FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kim Sodt 859-271-7876

          Lexington, KY (December 11, 2006) - United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that thirty-eight USDF members successfully completed the USDF "L" Education Program from August to November 2006.  The USDF "L" Education Program is designed to prepare candidates to enter the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) "r" Judges Training Program, to qualify individuals to judge schooling shows, and to give competitors, trainers, and instructors greater insight into the evaluative techniques of judging dressage. The program also serves to provide continuing education for licensed judges. 

          USDF congratulates the following new graduates of the USDF "L" Education Program:

Region 1:
Cheryl Ash, PA
Claudia Casser, NJ
Sherree Cushner, NJ
Sarah Duclos, PA
Suzy Floyd, MD
Susan Herster, NJ
Jill Kuc, PA
Linda Marciante, NJ
Kristen McLaughlin, PA
Patricia Thompson, PA

Region 3:
Jennifer Aurilio, FL
Laura Jane Crane, TN

Region 4:
Susan Clarke, KS
Bonnie Griest, KS
Susan Lang, KS
Gail Matheus, KS

Region 5:
Kathleen Mayger, CO

Region 7:
Veronique Gillard, CA
Katie Hoefs, CA
Anne Howard, CA
Bonnie Johnston, CA
Lyn Ringrose-Moe, CA
Jennette Scanlon, CA
Joan Williams, CA

Region 8:
Leanne Boufford, NY
Rachel Gioia, CT
Virginia Leary, CT
Rachel Markels Webber, MA
Nancy Young, MA

Region 9:
Gloria Beduhn, TX
Lisa Blackmon, TX
Deborah Cinotto, TX
Sarah Griffith, TX
Robin Hessel, OK
Richard Howard, TX
Clare Morrow, TX
Emilee Reed, TX
Barbara Richardson-Lewis, TX

          The "L" Program is an excellent opportunity for all USDF members to learn from licensed judges in order to improve their scores and view other rides from a judge's perspective, whether or not they plan on becoming licensed judges themselves.  "L" Programs are conducted by a faculty of USDF-approved United States Equestrian Federation "S"-licensed dressage judges who have experience in teaching judge-training programs.
         

          For more information about the USDF "L" Program, to contact a USDF "L" graduate, for a calendar of USDF "L" education programs, or for details on hosting an "L" Program education session, visit http://www.usdf.org/Programs/LProgram/index.asp or contact Kim Sodt, USDF Senior Coordinator of Judge Education, at (859) 271-7876 or via email at ksodt@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.