DressageDaily: USDF 2003 Hall of Fame Inductees and Lifetime Achievement Award Winners

Friday October 24, 2003

USDF 2003 Hall of Fame Inductees and Lifetime Achievement Award Winners

USDF Hall of Fame at 2001 Convention The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) will induct three equestrians into the USDF Hall of Fame and award two equestrians with the USDF Lifetime Achievement Award during the Salute Gala on December 4, 2003, at the USDF National Convention & Symposium in Dallas, TX. Hall of Fame inductees have made outstanding contributions to the development of dressage in the U.S. through their creativity, originality, vision, and sustained effort. Horses that have performed exceptionally in international competition may also be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Lifetime Achievement Award winners have shown a lifetime of dedication to USDF through volunteering; developing programs, projects, and committees that have contributed to the direction of USDF; and a long history of membership with USDF.

"The USDF Historical Committee is pleased that three people who embody three aspects of the history of dressage in the U.S. will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year. The efforts of these inductees, along with the contributions of the other members of the USDF Hall of Fame, will be permanently recognized in the Hall of Fame at the USDF National Education Center at the Kentucky Horse Park," said Historical Committee Chair Laura Gorretta.

The Hall of Fame inductees are:

Major Anders Lindgren, in recognition of his seminal training of U.S. dressage instructors. Over a ten-year period, almost 1,000 participating instructors learned from his systematic, structured approach to teaching dressage at the USDF Violet Hopkins National Seminars. Lindgren was an early proponent of the USDF Instructor Certification Program, and his work laid the foundation for this program.

Karl Mikolka, in recognition of his contributions to the development and promotion of classical dressage in the U.S. He trained many Lipizzan stallions to Grand Prix and in airs above the ground and introduced thousands of spectators to dressage at the Tempel Lipizzan Summer Performances. He taught many successful students throughout the U.S. and wrote several pioneering articles on dressage.

Margarita Serrell, in recognition of her leadership in raising the profile of dressage in the U.S. when it was in its infancy. She was the driving force behind creation of the American Dressage Institute (ADI) and served as its first president for six years. Under her guidance, ADI hosted shows, clinics, demonstrations, and seminars, and fielded the U.S. bronze medal team at the 1976 Olympic Games.

The following two equestrians will receive USDF Lifetime Achievement Awards:

Peter Lert, who served as USDF vice president from 1981 to 1982, Region 7 director from 1986 to 1995, chairman of the Historical and Animal Welfare Committees, and contributed to the education of dressage judges.

Marianne Ludwig, who developed the "L" Education Program for Judge Training, served as the program's chair since its inception, and organized the first USDF European Judges Seminars for U.S. FEI and "S" judges.

"Mr. Lert and Mrs. Ludwig have been staunch supporters of USDF and the sport of dressage in the U.S. for many years. They have each selflessly devoted their time, talent, and wisdom to local, regional, and national dressage programs, projects, and issues," said Gorretta.