top of page

Virginia Dressage Association

Building and Sustaining a Strong Dressage Community

2024 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

​

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

​

​USDF Region 1 Director:

Bettina Longaker

vadvirag8@gmail.com

State News

VADA State Board

Zoom Meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

19  December at 8:00 pm

​​​

Dressage at Lexington

11-13 July 2025

Virginia Horse Center,

Lexington, VA

 

Great American Insurance Group/USDF Reg 1 Championships and VADA Fall Show

2-5 October 2025

Virginia Horse Center, Lexington, VA

 

2025 US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® 

30 October – 2 November 2025

World Equestrian Center (WEC) Wilmington, OH

2022 Purple Book Cover - Made with Poste

VADA 2024 Membership Directory Online
Password Protected

Email Nancy Doody (link below) include name, chapter, and cell phone number to request access.  

State Announcements

Latest News and Announcements

Resources
L Education Program

VADA’s “L” Program is full for both Participants and Auditors! Our first weekend kicks off December 14-15 with both classroom-style learning and live horse demonstrations. Attendees will learn how the horse’s gaits and movement affect scores and will begin to understand the methodology dressage judges apply to arrive at consistent scores. Check back here for information about auditor openings at our next session in February. 

The deadline for Year End Awards submission - 1 December 2024.
 

VADA recognizes the achievements of riders and horses (schooling and licensed), In-Hand/Dressage Sport Horse Breeding (DSHB), and volunteers for their contributions throughout the year at both Chapter and State levels. Awards include "Trainer of the Year," "The High Score Adult Amateur Award," and "Breed in Virginia," which is awarded to the rider. Other VADA Awards are the "Chapter Volunteer of the Year Award," "Chapter President's Award," and "Chapter Newsletter Editor's Award."  

Preliminary Listing of Rider Awards Standing Posted for Review

(Published on the VADA website)

12-15 December 2024

2024 Final Year End Award Recipients Published

(Published on the VADA website)

16 December 2024

Award Recipients Selection of Awards

(Published on the VADA website)

16-21 December 2024

For anyone not fortunate enough to have known Shel, he was not only a gifted horseman and successful competitor but also a truly good sport and dedicated advocate to VADA. Shel was a seasoned competitor, having won the Gold and Silver Individual Medals in his last two years as a Young Rider at the NAYRC. He always rode to win, but never at the expense of his horse or another rider. Rather than “psyching” his fellow competitors, Shel was more likely to offer a helping hand or wish them luck. Furthermore, Shel was a tireless supporter of VADA. He served as President during some of our Association’s most difficult and trying times. It is largely due to his diplomacy and tenacity that VADA exists as it does today.

​

It is this spirit of unselfish good sportsmanship and generous volunteerism, which were so much a part of Shel’s nature, that VADA wishes to encourage and reward.  If you are aware of a VADA member who ...​

Chapter Nomination Submission

7-14 December 2024

Slate of Nominations Forward to Chapter Presidents for Review and Selection

16 December 2024

Chapter Selectee Submission to Shel Gafford Coordinator

15 January 2025

Year End Awards Luncheon
2 February 2025

Greencroft Club Charlottesville, VA  
Luncheon: $40.00 Adult and $18.00 Child
Reservation Opening Date: 17 December 2024
Closing Date: 20 January 2025
Buffet Serving Station

The 2024 Year End Awards Luncheon will be held at the Greencroft Club in Charlottesville, VA. It is set to begin at 11:00 am and should end by 2:00 pm. We strongly encourage you to make your reservation early and not wait until the reservation closing date. Once we reach maximum capacity, (regardless of reservation closing date) we will no longer accept reservations.​​​

Silent Auction at Year End Awards Luncheon

Let's organize an outstanding silent auction with a diverse array of enticing items! Chapters could donate a basket or perhaps offer a discount certificate for a schooling show or clinic. VADA trainers, your donation of a lesson gift certificate would be highly valued. We also invite our artistic members to contribute their artwork, pottery, or handmade crafts—a delightful contribution!

​

To make a silent auction donation, kindly complete the donation form and submit it in PDF format to Nancy Doody at ndoody15@gmail.com by January 27, 2025. Additionally, please bring your auction item(s) to the luncheon.

VADA Volunteer Corner

It's New!
Informative
VADA Volunteers!


Volunteers visit site!
Dressage Horse

2023 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

​

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

​

USDF Region 1 Website:

USDFreg1.org

​

USDF Region 1 Director:

Bettina Longaker

vadvirag8@gmail.com

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 eight (8) chapters: Central (VADA-CC), Charlottesville (VADA-CH), Fredericksburg (VADAF), Northeast (VADA-NE), Northern Virginia (VAD/NOVA), Shenandoah Valley (ShenVADA), 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. 

​

The Association is made of up eight (8) chapters: Central (VADA-CC), Charlottesville(VADA-CH), Fredericksburg (VADAF), Northeast (VADA-NE), Northern Virginia (VAD/NOVA), Shenandoah Valley (ShenVADA), 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.

Virginia Dressage Association
Chapters

Area Legend

​

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.

Shenandoah Valley (ShenVADA)- Shenandoah, Warren, Frederick, Rockingham, Page, Augusta and parts of eastern West Virginia.

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.

​

Charlottesville
Southwest
Central (VADACC)
Southeast
Shenandoah
Northern
Fredericksburg
Northeast (NE-VADA)
Richmond
Leesburg
Virginia Beach
Fredericksburg
Blacksburg
Staunton
Williamsburg
Click on Logo/Icon to visit Chapter sites

Central (VADACC)

Virginia Dressage Association 

​

  • Facebook

Board Members

President: Heather Escobar and 

Christina Arrington

Vice President: XXX

Secretary: Heidi Gayle

Treasurer: Alison Douglas

Webmaster: Michele Whalen 

Newsletter Editor: Michele Whalen 

Membership Coordinator: Patty Howell 

VADA State Chapter Representatives

Alison Douglas 

Christina Arrington 

​

  • Facebook

Board Members

President: Eleszabeth McNeel

Vice President:  Erin Fitzwater

Secretary: Shaleena Arreguin

Treasurer: Bettina Longaker

Webmaster: Nancy Doody

Newsletter Editor:  Nancy Doody 

Membership Coordinator: Sandy Worley

Volunteer Coordinator: Nancy Doody

VADA State Chapter Representatives:

EleszabethMcNeel

Nancy Doody 

Bettina Longaker 

Charlottesville (VADA-CH)
Virginia Dressage Association

 

Fredericksburg (VADAF)

Virginia Dressage Association 

​

  • Facebook

Board Members

President: Anna Fox

Vice President:  Karen Rice

Secretary:  Hannah Bowers

Treasurer:  Sharon Ackley

Webmaster: Cambray Walmer

Newsletter Editor:  Karen Rice

Membership Coordinator: Sharnette Atkinson

VADA State Chapter Representatives: 

Anna Simmons 

Karen Rice 

  • Facebook
Purple Frame Transparent.png

Board Members

President: Diann Carpenter

Vice President:  Judy Grass

Secretary:  Michelle King

Treasurer:  Lisa Rice

Newsletter Editor: Veronica Gogan

Membership Coordinator: Michelle King

Volunteer Coordinator: Rachel Rice

VADA State Chapter Representatives: 

Jessie Ginsburg 

Rachel Rice

Michelle King 

Northern Virginia (VADA.NOVA)

Virginia Dressage Association

 

North East (NE-VADA)

Virginia Dressage Association 

  • Facebook

Board Members

President:  Sheryl Wyatt

Vice President:  Sam Kambeck

Secretary:  Sam Kambeck

Treasurer:  Margie Brown

Communications:  Lisa Powers

Membership Coordinator: Margie Brown

VADA State Chapter Representatives:

Anne Draine

Sheryl Wyatt

Angela Stanaway 

Shenandoah Valley Association (ShenVADA)

Virginia Dressage Association 

  • Facebook

Board Members

President: 

Vice President:

Secretary:

Treasurer: 

Webmaster: 

Newsletter Editor:  

Membership Coordinator: 

VADA State Chapter Representatives: 

Jane Palmer

Polly Capanski 

  • Facebook

Board Members

President: Lorna  "Cookie" Parsons

Vice President:  Beth Rippel

Secretary:  Deb Sweetman

Treasurer:  Shari Cutchin

Webmaster: Wendy Wilde

Newsletter Editor:  Sarah Miller

Membership Coordinator: Susan Gaston

VADA State Chapter Representatives: 

Beth Rippel 

Robyn Nunally 

Sandy Toby 

Southeast (SVDA)

Virginia Dressage Association 

  • Facebook

Southwest (SWVADA)

Virginia Dressage Association 

Board Members

President: Lindsey Carr

Vice President: Laura Nelson

Secretary: Judy Altizer

Treasurer: Annie Harris 

Webmaster: Elizabeth Irons

Facebook: Lindsey Carr 

Membership Coordinator:  Candi Hylton

VADA State Chapter Representatives: 

Laura Nelson 

Muffin Smith 

Katie Kelly 

bottom of page