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Throughout 2000-2001 it became evident to Ruthanne Gardner, charter President of the DSDCTA Suwannee Valley Chapter (SVC), that a local Dressage and Combined Training club was needed. The distance between cities and surrounding areas was so great that traveling to meetings during the work week had become extremely difficult and tedious. "Traveling time was three hours round trip! Commuting to meetings was exhausting, and trying to remain an active supporting and participating member was increasingly more difficult," remembers Ruthanne. "The traveling wasn't any fun, and fun is what our horses and club memberships should be about, since most of us work in another professional field and our horses and clubs are our hobbies and love." The SVC was formed in 2002 to help promote the equestrian sports of dressage and combined training in the areas east of Tallahassee, Florida; Monticello, Madison, Greenvillle, Lee, Live Oak, Jasper, Wellborn, and Lake City in Florida, as well as Valdosta, Hahira, Quitman, Lake Park, Tifton, Thomasville and Moultrie in Georgia. The SVC had its first meeting on March 17, 2002. The ten Charter Members are: Linda Boyles, Shanna Fisher, Leigh Frazier, Ruthanne Gardner, JoAnn Harrell, Debra Hudson, Joanne Meyers, Diane Riley, Nanci Kendall and Jean Stick. The organization's goal is to heighten its members' and the community's knowledge and appreciation for dressage and combined training by sponsoring clinics, shows, and seminars, under the guidance of the rules of the United States Equestrian Federation (USDF) and the United States Dressage Federation (USDF). DSDCTA is in Area III of the United States Eventing Association and is a Region 3 Group Member Organization of the USDF. By joining DSDCTA, members automatically become a group member of USDF. Our members and meetings are friendly, lively, energetic, talkative, informative, and information seeking. Our member's knowledge and expertise in dressage and combined training range from novice to the professional. The coffee is brewing and there's plenty of good food to eat so please join us for our next meeting. Club meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month. To learn more about the association, upcoming events or to find out how to become a member, we invite you to browse our new website. The DSDCTA President, Barbara Petti, and the Suwannee Valley Chapter President, Linda Boyles, welcome your feedback, suggestions, ideas, and comments. |
