The annual banquet was a rousing success, and congratulations on the election of your new 2017 Board of Directors:

Jane Fucinaro, President
Laureen Van Norman, Vice President
Heidi Helmer, Secretary
Kathy Hanford, Treasurer
Miya Higgins, Junior Rep
Margo Hamilton
Gracia Huenefeld
Kathy Lewis
Judy Seward

Your new board will be meeting for the first time Monday, January 9, 2017. They are eager to serve you, and welcome your suggestions, comments, or questions. Please feel free to contact us any time.

The FEI World Cup™ Finals are equestrian sports' top annual indoor championship for jumping and dressage horses and draws the top names in the sport, including Olympic, World and European Champions. The 2017 FEI World Cup™ Finals at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha include the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final and the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final and will be the biggest event on this year's international equestrian calendar. Riders representing over 25 countries are expected for the Midwest's first-ever international showdown and 70 of the world's top riders in two Olympic disciplines will join more than 60,000 fans from all 50 states and 20 countries for 5 days of action-packed competition and so much more!
 
"We are so excited that the legendary Isabell Werth is coming to Omaha!" said Lisa Roskens, Chairman of the Omaha Equestrian Foundation, producer of the 2017 FEI World Cup™ Finals. "The Dressage Showcase segment with Isabell Werth will give fans a rare opportunity to learn from an international star who has won more Olympic medals than any dressage  rider in history and we are delighted that she has chosen Omaha for her first-ever exhibition in the U.S.!"
 
Werth is the most decorated dressage rider in history and is currently ranked number one in world. She is a five-time Olympic veteran who has won a total of nine Olympic medals including the Individual Gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. She has also won five Team Gold medals (2016 in Rio, 2008 in Hong Kong, 2000 in Sydney, 1996 in Atlanta and 1992 in Barcelona), plus four Individual Silver medals (2016, 2008, 2000 and 1992).
 
Werth has also won four Team and three Individual Gold medals, plus an Individual Bronze and a Team Bronze, at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG). She has won three European Championships and has twice been the FEI World Cup™ Dressage champion, winning the Finals in 2007 in Las Vegas aboard Warum Nicht FRH and in 1992 in Gothenburg, Sweden aboard Fabienne.

​Dressage Showcase
The Dressage Showcase takes place on Friday, March 31 starting at 3:00 p.m.There will be four horses used in the "Young Horses to Grand Prix with Olympic Champion Isabell Werth Presented by the Dressage Foundation." Included will be two young horses (5-7 years old), a Small Tour horse and a young Grand Prix horse. Werth will explain her training methods and the stepping stones she takes in bringing a young horse up the levels to the highest level of dressage - the Grand Prix.
 
"This promises to be a historic occasion and we are so honored to be able to bring dressage fans in the U.S. this unprecedented opportunity to learn first-hand from one of the greatest riders in our sport's history," Roskens said. "Coupling this with the chance to see the best horses and riders in the worldcompeting for the title of World Cup Champion guarantees everyone who attends an experience that they will truly never forget!"
 
Schedule and Ticket Information
The 2017 FEI World Cup™ Finals Omaha 2017 will run over five days, March 29-April 2. A variety of ticket packages are still available, but the VIP Tickets in the first 5 rows are the best seats in the house and include access to the VIP Hospitality Lounge throughout the event! The VIP Hospitality Lounge will feature full meals, open bar, live music, concierge service and other amenities, all included with each VIP ticket. There are also All-Session tickets available and each all-session package includes admission to five sessions. To order VIP tickets call 402-930-3079 or email contactOEF@omahaequestrian.com for more information.

Hospitality Packages are also still available. The elegant Suites are spacious, comfortable and overlook the entire arena with seating for 20-25 people. Wait service, food, drink and access to the VIP Lounge are included throughout the event. Ringside tables gets you up close to the action in comfort and style with In-Arena seating for 6 or 8 people, complimentary wine and heavy hors d'oeuvres along with access to the VIP Lounge throughout the event. For more information on hospitality packages call 402-930-3079 or email contactOEF@omahaequestrian.com.

Exceptional Shopping, Live Entertainment and Educational Exhibits
The event's unique Boutique Shopping Village and  Tailgate Lounge were designed specifically around the warm-up arena so that visitors will be able to browse, shop and dine while watching the world's elite competitors warm up their horses. Over 140 vendors will be on hand boasting wares ranging from top-of-the-line equestrian products for both horse and rider, barn equipment and FEI World Cup™ merchandise to stunning jewelry, beautiful artwork and the latest in fashions. Spectators will be able to shop-till-they-drop while enjoying all the action!
 
The entire Horse Expo will be hopping Thursday through Saturday night. Live bands, food and drink, pony races and high-end shopping will entertain the crowd until 11:00 p.m. each evening.
 
The Horse Discovery Zone offers hands-on learning area including the Runza Gallery of Breeds, Riding Style Museums, Durham Museum, Omaha Children's Museum, Henry Doorly Zoo, Blacksmith Shop, Wheelwright, The Tack Room, U.S. Pony Clubs and Citizens Foundation for the Omaha Mounted Patrol. The Demonstration Arena will offer educational demonstrations throughout the day with presentations on styles of riding, Parade of Breeds, vaulting, Pony Club Games, long-lining, grooming, driving and so much more! Equimania! offers youth education stations and interactive displays including anatomy, dental, evolution, skeleton in motion, Tree of Life, Digestive tract, nutrition and water, horse behavior and colors, grooming, safety. The Horse Discovery Zone Theater will host ongoing presentations of domestic and international short films and documentaries from the 2016 Equus Film Festival as well as a selection of horse related programs.
 
For more information about the 2017 FEI World Cup™ Finals in Omaha, hotel information and to purchase tickets, please go to www.OmahaWorldCup2017.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 or at the CenturyLink Center Omaha box office.
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The USDF Convention is in our Region this year, and we want you to go.

Every year, the USDF holds its Annual Convention in a different city. This year, the convention is in St. Louis, MO, right here in Region 4! It takes place November 30-December 3, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch.

The USDF Annual Convention is an awesome opportunity to get involved with dressage on a national level, get insights into how our national governing organization comes up with the rules and policies we all live by, have your voice heard in committee meetings, and get access to amazing educational sessions with experts from around the country.
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For a recap of how some of our members enjoyed the convention last year, take a look at two first-person articles, "Dressage in the Desert" by Melissa Ward and "A USDF Convention Story" by Laureen Van Norman, in the January/February 2016 issue of The Contact.

Because the convention is such a wonderful opportunity for our members, and it's practically being held in our backyard, we want to make it easier for you to attend. So we are willing to pay your registration fee ($175 for adults, $90 for 21 and younger). This registration will get you into all the educational sessions (except those requiring separate tickets) and all open committee meetings.
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HOW IT WORKS:

We're paying for 5 registrations!

NDA will pay for five (5) USDF Convention registration fees. These five grants are being made available to current members, and 4 winners will be chosen in a random drawing at the October 10th NDA board meeting. The remaining slot will be auctioned off at the NDA Year-End Banquet.

How to enter:

To get your name in our drawing, just send an email to Heidi Helmer (hjhelmer@gmail.com) by 5:00 pm on Monday, October 10. We'll draw names that night and notify the winners by Tuesday, October 11.

If you win:

If your name is drawn as a winner, we will notify you immediately. You have until the following Monday, October 17, to confirm your acceptance of the grant, and register online for the Convention. If you have not confirmed and registered by 10/17, your spot will be forfeited and we will draw another winner.

Hurry—you only have 5 days left to enter the drawing!

The year-end awards banquet and Annual Meeting is coming up on November 19, 2016, at Ashland Golf Club. Make sure you get registered today to ensure your place at the gala!

Don't forget, this is your opportunity to vote for our new board members and officers, shop for holiday gifts at the Silent Auction, and receive year-end ribbons and trophies for your hard work at shows throughout the year. We can't wait to celebrate with you—get your registration forms in today!

The prize list and entry form have been posted for the 2016 NDA Schooling Show Championships. Check out our SSC page to get all the forms, information, and rules that you need.

We're excited to see you at Championships! We'll see you in your victory lap...

​Our friends at UNL's Animal Science program have contacted NDA to ask if our youth members might be interested in participating in a study that examines the positive effects horses have on youth. If you are comfortable doing so, please see below and click the link to have your child take the survey.

Hello,
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Thank you for having your child be involved with horses. I am Carol Thompson, a Master’s student in Animal Science. One of my graduate projects is to look at how horse programs influence youth. I would like to ask if you would have your child complete a survey about their experiences with their horse.

We want to look at how working with their horse has impacted them as a person. The survey should take 15 to 20 minutes to complete and will not ask for any information about who they are so they should feel comfortable being honest in their answers. We hope to use the data we collect to improve horse and youth programs in Nebraska. You have the right to decide if they will complete the survey and no penalty will occur to you or your child if you choose not to have your child complete the survey. The entire informed consent letter as approved by the University of Nebraska – Lincoln Institutional Review Board is located here for your review prior to completing the survey.

Thank you for your time. We appreciate your support. If you have additional questions please contact me, Carol Thompson at carol.thompson@huskers.unl.edu or 402-472-0545.
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Carol Thompson
Master's Student, Animal Science
C204H Animal Science Complex
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Office Phone:402-472-0545
carol.thompson@huskers.unl.edu

What will we be doing?
This is not just a "one ride per day" clinic—this is two full days of instruction on various topics, with lots of riding!​

While Lynn teaches all clinics using dressage principles, this 2 day program has a dual purpose. Riders new to the discipline will learn the fundamentals that apply to all levels, the benefits of riding with correctness and accuracy through dressage figures and the control from precise transitions and rhythmical gaits. For riders who want to reach a new level in the discipline, let Lynn’s years of experience competing & coaching in Dressage offer simple and practical solutions to overcome challenges and achieve those goals.

The clinic will run from 9:00-5:00 on Friday and Saturday at HETRA in Gretna, NE. Participants will be scheduled for two full days of instruction, not just “a ride per day.” Friday’s schedule will include an hour discussion, followed by a two-hour evaluation and exercise of all the rider’s position and aids, a break for lunch, and then two group riding sessions. Saturday’s schedule will include an hour discussion, followed by an educational session about the “math” of dressage, reading (and calling) a dressage test, and utilizing dressage figures. After lunch, each rider will ride a test, with a caller, critiques and scoring.

Check out the full clinic schedule here.

Interested in participating in the clinic?
Get two full days of clinic instruction for $550/weekend from this renowned expert!

Lunch is available each day of the clinic for $11/day, with all lunch proceeds going directly to benefit HETRA. Stalls will be available to participants at HETRA for $25 (includes both days).

Space is limited! If you'd like to apply to participate in the clinic, or if you have any questions, please contact Kathy Lewis. Applications must be postmarked by August 1st. First come, first served basis.

There's lots of auditing space!
Auditors are welcomed and encouraged to attend this great educational opportunity! Pre-register as an auditor, and get special discounts if you are an NDA member.

You are almost out of time to enter the 39th Annual Cornhusker Classic I, II, and Schooling Show! This fantastic show will be held INDOORS at the Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln, NE, on May 27-30. Check out the Classic page on the NDA website for lots more information about everything going on that weekend.

Join us for a fun weekend, awesome competitor's party (with a live band!), and super prizes. This year's show is going to be better than ever—we can't wait to see you there! Make sure your mailed entry is postmarked by MAY 16, 2016!

​We'll have both arenas fully covered during the Classic I & II (Saturday & Sunday), offering both professional photography and professional video. Make sure to sign up ahead of time (before May 20th) to get discounted rates.

NDA is really proud of our reputation for having the BEST volunteers ever. But none of it can happen without YOU! We're really hoping that every single NDA member will consider volunteering to help keep this show alive.

If you are competing for year-end awards, you can earn your required volunteer hours here, all in one weekend! And even if you don't need the hours, this show is the perfect place to learn more about how these big shows work. Come work behind the scenes and learn invaluable skills and experise for the horse world.

Even if you're riding, you can help! Here's a list of positions we need filled. If you email your day/time/job preferences NOW to our volunteer coordinators, we won't finalize the schedule until after ride times come out. So don't worry about conflicts with your ride times!

​For just $25 per class (or $60 for 3!) the name of your business, yourself, or your family member will be printed in the Classic show program and announced over the speakers during the show.
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Not only is it a way to give back to our community, help make The Cornhusker Classic possible, and get a little advertising—sponsorships also count toward the annual requirement of donation money/volunteer hours for NDA year-end awards.
Deadline to become a class sponsor is May 20, so contact Gracia Huenefeld today!

We need volunteers at Omaha's International Horse Show!
Help us man the NDA booth and earn your volunteer hours.
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The International Omaha Horse Show (May 5-7, 2016) is a world-class jumping and dressage competition taking place in Omaha at the Century Link Center. This is an amazing opportunity to see athletes and horses from all over the world compete in Grand Prix stadium jumping and Grand Prix dressage. This year's show is a precursor to the 2017 World Cup, and will have two CDI 4* events—Grand Prix Dressage and Grand Prix Freestyle.

Just like last year, NDA will have a booth all set up and ready to help educate visitors about dressage, as well as spread the word about our club. We'll need people in 2-, 3- or 4-hour shifts on Friday, May 6, 2016 and Saturday, May 7, 2016 from 9:00am - 6:30pm at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha.

It's really easy:

• 2 people in the booth at all times
• Be a friendly face for visitors!
• Answer questions about NDA and dressage in general
• Accept membership registrations
• Sell a couple hats or coloring books

We're also looking for people to help us set up the booth on Thu (5/5) and tear down the booth on Sat night (5/7) after the evening entertainment. (If you'll be at the show that night as a spectator, it would be really convenient if you could just stop by the booth and help us disassemble on your way out! Many hands make light work and it should be super quick.)

You will have to pay for parking, but you can enjoy the shopping/shows before or after your help in the booth. There will be Grand Prix dressage at 6:00 pm Thursday night (well after booth setup, and it's FREE), and Grand Prix Freestyles at 4:00 pm Friday. The International is always a ton of fun with super high caliber horses and riders to watch, and we'd LOVE your help!

It's a really fun time, a great venue, and an awesome opportunity to see world-class riders. If you can help us volunteer, or have any questions, please email Melissa Ward or reach her by phone at (402) 350-3673 ASAP.

The prize lists & entry forms for two upcoming NDA-recognized schooling shows have now been posted! Check out the Shows page to find the prize lists for the 2016 Shaggy Show and the Western Dressage show in April. Get registered now and start getting ready for show season!