Dear AWSSR members,

2019 saw significant growth in our society. We had 85 new horse registrations and nearly equal numbers of new and renewing members. Our awards program participants tripled since 2017 and span the U.S. from Maine to Washington to Michigan to south Texas. Dressage is the most popular discipline with some real quality at both National and FEI levels. Sharon Booth has helped put AWSSR on the map through her support of Western Dressage through organizing clinics, sponsoring awards at the WDAA World Championships, and providing the gorgeous trophy buckles for our year-end awards.

Five individuals have been selected as ambassadors as a result of excellent performances, facing challenges head on and making AWSSR very proud.

Ada Ladwig, a junior rider from Maple Swamp Farm in Waynesburg, KY, rode 2 horses to Regional accolades that she trained with her mother Ela’s guidance. Argenta MSF, a FreisianX mare, placed 7th in the USDF Region 2 Finals at Second level. Diego, a pinto WB by Balta Czar, won the USEA Area VIII Novice Championship and was the overnight leader after cross country at the American Eventing Championships. Ada is home schooled and trains her own sale prospects.

Fynn, multiple Grand Prix champion, was a byproduct of the PMU industry. His owner/trainer/rider, Candace Platz, selected him from a group of youngsters. Who knew that he would dance all the way to the top? A soft tissue injury sidelined him for a year and he was lovingly rehabbed to a complete recovery and he danced back to the top.

Mint Julep, Claire Coffin’s treasure, originated as an Amish buggy horse, but her ancestral DNA says sporthorse all the way! MJ, as she is known in the barn, placed 5th in the Adult Amateur Beginner Novice National Championship at the AEC, and won the AWSSR trophy at the US Dressage Finals for the best Adult Amateur score at National levels

Marco, a Polish Warmblood gelding, is giving his owner, Jennifer Foulon, some great rides at the FEI levels, specifically Intermediaire II and Grand Prix. They placed Top 10 at the US Dressage Finals and won the AWSSR Adult Amateur FEI trophy.

Mein Leibling, a Haflinger cross gelding of unknown parentage, is a master of versatility. he and his partner, Emma Kane, are the USDF All Breeds Adult Amateur Training Level Champions, National Dressage Pony Cup champions and placed Top 10 in the Western Dressage Association of America World Show. “Tonka” also shows in hand and has found success in eventing.

We had 4 on site inspections in North Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, and Iowa and are seeing more and more crosses with North American native breeds. Our inspection Horse of the Year, Da Vinci, a 3-year-old gelding trained by Ela Ladwig, is of Dutch Harness and American Saddlebred heritage. His cadenced, articulate paces are exciting his new owner! We have already started filling in the calendar for 2020 inspections and one is already planned for Pennsylvania in the spring.

We will continue to serve our members by providing identification and opportunities to shine through the education of inspections and rewarding outstanding performances with awards. Health and success in 2020!

Sincerely,

Nancy Roth

AWSSR National Director