Lexington, KY (August 4, 2021) - The United States Dressage Federation™ (USDF) has announced the new format for the upcoming 2021 Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention in Houston, TX. After the overwhelming success and positive feedback from the membership regarding the virtual convention held in 2020, USDF has revamped the live event!

The first regional meetings will be held prior to the convention, via Zoom. Holding these meetings prior to the convention allows more people to provide input, and for delegates and Regional Directors to take regional member input with them to the onsite event and meetings.

At the onsite convention in Houston, attendees will have the opportunity to take part in the USDF Council Forums that were so successful in 2020, which are being incorporated going forward. By replacing individual open committee meetings with these forum discussions, it allows attendees to not only hear about topics that are interrelated but also provides an opportunity to gain insight and provide input into the overall USDF picture and trajectory. Other highlights of this year's live event are the Friday night Salute Gala, where Lifetime Achievement, Volunteers of the Year, Rider, and Breeder of Distinction Award recipients and the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic teams will be recognized, the ever-popular Group Member Organization Committee's Roundtable Discussions, and the can't-miss Team USA – Olympic and Paralympic Forum.

Another change for 2021 is with Annual Awards Banquet. Going forward, this annual event will be separated into two virtual events (the Adequan®/USDF Annual Awards Ceremony and Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Awards Presentation) that will be held after the first of the year. By doing this, USDF will be able to provide more expansive and meaningful recognition to award winners, while also providing a unique opportunity and platform for its Participating Organizations to not only highlight their award recipients, but also their registry, breed, and members to a wide USDF audience. This standalone awards presentation will also provide an opportunity for ‘all breeds' to get their time in the spotlight in front of the full dressage community.

USDF President Lisa Gorretta enthused, “I'm so happy that we have found a way to incorporate some of the well-received parts of the 2020 virtual convention into this and future conventions. By streamlining our structure and incorporating the virtual aspects, we have also been able to provide a conflict free experience for our convention attendees. I look forward to seeing everyone in Houston; we will have much to discuss and some big decisions that will guide our future and keep us moving on a forward track!”

To access a draft convention agenda and registration/hotel information, or to learn more about what the 2021 event has to offer, visit the USDF website at www.usdf.org/convention. For any questions related to the convention, please contact the USDF office at [email protected] or by phone at (859) 971-2277.

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.