Saturday, November 27, 2004

North Florida Dressage Association Turns Schooling Show into a "Ride for the Cure"

Year round Floridian Dressage riders and horse owners have proved their resiliency after being slammed not once, not twice, but four times in 2 months with fierce hurricanes which ripped their way across the state. Evacuation weary horse owners not only survived, so did their horses, and for the most part their properties, where the worst damage was the loss of trees and foliage. The end result after the clean up was cleared land, which as any Floridian knows will quickly begin to sprout re-growth.

The state of Florida has many GMO’s (General Member Organizations) within the USDF (United States Dressage Federation) often referred to as the “grass roots” of Dressage in America, and literally the backbone of American dressage. These clubs are managed by dedicated members, many successful professionals in other fields, whose efforts not only create opportunities for a good time for all involved, but a chance to make a difference, and a contribution to a greater cause. In spite of the hectic months which also included the 2004 USDF Championships, the group pulled together and ran a well attended show, for an important cause.

The North Florida Dressage Association took an idea, and ran with it, by turning their October schooling show, into a hugely successful fundraiser for a hugely important cause. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and on October 30th, The NFDA Dressage Schooling show became “The Ride for the Cure” event, to benefit the Susan B Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, raising over $3,000 in donations before the first rider of the day trotted down the center line.