Lexington, KY (September 11, 2018) - The United States Dressage Federation™ (USDF) is pleased to announce that Mary Anne McPhail, Martha McDaniel, and Priscilla Endicott have been named 2018 USDF Members of Distinction and will be recognized at this year's Salute Gala & Annual Awards Banquet, held during the Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention in Salt Lake City, UT. USDF Member of Distinction Awards are prestigious, national awards that annually recognize USDF members, who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to their local area or region.

Mary Anne McPhail is a USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medalist and a long time member of the Gold Coast Dressage Association.  Locally, Mary Anne is known in Florida for hosting a wide array of educational programs at her farm in Loxahatchee, such as Adequan®/USDF FEI-Level Trainers Conferences and USEF judges programs. She has also been the longtime organizer of the Palm Beach Derby, a tradition in Florida dressage. Mary Anne is also responsible for the establishment of the Mary Anne McPhail Dressage Chair in Equine Sports Medicine at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, which has led to a greater understanding in biomechanics and soundness and continues to influence equipment design and judging of the sport of dressage to ensure the wellbeing of our equine athletes.

Martha McDaniel has recorded an impressive 385 rides down the centerline, out of which she has earned numerous USDF rider awards including her USDF Bronze and Silver Medals, Bronze and Silver Freestyle Bars, and Master's Challenge at Training through FEI levels.   As a longtime Aloha State Dressage Society (ASDS) member, Martha has always been very active in making sure the "little state" was represented in USDF governance, through her eighteen years of convention attendance and her many years of service as a delegate and proxy. In addition to receiving the ASDS Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016, Martha has organized numerous educational and competitive events in Hawaii. Without Martha's dedication and volunteerism, dressage in Hawaii would not be where it is today.

Priscilla "Pep" Endicott is credited with the creation of the New England Dressage Association (NEDA), one of the first dressage organizations in the United States. NEDA has grown steadily in membership, competition production, and educational outreach throughout the decades, first under her leadership as president, and subsequently under the volunteer efforts of those dressage enthusiasts whom she inspired.  It is Priscilla's creativity and outstanding organizational abilities, and her dedication to the constancy of the learning process, that has led to this growth. Although she has retired from the day to day, hands on guidance of NEDA, her influence will have a resounding impact on the sport for many years to come.

For more information about the USDF Member of Distinction Award and Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame, visit the USDF website at www.usdf.org, or contact the USDF office at [email protected].

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.