Lexington, KY (January 13, 2009) - The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that 43 USDF members successfully completed the USDF "L" Education Program between May and November, 2008.
          The USDF "L" Education Program is designed to prepare candidates to enter the United States Equestrian Federation "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.  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.
          USDF congratulates the following new graduates of the USDF "L" Education Program:

Region 1:
Sherilyn Allen, VMD, PA
Karen Bates, NC
Angelia Bean, PA
Kim Briele, MD
Rebecca Cord, PA
Jaralyn Gibson-Finn, MD
Jeanne Karver, NC
Christina Keim, NH
Laura Juniewicz, PA
Jessica McTaggart, VA
Elizabeth C. Moore, NC
Debbie Morrison, NJ
Ruth Munroe, PA
Jamie Reilley, VMD, NJ
Jacalyn Sicoli, NJ
Kelly Smaltz, PA
Danielle Toscano, PA
Marija Trieschman, MD

Region 3:
C. Michelle Folden, SC
Roxane Kennedy, FL
Valerie Swygert, SC

Region 5:
Patti Thurman, UT

Region 7:
Katy Barglow, CA
Barbara Bell, CA
Lehua Custer, CA
Beatrice di Grazia, CA
Sandy Harper, CA
Polly Limond, CA
Karina Lyons, CA
Kathy Pavlich, CA
Yvette Pickrell, CA
Oryla Ramey, CA
Carrie Rollins, CA
Natalie Rooney Pitts, CA
Kate Shuster, CA
Rhonda Smith, CA

Region 8:
Lori Barnard, NY
Elaine Johnson, MA
Virginia Leary, CT
Lisa Leland-Courchesne, MA
Andrea Lucianna, WA
Amy von Scholz, NY

Region 9:
Grace Harris, TX

          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 the USDF Web site 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.