USDF Congratulates 2020 GMO Award Winners

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Lexington, KY (November 25, 2020) - The United States Dressage Federation™ (USDF) is pleased to congratulate all of the winners of the 2020 GMO Awards, which will be presented as part of the Board of Governors General Assembly during the 2020 Adequan®/USDF Virtual Convention. These awards are given annually, to recognize outstanding achievement within USDF’s GMO community. Recognition is given in the following categories: GMO amateur photograph, website user experience, newsletter first person experience and general interest articles, and creative GMO-sponsored program.  USDF also recognizes outstanding volunteers at the regional level.

This year’s winners are:

GMO Photography Awards:

Best Amateur Photograph:

GMOs with less than 75 members: No nominations
GMOs with 75 to 174 members: First Place: St. Louis Area Dressage Society, Hoofprints, June 2020, Photographer: Brianna Zwilling
Honorable Mention: Southern Eventing & Dressage Association, Off Course Online – The Bleep, July 24, 2020, Photographer: Nicole Miller
GMOs with 175 to 499 members: First Place: Central States Dressage & Eventing Association, Cross Country, July 2020, Photographer: Ann McMillan
GMOs with 500 or more members: First Place: Georgia Dressage & Combined Training Association, Inc., Collected Remarks, July/August 2020, Photographer: Caren Caverly

GMO Newsletter Awards:

First Person Experience Article:

GMOs with less than 75 members: No nominations
GMOs with 75 to 174 members: First Place: Southern Eventing & Dressage Association, Off Course Online - The Bleep, June 25, 2020: The Road to the AEC’s (Parts 1 & 2) by Aryelle Collins
Honorable Mention: St. Louis Area Dressage Society, Hoofprints, January 2020: The German Way by Brooke Von Hoffman
GMOs with 175 to 499 members: First Place: South Carolina Dressage & Combined Training Association, Tracking Up, July 2020: My Clinic Experience by Carson Richards
Honorable Mention: Central States Dressage & Eventing Association, Cross Country, November 2019: Sharp Dressed Man by Deena Helminiak
GMOs with 500 or more members: First Place: New England Dressage Association, A Tip of the Hat, November/December 2019: What I learned last winter: “Riding in the Moment” by Julie Hoogeveen
Honorable Mention: Georgia Dressage & Combined Training Association, Inc., Collected Remarks, March 2020: Training in Portugal by Hannah Rickles

General Interest/Informational Article:

GMOs with less than 75 members: No nominations
GMOs with 75 to 174 members: First Place: St. Louis Area Dressage Society, Hoofprints, September 2019: Horse-Rider Suitability: Matchmaking and Divorce in the Equine World by Taffy Ross
Honorable Mention: Three Rivers Equestrian Association, Three Rivers Equestrian Association Newsletter, May 2020: How To Get a Nine on the Centerline by Kristin Hermann
GMOs with 175 to 499 members: First Place: Illinois Dressage & Combined Training Association, Scribe, May 2020: Eric’s Training Corner – Achieving Steps Forward Into a Foggy Future by Eric Dierks
Honorable Mention: South Carolina Dressage & Combined Training Association, Tracking Up, July/August 2020: Rider Wellness for Competition (Two-Part Series) by Lisa Burch
GMOs with 500 or more members: First Place: New England Dressage Association, A Tip of the Hat, November/December 2019: Build It And They Will Come by Hollie McNeil
Honorable Mention: Georgia Dressage & Combined Training Association, Inc., Collected Remarks, January/February 2020: ‘Equestrian Community Unites’ by Joanne Morse

GMO Website Awards:

Best User Experience:

GMOs with less than 75 members: First Place: New Mexico Dressage Association (http://nmdressage.net)
GMOs with 75 to 174 members: First Place: Nebraska Dressage Association (www.nebraskadressage.org)
Honorable Mention: Mid-Ohio Dressage Association (www.midohiodressage.com)
GMOs with 175 to 499 members: First Place: Northern Ohio Dressage Association (www.nodarider.org)
Honorable Mention: Illinois Dressage & Combined Training Association (www.idcta.org)
GMOs with 500 or more members: First Place: Georgia Dressage & Combined Training Association, Inc. (www.gdcta.org)

Creative GMO-Sponsored Program Award:

First Place: New England Dressage Association – NEDA Know How Series
Regional GMO Volunteers of the Year:
Region 1: No nominations
Region 2: Joe Hull (London, OH – Mid-Ohio Dressage Association)
Region 3: No nominations
Region 4: No nominations
Region 5: No nominations
Region 6: No nominations
Region 7: No nominations
Region 8: Jane-Marie Law (Ithaca, NY – Cayuga Dressage & Combined Training Inc.)
Region 9: Ann Houchin (Tulsa, OK – Central Plains Dressage Society, Inc.)

For more information on GMOs in your area or GMO award programs, please visit the USDF website at www.usdf.org or contact the USDF Group Member Organizations Committee liaison at gmoliaison@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, e-mail usdressage@usdf.org, or call (859) 971-2277.

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.