The Equine Land Conservation Resource (ELCR), in partnership with the United States Dressage Federation (USDF), is pleased to announce the inaugural Equine Land Conservation Achievement Award. Nominations for the award, which recognizes an individual or organization for outstanding achievement in protecting land or access to land for equine use, will be due by August 31, 2017. Nomination forms may be found on the USDF website at: https://www.usdf.org/awards/service/. Winners will be notified by October 1, 2017.

“USDF is very pleased to partner with ELCR on this award to help increase awareness of the importance of land conservation in the dressage community and to serve as inspiration to others within our discipline,” said USDF Executive Director, Stephan Hienzsch.

USDF’s Regional Group Membership Organizations (GMO) have been asked to consider individuals, organizations and agencies familiar to them, which are related to dressage and their communities, and to nominate those persons or entities which have accomplished exceptional achievements in the area of equine land or facilities protection or enhancement, especially at the local level, along with those activities that may have nationwide impacts.

The award will be presented at the Adequan/USDF Annual Convention awards ceremony on Saturday, December 2, 2017 in Lexington, KY. Convention and awards ceremony information may be found at www.usdf.org/Convention.

“We are delighted to present the Equine Land Conservation Achievement Award in partnership with USDF, one of our long standing Conservation Partners. We look forward to recognizing and celebrating many future conservation achievements with the dressage community,” said ELCR Executive Director, Holley Groshek.

ELCR builds awareness about the loss of lands available for horses and horse-related activities and facilitates the protection and preservation of those lands. We provide education and information to assist equine advocates and communities in protecting horse lands and equine access. America’s equine heritage embodies the emotional, physical, environmental and economic benefits that evolve from the horse-human relationship. Ultimately, ELCR works to ensure that these benefits are safeguarded. For more information about the ELCR visit www.elcr.org or call 859-455-8383

Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage. Headquartered at the National Horse Center at the Kentucky Horse Park, USDF works with more than 30 other equine associations in the park, to promote dressage and protect the resources needed to ensure the future of equine sports. For more information about USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org, e-mail usdressage@usdf.org, or call 859-971-2277.