United States Dressage Federation (USDF) has announced a membership dues and horse registration fee increase for the 2011 membership year, which begins December 1, 2010.  At the 2009 Adequan/USDF Annual Convention in Austin, TX, the following dues and fees were approved by the Board of Governors (BOG); 1-year Participating Membership (PM) - $75,  Youth PM - $60, 5-Year PM - $300, Life PM - $1500, Business Membership - $200, Group Member Organization (GMO) Membership - $20,  GMO Supporting Family Membership - $10, Horse Identification Number (HID) - $25, and Lifetime Horse Registration (LHR) - $95.

This is the first dues increase the USDF membership has seen in  seven years.  Following a presentation before the Board of Governors (BOG) on December 3, 2009 by Ken Levy, chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee to Evaluate the Membership and  Fee Structure, which was formed the previous year at the Board of Governors in Denver, CO.,  the BOG passed all recommendations made by the committee.  In his presentation, Ken stated:  "Costs change, unfortunately they never go backwards.  Things have gone up.  We're just trying to catch up cost wise. "  

Sam Barish, former president of USDF, who presided over the 2009 BOG, was pleased with the passage of the dues increase, and the subsequent balanced budget that was also approved.  Sam stated, "The new budget puts USDF on firm financial footing for the future." 

Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage. For more information about USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org, email usdressage@usdf.org, or call (859) 971-2277.