Virginia Dressage Association Charlottesville Chapter

Virginia Dressage Association
Charlottesville Chapter

Let Your Spirit Run Free ... Let's Ride!

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Virginia Dressage Association
Charlottesville Chapter

Let Your Spirit Run Free ... Let's Ride

Become a VADA Charlottesville Member

VADA/Charlottesville Board

President: Eleszabeth McNeel
Vice President: Erin Fitzwater
Secretary: Shaleena Arreguin
Treasurer: Bettina Longaker
Awards: Shaleena Arreguin
Membership: Sandy Worley
Newsletter/Webmaster: Nancy Doody

Scholarship Grant: Erin Fitzwater

State Reprentatives:
Bettina Longaker
Nancy Doody
Eleszabeth McNeel

VADA-CH By-Laws

VADA SafeSport Policy

2026 VADA Charlottesville Education Events
Jim Koford - April 2026
Janet Foy - September 2026
2026 Schooling School Series

Let's get together ...
Meet and Mingle

5 November, 5:30-8:00 pm

Eastwood Winery, Charlottesville

Come All!

R.S.V.P - Nancy Doody at ndoody15@gmail.com

Important Links

Announcements

USDF Virtual Education Series

The USDF Virtual Education Series hosts education sessions with industry professionals over a variety of dressage and equine education topics. Members are eligible to sign up through the online submission form to receive the webinar link and access to the session. Each session is free to USDF members and is USDF University accredited. Members will receive 0.25 education credits upon verification of attendance.

Inflammation and Fatigue in Performance Horses

Presented by Dr. Sarah White-Springer

Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 8:00pm EST

Dr. Sarah White-Springer will be sharing the findings of her now-concluded research on the effects of inflammation and fatigue on the longevity and overall wellbeing of performance horses. As a follow-up to her presentation at the 2024 Adequan®/USDF Convention, she will discuss how nutrition, exercise, sleep, and light exposure are related to recovery and injury prevention for our equine counterparts. These valuable findings can help us optimize the care we take of our horses and ensure they live the happy, healthy lives we all strive to provide for them.

IT'S TIME FOR VADA CH
BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTIONS
INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THE BOARD IN 2026

The Officers of the Chapter include: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. All officers shall be elected annually by the members of the Chapter and shall hold office during the ensuing year beginning with the f irst meeting of the calendar year or until their successors are duly chosen. The Officers shall also serve as the Directors on the Board of Directors ("Board"). The Newsletter Editor, Membership Chair, and the Awards Coordinator plus the three (3) elected State Board representatives.

If you would like to be included on the ballot or wish to nominate a Chapter member, please submit name to Shaleena Arreguin at shaleena.nicole123@gmail.com by 17 November.

Board Positions

President

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

Newsletter Editor Membership Chair Awards Coordinator

State Board Rep

(3 individuals

An online ballot will be accessible on the VADA website, allowing members to cast their votes between December 8 and 12 December 25. A reminder email will be sent to all members encouraging them to participate in the voting process.

Listen Up Members Education Opportunity ...

Chapter

Scholarship Grant Program

Application Deadline:

1 November 2025

The VADA Charlottesville Chapter is committed to supporting riders seeking to advance their equestrian education. Our scholarship program is specifically structured to assist VADA-CH members at all levels in pursuing ongoing dressage education through clinics, symposiums, seminars, virtual events, and other educational opportunities. Read More about the Program and Apply ...

Scholarship Grant Manager: Erin Fitzwater, cgent76@gmail.com.

We all have a role to play to ensure our members — especially our young ones — are safe.

The U.S. Center for SafeSport was created to address the issue of abuse in sport. The Center works with National Governing Bodies, including US Equestrian, to enforce the SafeSport Code and the Federal Safe Sport Act. The policies in both the Code and Federal Law are aimed at protecting athletes from harm and abuse and apply to all Olympic and amateur sporting. LEARN MORE ...

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW About Safe Sport & the USEF Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention (MAAP) Policies

In February 2018, the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 was signed into law. Among the provisions in the law was Congressional authorization for the U.S. Center for SafeSport to ensure athletes could report allegations of abuse to an independent entity for investigation and resolution. The Center works with National Governing Bodies (NGBs), including US Equestrian and other Olympic disciplines, to enforce the SafeSport Code as well as the federal Safe Sport Act, both of which are aimed at protecting athletes from abuse. The Center ensures all NGBs follow the strictest standards for child abuse prevention and detection. Read More ...

Accessing the Required SafeSport Training

SafeSport training is required for USEF members (18 years of age or older) and is essential in creating a safer environment for our competitors. SafeSport Training gives all of the knowledge to be part of the solution to keep our young people and our sport safe. The online SafeSport Core course lasts approximately 60 minutes and needs to be completed every four years. In the intervening years, 30-minute refresher training must be completed annually.

The MAAPP is a collection of proactive prevention and training policies to help create a safer and healthier environment in which minor athletes can thrive. The MAAPP includes prevention policies for electronic communication, transportation, lodging, meetings, individual training sessions, manual therapy and therapeutic/recovery modalities, and locker rooms and changing areas. Learn More ...

What Makes MAAPP Works?

Limiting one-on-one interaction

The MAAPP’s “observable and interruptible” standard for one-on-one contact between adults and youth athletes helps reduce risk.

Ensuring proper training

By requiring certain adults to get SafeSport™ Trained, the MAAPP sets a common baseline to help adults and organizations know what actions are inappropriate and what safeguards are needed.

Increasing Accountability

For U.S. Olympic and Paralympic entities and Adult Participants, policy violations can lead to penalties outlined in the SafeSport Code.

VIRGINIA DRESSAGE ASSOCIATION STANDING RULES

VADA SAFE SPORT POLICY

Adopted pursuant to Article IV, Section 6 of the Bylaws of the Virginia Dressage Association Amended and Restated 2017

A. The VADA and all of its Chapters adopt the USEF/U.S. Center for SafeSport Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP), as they are updated from time to time by the U.S. Center for Safe Sport. These policies must be posted in prominent locations, including the club’s website and/or Facebook page. In addition, MAAPP posters must be displayed at all club sponsored activities and events.

B. All VADA and Chapter members who can reasonably be expected to come into contact with a minor must take the USEF/U.S. Center for SafeSport Safe Sport training on an annual basis. If any individual who is identified as needing training is not a USEF member, the VADA will reimburse such individual the cost of a USEF Subscribing membership upon submission of proof that they have successfully completed the required SafeSport Training.

Overview of the USEF Safe Sport Policy

The USEF Safe Sport Policy is designed to ensure a safe environment for all participants in equestrian sports. It is aligned with the U.S. Center for SafeSport, which is recognized as the official organization for addressing athlete safety and misconduct in Olympic and amateur sports. The policy mandates that all participants comply with the SafeSport Code, which includes provisions for reporting and addressing misconduct.

The USEF Safe Sport Policy is a crucial framework for promoting safety and integrity in equestrian sports. By requiring training and establishing clear reporting procedures, the policy aims to protect athletes and ensure a respectful and safe environment for all participants. For more detailed information, you can refer to the official USEF Safe Sport Policy document below. LEARN MORE ...

Virginia Dressage Association Charlottesville Chapter
a USDF Region 1 GMO
a 501c3 non-profit organization
a Group Member Organization (GMO) of the United States Dressage Federation (USDF)