Historical USDF Membership Numbers-Post Here

[MysticOakRanch]

@strangewings

I understand why gaits have to influence as much as they do for international/high performance team development, but would love love love if there were a “national league” with judging criteria that largely disregards movement beyond rhythm/regularity. That would benefit a lot more people than being able to post at 3rd/4th.

That is really how it use to be! Big gaits got you a few bonus points in the collective marks, and got you better scores in things like lengthenings, medium, and extended gaits. But otherwise, gaits was really only considered as pure and regular, or not… The old (AHSA/USEF) tests did not start every movement description with “quality of trot”, “quality of canter”, etc.

I do wish we went back to those days - it made dressage much more enjoyable and accessible. No one minded if the fancy horse got a few extra points in the collective marks - it just wasn’t such a huge advantage like it is now. Sigh, I can’t believe I’m pining for the “good ol’ days”…

[hoopoe]

The mystical question is why is the USDF…which was founded as and is supposed to be an education organization… trying to be a competition entity?

when the AHSA gave up on the awards for dressage HOY / highpoints in the late 80s it turned to the USDF to become the only prize giving organization. Since then there has certainly been a blurring of purpose.

it was apparent early on with the loss of the good publication that actually had interesting content that things were changing.

I dont think the average GMO is in the position to run education programs. who are their experts? Volunteers quickly burn out and become frustrated with Little Red Hen syndrome. It takes a lot to organize and carry off an education program. It is usually the same people over and over called on to make it happen

[lorilu]

Very true. There are now 3 or 4 “plug and play” educational programs GMOs can download. One is about using goals, another about training volunteers… I forg et the other two. Guest speakers at meetings are more simple. But I recognize that I live in an enriched area for such.

[Manni01]

@lorilu

Very true. There are now 3 or 4 “plug and play” educational programs GMOs can download. One is about using goals, another about training volunteers… I forg et the other two. Guest speakers at meetings are more simple. But I recognize that I live in an enriched area for such.

Sorry to correct you but my GMO thought about it but really the hassle is not worth it… if we do something educational we try to do it efficiently and in a way that we can manage it with as little work as possible. These programs require a lot of additional work and that’s not even an additional benefit for the participants only more work for the volunteers :(. I think these programs are designed in a way to scare GMOs away…

[connerrl]

2013 US Dressage Horse Show Activity by Region
It is useful to understand the current state of US dressage from the basic perspective of total number of horse shows hosted in each region. Perhaps more important are the total number of classes entered. In this graphic, I have counted total completed shows (middle number), as well as total classes entered (lowest number).
US Dressage Activity & General US Population 2013
http://www.dressagedetective.com/reports/2013-us-dressage-show-activity

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/46554900_Scoring_Variables_and_Judge_Bias_in_United_States_Dressage_Competitions

google - Statistical Analysis of USDF Competition Data