a dedicated rider and competitor, but he encourages other youth to volunteer and to participate in a variety of educational programs dedicated to horsemanship and dressage. His dedication is very clear and a fine example to encourage other youth to do the same.”

Bennett will be recognized at the Salute Gala & Annual Awards Banquet held during the 2026 Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention in Lexington, KY. He will be presented with a perpetual trophy, donated by the Akin family of Warwick, NY, in honor of Lendon Gray, which is on permanent display in the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame, as well as a “keeper” trophy. He will also be featured in the 2026 yearbook issue of USDF Connection.

For more information about the USDF Youth Volunteer of the Year Award, or to view past recipients, visit the USDF website or contact the USDF office.

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.