Lexington, KY (November 24, 2008) - The United States Dressage Federation's (USDF) Youth Executive Board is pleased to announce the winners of the USDF Youth Convention Scholarship Program for the 2008 Adequan/USDF National Convention and Symposium. This year's winners are Arielle Perry, Jannike Gray, and Jessica Rose Deimler.
          The Youth Executive Board annually awards scholarships of up to $1,000 each to help defray the expenses associated with attending the annual convention. Applicants are judged on such qualities as participation in USDF or dressage-related activities, desire to learn, communication skills, and the manner in which they plan to share the knowledge gained at the convention.
          Arielle Perry, 16, from Spring Hope, North Carolina, has been showing her family's home-bred horses in hand since the age of 14. In 2008, Arielle's five-year-old Hanoverian mare, Reba's Song, ranked fifteenth nationally in standings for the Adequan/USDF Dressage Sport Horse Breeding Horse of the Year. In 2007, Arielle accomplished a precedent-setting score of 100 percent in the Jr/YR Amateur Handler class at Dressage at Devon, as well as placing fifth in the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Breeders' Championships Mare Championship. The Dressage at Devon Committee awarded Arielle the John Perry Memorial Perpetual Trophy, which annually recognizes an individual at the competition who has displayed good sportsmanship or achieved a unique accomplishment. Arielle started Reba's Song under saddle herself, and has successfully competed against professionals in materiale classes. In addition to her equestrian accomplishments, Arielle is a professional photographer, whose photographs have appeared in publications such as the USDF Connection, The Chronicle of the Horse, Dressage Today, and Hunter and Horse Sport. Her entry in the 2007 USDF Youth Arts Contest won first place in the 15 & Under Posed Photography division, and placed second in the 15 & Under Candid Photography division.
          Jannike Gray, 14, from Easton, Connecticut, began competing at USDF/USEF recognized competitions at First Level this year, and hopes to advance to a level in the future where she can participate in USDF programs such as the FEI Jr/YR Clinics, NAJYRC, and the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Regional Dressage Championships. Jannike helps her parents at their Gray Friesian Farm, teaching beginner lessons, volunteering to provide hands-on opportunities for homeless children who love horses, and schooling her Friesian gelding, Jorrit, and American Quarter Horse/Arabian cross mare, Angel. Jannike also enjoys rehabilitating abused horses through ground training and patient handling. Upon graduation from eighth grade last year as a student at the Helen Keller Middle School in Eason, Connecticut, Jannike was recognized with an award for Outstanding Dedication and Service for the countless hours she spent working to support various community charities and for the leadership she provided to the Eighth Grade Government and the Student Council.
          Jessica Rose Deimler, 16, from Atlanta, Georgia, currently serves on the Youth Board of the Georgia Dressage and Combined Training Association, and competed in the USEF National Jr/YR Dressage Championships in 2007 and 2008, as well as in the 2007 USDF/Platinum Performance North American Junior/Young Riders Dressage Championships. Jessica has earned high academic achievement honors from 2006-2008, and is active in volunteer community social services such as the Empty Stocking Fund's Santa's Village and Project Open Hand.
          For more information about the USDF Youth Convention Scholarship Program or to access an application, please 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 [email protected], or call (859) 971-2277.