Virginia Dressage Association
Building and Sustaining a Strong Dressage Community
State Board Minutes
February 2025
August 2025
December 2025
Quick Links
​​VADA State Year End Awards​
​Year End Awards Timetable
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Final Year End Awards Recipients Published
16 December 2025
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Year End Awards Luncheon
1 February 2026
Greencroft Club, Charlottesville, VA
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Adult: $40.00 Child: $18.00
Plated Luncheon
Reservation Closing Date:
19 January 2026
Seating is limited to 100 guests. We encourage you to make your reservation at your earliest convenience, as reservations will close once capacity is reached, regardless of the stated deadline.
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Chapters are invited to donate themed baskets or discount certificates to be presented for schooling shows, clinics, or other educational events planned for 2026. Please note, certificates for licensed shows cannot be included.
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Welcome donations from VADA trainers - lesson certificate, licensed officials - offering a day or weekend at a VADA licensed show.
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And, donations of new or gently used tack, blankets, equestrian apparel, and decorative household items. These contributions will enhance the variety and appeal of our silent auction.
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The 2025 Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention
3-6 December 2025
Lexington, KY
What great representation for Region 1 at the USDF Convention in Lexington. So many great learning opportunities & such fun connecting with old friends & making new ones! Love our dressage family!!!
USDF Reg 1 Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Dressage Community By An Adult
Awarded to Lauren Annett
GMO Awards
Congratulations!
Lorna A Parsons aka "Cookie" (Southwest) was chosen as the 2025 USDF Regional GMO Volunteer of the Year for Region 1!!
VADA/Nova is excited to announce that Erin Obermeir's article, "Reigniting My Passion for Horses after Cancer” won the USDF award for Best First-Person Experience Article for a GMO with 500 or more members. Thanks for sharing your journey with all of us Erin and congratulations on winning this award!
To read Erin's moving story, click here.
(Published in NOVA's March edition newsletter "Piaffe & Passage" - page 4.)
Virginia Dressage Association Southeast Chapter website received Honorable Mention in the category of GMOs with more than 500 members.
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Best GMO Basket Award- Virginia Dressage Association.
Education – Your Passport To The Future
Dressage education is your passport to future success. Check here regularly for information on upcoming USDF Education opportunities across the country!
Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) Outbreak
The Equine Disease Communication Center is monitoring an outbreak of EHM that originated at the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) World Finals and Elite Barrel Race event Nov 5-9. Click on link above with the latest updates.
2026 VADA
State Board of Directors
Michelle King, President
Bettina Longaker, Vice President
Alison Douglas, Secretary
Jessie Ginsburg, Treasurer
Beth Rippel, State Membership Chairperson
Beth Ripple, Grant Coordinator
Nancy Doody, Webmaster
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VADA Licensed
Show Management Committee
Dianne Boyd, Show Manager
Bettina Longaker, Show Secretary
Rachel Rice, Volunteer Coordinator
Michelle King, Awards
Nancy Doody, Awards
Nancy Lowey, Sponsorship Team
Nancy Doody, Sponsorship Team
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USDF Region 1 Website:
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USDF Region 1 Director:
Bettina Longaker
About VADA
Virginia Dressage Association (VADA) is a Group Member Organization (GMO) of the United States Dressage Federation (USDF). VADA is committed to building and sustaining a strong dressage community through educational opportunities and programs, scholarships, licensed and schooling shows for its members. VADA recognizes rider achievements through the Year-End Awards Program. By joining a VADA Chapter you automatically become a dues-paying group member of USDF.
The Association is made of up seven (7) chapters: Central (VADA-CC), Charlottesville (VADA-CH), Fredericksburg (VADAF), Northeast (VADA-NE), Northern Virginia (VAD/NOVA), Southeast (SVDA), and Southwest (SWVADA).
Virginia Dressage Association Membership
Virginia Dressage Association (VADA) is a Group Member Organization (GMO) of the United States Dressage Federation (USDF). VADA is committed to building and sustaining a strong dressage community through educational opportunities and programs, scholarships, licensed and schooling shows for its members. VADA recognizes rider achievements through the Year-End Awards Program.
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The Association is made of up seven (7) chapters: Central (VADA-CC), Charlottesville(VADA-CH), Fredericksburg (VADAF), Northeast (VADA-NE), Northern Virginia (VAD/NOVA), Southeast (SVDA), and Southwest (SWVADA). Individuals join VADA by joining the chapter of their choice. You can find out more information on each chapter by going to https://virginiadressage.org/vada chapters and clicking on the link to each chapter’s website. Once you join a VADA chapter, you automatically become a member of VADA as well as a dues-paying group member (GM) of USDF.
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Virginia Dressage Association
Chapters
Chapter Area Legend
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Central (VADACC) - Hanover, Caroline, Louisa, King Willima, Goochland, Powhatan, Chesterfield, New Kent, King and Queen, Essex, Richmond, Northumberland, Lancaster, Middlesex, James City, Charles City, Prince George, Petersburg, Dinwiddie, Wakefield, Ivor, Nottoway, Cumberland.
Charlottesville (VADA-CH) -City of Charlottesville and Albermarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Nelson and Orange Counties.
Fredericksburg (VADAF) - Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Prince William, Culpeper, Fauquier, King George, Westmoreland, Caroline, Orange, Madison, Louisa.
Northeast (NEVADA) - North and East of Richmond to the Chesapeake Bay, including Norther Neck, Middle Peninsula and the Williamsburg Region.
Northern (VADA/NOVA) - Northern Virginia area - Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Clark, Culpeper, Rappahannock, Stafford, Warren, as well as DC, MD, PA and WV.
Southeast (SVDA) -Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg, Gloucester, Isle of Wright.
Southwest (SWVADA) - All of Southwest extending to Staunton and Waynesboro and east to Lynchburg, Amherst, Altavista and Danville. Most members are from the New River Valley, Roanoke, Lexington and Lynchburg areas.
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Charlottesville
Southwest
Central (VADACC)
Southeast
Northern
Fredericksburg
Northeast
Richmond
Leesburg
Virginia Beach
Fredericksburg
Blacksburg
Williamsburg
Click on Logo/Icon to visit Chapter sites
Central (VADACC)
Virginia Dressage Association
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Board Members
President: Heather Escobar and
Christina Arrington
Secretary: Heidi Gayle
Treasurer: Alison Douglas
Membership: Patty Howell
Webmaster: Joanne Collins
Newsletter: Joanne Collins
Volunteer Coordinator: Kimberly Aust
Awards Chair: Angela Stanaway
JR/YR Chair: Heather Escobar
VADA State Chapter Representatives
Alison Douglas
Christina Arrington
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Charlottesville (VADA-CH)
Virginia Dressage Association
2026 Board Members
President: Eleszabeth McNeel
Vice President: Erin Fitzwater
Secretary: Joyce Howard
Treasurer: Bettina Longaker
Webmaster: Nancy Doody
Newsletter: Nancy Doody
Membership: Sabine Desper
Volunteer Coordinator: Nancy Doody
Awards Coordinator: Donna Reynolds
Scholarship Coordinator: Erin Fitzwater
VADA State Chapter Representatives:
Eleszabeth McNeel
Nancy Doody
Bettina Longaker
Erin Fitzwater
Fredericksburg (VADAF)
Virginia Dressage Association
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2026 Board Members
President: Kristine Slovis and Minza Glover
Vice President: Hannah Bowers
Secretary: Tara Dean
Treasurer: Sharon Ackley
Membership: Sharnette Atkinson
Webmaster: Cambray Walmer
Newsletter: Hannah Bowers
Publicity/Website: Cambray Walmer
Volunteer Coordinator: Teresa Crater
​Youth Show Liaison: Anna Fox
Volunteer Coordinator: Teresa Crater
Historian: Barb Ellis and Sharon Kipping
VADA State Chapter Representatives:
Megan Irby, Carolyn Briggs,
Hannah Bowers
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Northern Virginia (VADA.NOVA)
Virginia Dressage Association
Board Members
President: Lori LaFave
Vice President: Diann Carpenter
Secretary: Michelle King
Treasurer: Lisa Rice
Newsletter: Sonya Hunt & Rebecca Quinn
Membership: Michelle King
Volunteer Coordinator: Rachel Rice
VADA State Chapter Representatives:
Jessie Ginsburg
Rachel Rice
Michelle King
North East (NE-VADA)
Virginia Dressage Association
Board Members
President: Sheryl Wyatt
Vice President: Sam Kambeck
Secretary: Sam Kambeck
Treasurer: Margie Brown
Communications: Lisa Powers
Membership: Margie Brown
VADA State Chapter Representatives:
Anne Draine
Sheryl Wyatt
Angela Stanaway
Board Members
President: Lorna "Cookie" Parsons
Vice President: Beth Rippel
Secretary: Deb Sweetman
Treasurer: Shari Cutchin
Webmaster: Wendy Wilde
Newsletter: Lora Gibson
Membership: Mary Barczak
VADA State Chapter Representatives:
Lorna “Cookie” Parsons
Robyn Nunally
Sandy Toby
Southeast (SVDA)
Virginia Dressage Association
Southwest (SWVADA)
Virginia Dressage Association
2026 Board Members
President: Lindsey Carr
Vice President: Laura Nelson
Secretary: Judy Altizer
Treasurer: Tamla Nichols
Webmaster: Riley Carr
Facebook: Lindsey Carr
Membership: Candi Hylton
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Members at Large:
Candi Hylton
Rachel Roy
Muffin Smith
Zoe Altizer
VADA State Chapter Representatives:
Laura Nelson
Muffin Smith
Katie Kelly