As a displaced northerner (upstate NY) I moved to Virginia in the early 80’s. I had fox hunted at Fort Leavenworth and saw a dressage demo and was immediately converted. That was what I wanted to try.
Even though I don’t have any children of my own, between 2 and 10 kids spent weekends and summers at my house. I have bottle fed raccoons, possums, a ground hog, pigmy goats, sheep, pot-bellied pigs chickens geese peacocks beside the usual dogs, cats and horses. I had a pool and plenty of places to play.
Between the O’Donnell’s and myself, there were plenty of ponies and horses to show. My horse Kyle was born in the same field he lives in now. I competed to Third Level.
I joined VADAF because Charlottesville was too intimidating. I have slowly volunteered to do more through the years. I have been treasurer for a few years and this year took the job of Rose Mount Show Manager by default. Some one needed to take the plunge!

I was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, then raised all over the US. My Dad worked on the space program at NASA when I was really young, then started working on defense projects, so I led the peripatetic life of an Army brat.
As with probably every member of our club, I was a horse-crazy kid. I can remember the first time I saw a horse, at age 3, as being a seminal moment. For years I took hunt-seat lessons, and rode when I could; when I was finally out on my own and had a few extra dollars, I bought a horse.
My now retired Arabian mare, Mahogaan Rose, and I did everything together; from fox hunting with Huntington Valley Hunt, Gallows Run Hunt and others in the Philadelphia suburbs, to showing on the Arabian “A” circuit, to polo lessons. Some of my best memories with Rose are the many, many trail rides we’ve had together, on the beach at Long Island State Park in New Jersey and in the mountains of Western Pennsylvania after moving to Pittsburgh as a result of my husband’s promotion. My husband and I moved to Fredericksburg as a result of another promotion in 2004.
We now have three horses, IM Zee Buddy, my husband’s paint, my retired Rose, and my new young horse project, Isabelle, a/k/a Worth the Wait, my 7 year old Oldenburg mare. I am completely enjoying competing Isabelle in dressage and the quest for perfection! The great thing about dressage to me is that it is something both young and older riders can work on for virtually their entire lives, yet always there is so much more to learn!

I was born in Arizona and raised in southwestern Virginia. I began riding lessons at age 8 and became a member of the U.S. Pony Club in the late 1960s. My parents purchased an older foxhunter for me – a hulking chestnut horse named Mr. Valentine – who was my partner through the certification levels. I had to sell Val when I left home to attend Mary Washington College – now UMW – and ended up taking a break from horses for almost 25 years. During that time, I received a Master of Science in Geology and a Doctor of Science in Environmental Health, worked as a petroleum geologist, an environmental risk assessor and a law school administrator and married Bob Simon. We lived in New Orleans from 1981 until 2000 when I accepted a position as a scientist with a regulatory law firm in Washington, DC. We purchased a house in Spotsylvania County in 2001 and I promptly bought a horse, a little black Morgan mare. I always enjoyed dressage in my youth and started taking lessons with a variety of local instructors. In 2005, I purchased a second horse, a very large-boned Appaloosa mare. I have been working with Nicky Vogel since August 2007 and the progression with both mares has been amazing. I also trail ride every week. I am currently employed by the Edison Electric Institute, the trade association for the shareholder-owned electric utilities, promoting clean coal and environmental control technologies and spend most of my free time commuting to DC. I am looking forward to early retirement so that I can ride more than 3 times a week.

I moved to Fawn Lake from Arlington VA about three years ago after retiring as an attorney with the Federal Government. I love being "retired." My tribe consists of two daughters, two Goldendoodles, one husband and my beloved "Teddy," a grey Trakehner gelding who, over the years, has kept me both humble and physically fit due largely to his lifelong commitment to energy conservation, his own!!!

In our spare time and after retirement it's all spare time. Greg and I travel with our pups in a cozy little RV.

I work part-time as a "tavern wench" giving tours at the Rising Sun Tavern and volunteer with the Theraputic Riding Program at Hazelwild.

Tops on my "bucket list" would have to be riding a dressage test (any level) from beginning to end without an improvisational movement and/or a complete lack of movement. I know I'm aiming high but hey, you have to have dreams.

I was born in Connecticut, but soon my family moved to Kansas City, the Philippines, and finally settled in Virginia Beach in the late 70’s. I took riding lessons and taught at summer camp as a teenager. Life intervened and I took a bit of a break. After a 20 year hiatus, I hauled myself back on top of a horse for lessons, bought my first horse, and decided to give dressage a try. My partner is a bay OTTB named Cigar who joined the family in December 2004. He had 51 starts in his 5-year racing career that started in Florida and ended in West Virginia; dressage is his retirement job and driving me crazy is his full time hobby.

During the week, you’ll find me at the Virginia Dept of Environmental Quality doing environmental regulatory work. On weekends, I teach riding lessons at LaGrange and help out with the 4H Club. My husband and I live in downtown Fredericksburg with our 3 mutts. In my spare time, you’ll find me walking the dogs, looking for the carpet underneath all the dog hair, practicing yoga, gardening, and raising money for various animal charities.

I was born in Sheffield, England and came up through the ranks of Pony Club. From there I ended up working through our English exam system, eventually becoming an examiner. Intermingled in this I trained to become a Cordon Bleu Chef - my parents thought I should have a real job !!.

After working a short time in Florida, I traveled around the States "on a Greyhound Bus" ending up in Virginia, where I met and married my husband Dieter. Originally, I planned to visit for 3 months to gain more experience..... that was 20 years ago.
We live in King George with our 2 horses, Paddy and Kid, affectionately known as "Big Kid and Little Kid". Paddy is since retired and Kid wishes he was. Since making the States my home, I have continued my own education through both USEF and USDF as regards to my judging and teaching.

Picture of VADAF’s Secretary and Casimir.

My life with horses has been an exciting journey with all of the typical ups and downs that we all face in our daily lives. I started this journey in my home town of Everett, Washington. I was eight years old when my older sister and I begged our Mom and Dad for a horse. I learned all about horses from my Momand Grandmother, both raised on Oregon ranches. My Grandmother told us great stories of riding the range on wild Cayuses, carrying a rifle to shoot coyotes. This was my introduction to horses.

I rode as a kid, wanting to be a cowgirl. My first horse, that was truly all mine, was a paint mare that was one of the kindest horses I have ever known. Many mistakes later, we were showing in registered paint horse shows. She was with me for 33 years and taught both of my daughters how to ride, gave me a beautiful paint mare I showed later and was a member of our family. I went on to show in western pleasure and trail classes and began to look at learning to improve my equestrian skills by riding in the English discipline.

I observed a dressage competition while traveling to horse shows with my daughters and got the bug. I began to thrive for the ability to be able to feel more a part of my horse’s every movement. My dream of becoming a real cowgirl came true when I took a job at the Wild Horse and Burro Facility in Nevada. There I worked daily with a crew of wranglers and rode two great and very gentle wild horses that I trained (with some help). These two wild Mustangs became my first dressage horses, showing at training and first level, but I knew if I wanted to go forward in the levels, I needed a horse that could physically do the movements, hence along came Casimir.

Casimir has been a great teacher of what it is like to ride a horse that is very athletic and can really do the correct movements and along with that a great teacher of patience. Our journey into the dressage ring has been long and plagued with training and lameness issues, but we are still on our journey. Hopefully, 2008 will be the year that we make it into the show ring. The friends I have made through the VADAF have been an inspiration on this journey to better my riding ability and achieve the ultimate feel.

I am originally from New Jersey, yep, Jersey Girl. Bill and I reside in South Stafford. I am a retired educator. When I am not on horseback, I am doing art, paintings, cartoons and some sculpture.

My steed is a gray QHXTB gelding named "Stone". He is a real gentleman to ride. Together we do hunt seat, dressage and side saddle. I have four other critters, two Jack Russels and two English Bulldogs. I have been in charge of the vendors and out rated show for the last two years. I am anxious to work as VADAF's vice pres., which I consider to be an honor.

I am 15 years old, been riding since I was 6, and just started dressage 2 years ago. Last winter I got my horse Max. He wasn't in the best of shape, but with love and dedication we've worked up to training level at shows and are starting to school 1st Level.

I plan to start showing 1st Level sometime in the next year. Look for us in training level for the time being.

I was born in England and grew up in central Kentucky. I was very active in 4-H. As a kid, I drove my parents crazy changing disciplines. I started out riding saddle seat, moved to hunt seat and ended up competing in the western division just before heading off to college.
While in the 4-H program, my judging team won states and got to compete at Nationals. I rode on the Drill Team 5 years....we won state most of those years. After aging out of 4-H, I became a leader and coached the drill team to two state victories.
I'm now married to Dave living in Stafford. We have four kids between us......all teenagers. All three girls compete in Dressage. Our son helps out around the barn, but he is not into riding. The girls have won numerous awards in the two years that they have been competing in Dressage. Yes, I supply the money and they ride.< BR> I retired after 18 years of teaching high school math and chemistry. I now run a small horse facility. I do private beginner lessons. I have boarded horses in the past, but right now we are in the middle of remodeling our barn. We are hoping to open to boarders again in the spring.
We currently have two quarter horses (Max and Chip), two Haflingers (Fabio and Nort), and two mini-donkeys (Timmy and George). Max is currently being trained by my daughter Hannah. She is hoping to move up to First Level this year. Fabio and Nort are young and are very green; Ashley will be training them this spring and summer. Chip will be shown this summer by Samantha and then we will probably sell him. Too many horses and not enough time. We also raise Basset Hounds.

I was born and grew up in Manhattan and then moved to Connecticut as a young adult. I completed 2 Bachelors degrees with honors, one in Management Information Systems and the second in Business Administration. Whilst finishing my second degree as a 19 year old, I started working full time in the computer industry as a telecommunications engineer for Computer Sciences Corporation. From there, I was hired by General Electric Information Services and continued to work in the computer industry until I retired 12 years ago as the Director of Financial Software Business Development for Oracle Corporation.

I have continuously worked in the computer industry with a focus shift to the Internet Sector. I own TheBuildSite.com, a website hosting, development and design company and am preparing to launch several new Internet companies as well.

While travelling extensively with business, I managed to continue riding horses all of my life. I started riding at 14 as a show hunter rider and sucessfully rode for the Pace University Team in the IHSA for many years, as an Alumni as well. I continued to ride and show horses and eventually changed from the hunters to dressage, as I realized that a well-schooled horse was far more enjoyable to ride, albeit the training is much harder.

My husband Bill and I currently own 5 horses and I actively show my horse Aztec on the rated circuit. We are training for 3rd and 4th level currently and hope to be showing again this coming year. Over the years, I've had the privilege to work with great trainers including Betsy Steiner, Nicky Vogel, Bruno Greber and currently Becky Langwost-Barlow and Patrick Tigchelaar.

Aztec and I have earned many blue ribbons over the years and we won the BLM's a couple of years ago as well. The picture above shows us riding a 2nd Level test.

VADAF, the Fredericksburg Chapter of the Virginia Dressage Association was created to serve the needs of the dressage community in Fredericksburg and the surrounding area. Our membership area covers Fredericksburg, and the counties of Spotsylvania, King George, Caroline, Louisa, Orange, Madison, Culpeper, Rappahannock, Fauquier, Stafford and Prince William. Here you will find our schooling show schedule, meeting schedule, newsletters, membership information and forms and much, much more! We invite you to browse through the site and become acquainted with VADAF, its members and all we have to offer the dressage enthusiast.
VADAF is a chapter of the Virginia Dressage Association (VADA), a Group Member Organization of Region 1 of the United States Dressage Federation (USDF). Membership in VADAF provides an individual with GMO membership in VADA and USDF as well. Follow the links for more information on the benefits of belonging to these organizations. VADAF is a Non-Profit 501 C(7) organization.

Click on each Officer's Name for their Picture and Biography,
all Officers will be here soon !

President: Nicky Vogel (540)775-0943 woodyworm@earthlink.net	Education: Janice Magor 540-752-2954 jmagor@yahoo.com
Vice President: Rachel Gannaway 7341 Snow Hill Dr. Spotsylvania 22551 540- 582-2611 rachbaugh@earthlink.net	Webmaster: Nancy Olson 540-847-6145 support@horsetheater.com
Secretary: Sharon Kipping 804-448-3097 kkipping@hughes.net	Fundraising: Anne Bruce (540) 786-1842 fundraising@vadaf.org
Treasurer: Sharon Ackley 540-967-4532 stridersa@yahoo.com	State Board Representatives: Sharon Ackley 540-967-4532 stridersa@yahoo.com Debbie Bowman 540-672-4176 vaclaire@aol.com Tammy Hryczaniuk 540-967-2836 ewliuk@hotmail.com
Membership: Karen Obenshain 8567 Old Mill Lane Spotsylvania, VA 202-247-1202 krobenshain@yahoo.com Volunteer Coordinator: Alison Thompson (540)373-0829 althompson@deq.virginia.gov
Newsletter/Publicity: Nancy Sinnott P.O. Box 2772 Stafford, VA 22555-2772 540-659-0719 vadafnews@comcast.net	Schooling Shows: Denise Lennonn 241 Richland Road Fredricksburg VA 22406 540-752-0799 xcreekfarm@earthlink.net
Youth/Adult Team: Nikki Seitz 540-845-2039 MonikaSeitz@comcast.net	Licensed Competition & Awards: Justine Hryczaniuk (540)967-2836 vthokiehorse@yahoo.com
Youth Chair: Hannah White 540-845-2039 vadafyouth@comcast.net