Monday, September 29, 2008

Part 2 Approved - Region 1

A Part 2 was just approved for Region 1 with hosting GMO Potomac Valley Dressage Association (PVDA). The organizer, Alyssa Dragnich (adragnich@comcast.net) will be organizing this Part 2 with the following dates, locations and faculty:

Session D2; May 16-17th, 2009; PVDA Spring Show, Leesburg, VA; Jeff Moore

Final Exam; September 11-13th, 2009; VADA/Nova Autumn I Show; Leesburg, VA; Jeff Moore and Gary Rockwell

PVDA, with help from VADA/Nova, have also organized a D1 Session for November 22-23rd, 2008 in Leesburg, VA as well. The D1 was set up to compliment the approved Part 2 above. You'll find the information in this blog on a previous, 9/12/2008, post or on the USDF calendar at www.usdf.org.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, lprogram@usdf.org

Congratulations to the New USDF "L" Graduates!

A huge 'Congratulations' are in order for the candidates that graduated from the PVDA "L" Program's final exam (held September 20-21st).

*Lori Barnard,NY
Kim Renee Briele,MD
*Jaralyn G. Finn,MD
*Grace Harris, TX
*Elaine (Lainey) Johnson,MA
Roxane Kennedy,FL
*Jessica McTaggart,VA
*Amy Von Scholz, NY
*Jacalyn Sicoli, NJ

*Denotes those that graduated with distinction from the "L" Program.

The above "L" graduates will also be listed on the USDF website at: http://www.usdf.org/about/contact/lprogram.asp?TypePass=Graduates&RegionPass=1, under their specific USDF region.

Friendly reminder: After a successful graduation, candidates are referred to as “L” Graduates. “L” Graduates are NOT licensed dressage judges. Therefore, they may not advertise themselves as “L” judges.

Friday, September 26, 2008

2 Spots Open - Final Exam

Two spots have opened up in the North Carolina Dressage & Combined Training Program (NCDCTA) for the Final Exam. The final exam is set to take place October 25-26th, 2008 in Columbus, GA with the examiners; Trenna Atkins and Axel Steiner.

If you are interested and eligible to attend please contact me at lprogram@usdf.org or 859/971-2277.

Those eligible to attend this final exam are those that have taken the program up to the D2 Session, preferably within the last three years, and are looking to complete the program. Any questions let me know.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

New "L" Program Approved - Region 8

Orange County Dressage Association will be hosting an "L" Program (Part 1 & 2) with Dr. Lisa Toaldo as the organizer.

Here is the schedule and information for the Part 1:

Session A; January 10-11, 2009; Warwick, NY; with Elizabeth Madlener
Session B; February 21-22, 2009; Warwick, NY; with Gary Rockwell
Session C; March 28-29, 2009; Warwick, NY; with Lois Yukins
Session D1; May 23-24, 2009; ESDCTA Memorial Day Show; with Elizabeth Madlener

Information for the Part 2 (Session D2 and Final Exam):

Session D2; August 15-16, 2009; Saugerties, NY (HITS on the Hudson, CenterlineEvents); Marilyn Heath
Final Exam; October 10-11, 2009; Garden State Classic (New Jersey Horse Park); Marilyn Heath & Lois Yukins

Check out the USDF calendar for contact information for Lisa (dentist2@embarqmail.com), you can click the title of this blog to go directly to the calendar.

Or contact me at lprogram@usdf.org

Dressed Up & No Place to Go?

Have you meet all the requirements for being a participant but can't find an "L" Education Program to attend?

First, you have to be willing to be proactive and take initiative!

If there aren't any programs that you are able to attend, either too full or far away, then contact your GMO to see if they would be interested in organizing a program. Has anyone else expressed an interest in the "L" Program? Can your area support the program with facilities and shows?

Please note: If you would like to participate in an "L" Program you cannot organize a program, but you can help out.

Here are some places to look for further information on how to organize a program (or information on the program itself):

"L" Program FAQ: http://www.usdf.org/faqs/Lprogram.asp

"L" Program Organizer Guidelines: http://www.usdf.org/docs/education/judge-training/lprogram/OrganizerGuidelines08.pdf

Second option is to contact me at lprogram@usdf.org or call 859/971-2277 and let me know that you can't find a program but are really interested in participating in one. I do keep note of the interest, and the areas, to see if USDF can help drum up a program in that area/region.

Third option is to keep an eye on programs that may have already started near you and audit the A, B or C Sessions. Get started on learning while you wait for a program to start up!

Don't lose hope - a program will be coming to a facility near you!

Friday, September 12, 2008

Approved D1 with Part 2 to soon follow...

PVDA, with organizer Alyssa Dragnich, has recently had a Session D1 approved and their Part 2 is one step away from being approved.

Region 1 has had several "L" Programs this last year and in order to help candidates get through the program PVDA, with help from VADA/Nova, has put together a D1, D2 and Final Exam.

The D1 Session is scheduled for November 22-23, 2008 in Leesburg, VA with instructor Elizabeth Madlener.

The Part 2 is scheduled for the 2009 competition season (D2 - May & Final Exam - September). I'll be sharing the specifics with you shortly but it is essentially a 'go' (unofficially).

If you are interested contact Alyssa Dragnich at adragnich@comcast.net.

I'll continue to share more about upcoming programs as they get approved or hit the radar.

Questions? Contact me @ lprogram@usdf.org