Twenty-seven years after her most famous mount, Gifted, was inducted into the Roemer Foundation/U.S. Dressage Federation Hall of Fame, he is being joined by his rider, the late Carol Lavell. The ceremony will take place during the USDF convention in Houston during December.
Carol Lavell and Gifted
The duo earned team bronze medals at the 1992 Olympics and the 1994 World Equestrian Games.They were the USA’s stars of the early 1990s. But Carol, who died last year, also reached out to help others be successful; she and her family assisted many riders through their financial support of the Dressage Foundation’s grants.
USDF President George Williams noted, “Many will agree it is past time that we honor all that Carol did and gave to dressage during her lifetime.”
Also being being honored at the convention is William (Bill) Woods, best known as a trainer and judge, who has instructed and judged in 43 states and five foreign countries. He is receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award.
He influenced development of what become the USDF Instructor/Trainer Development Program. During his seven years as chair of the USDF Council of Instructors and Trainers, he was largely responsible for bringing to fruition USDF’s program for instructor certification and the beginning of USDF’s program of annual National Symposia.
Bill Woods.
When the New England Dressage Association (NEDA) became a charter GMO at USDF’s founding meeting in 1973, it was Bill who attended the first USDF convention as NEDA’s official delegate.
A pioneer in the sport, he is always giving back to the community and helping others understand dressage. His work to establish a way to certify instructors has impacted dressage instructors/trainers to this very day, and will continue to influence the sport into the future.
George Williams noted, “I’m a strong believer in the importance of remembering and recognizing those whose efforts in the early years of USDF laid the groundwork for our current programs. Bill Woods is one of those foresighted individuals. He was instrumental in the early development of the major USDF educational program geared towards instructors.”