Lexington, KY (August 3, 2017) - The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that Region 1 Young Rider Chase Shipka, of Marshall, VA, and her twelve-year-old, Dutch Warmblood gelding, Zigal, were awarded this year's Fiona Baan “Pursuit of Excellence” Memorial Trophy. This trophy, which is on permanent display in the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame, is awarded to the Young Rider who earns the highest combined average score in the three dressage tests: FEI Young Rider Team, Individual, and Freestyle. Chase placed second in both the team and individual test, and was the highest scoring competitor in the freestyle test at this year's USDF North American Junior & Young Rider Dressage Championships, held as part of the Adequan®/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North. Shipka secured the win with an overall combined average of 72.032%, from her scores of 69.921% in the Team Test, 71.526% in the Individual Test, and 74.650% in the Freestyle Test.

The “Pursuit of Excellence” is the legacy Fiona Baan left to all FEI Young Riders, and indeed to everyone who ever knew or worked with her. For nearly 30 years, Ms. Baan worked tirelessly, with great dedication to the United States Equestrian Team (USET). She was U.S. Dressage Team Leader for the 1976 Olympics Bronze Medal team, the 1987 Pan Am Games , and for the bronze medal dressage team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

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.