Behind the Scenes at the 2025 USDF Trainers' Conference

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Behind the Scenes at the 2025 USDF Trainers’ Conference

Check out our sneak peek of the talented horse-and-rider combinations who participated in this year's Adequan®/USDF FEI-Level Trainers’ Conference with German dressage legends Christine Traurig and Monica Theodorescu.

The annual Adequan^®/USDF FEI-Level Trainers’ Conference wrapped up on Tuesday with more than 300 dressage trainers from around the country in attendance at Mary Anne McPhail’s scenic High Meadow Farm in Loxahatchee, Florida. Renowned clinicians Christine Traurig, chef d’equipe of the USEF dressage team, and Monica Theodorescu, Germany’s current national head coach, helped trainers and riders explore new teaching methods and training exercises at this year’s event.

Kate Shoemaker, Grade IV Para Dressage athlete who’s ranked No. 3 in the world, gives her 2024 Paris Paralympics’ mount Vianne a smooch after participating in the 2025 USDF Trainers’ Conference. ©Alana Harrison

Both Traurig and Theodorescu emphasized the crucial importance of taking the time to instill the basics in order to achieve and maintain classical dressage principles while also prioritizing horses’ fitness and overall well-being. There was a heavy focus on the fundamental dressage pyramid of training that includes rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness and collection.

Enjoy this behind-the-scenes’ glimpse from the 2025 USDF Trainers’ Conference and be on the lookout for our full report and key takeaways from this year’s event. (Plus, coming soon: Watch the full conference for top tips and training exercises from Traurig and Theodorescu on EQUESTRIAN+.)

Hannah Irons’ 5-year-old Westphalian gelding Ein Traum (E.T.) entering the ring at High Meadow Farm with a unique hindquarters’ clip. ©Alana Harrison

Amy Bradley’s 8-year-old Oldenburg gelding I Spy after a job well done at the USDF Trainers’ Conference. ©Alana Harrison

J.J. Tate and her 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding Denali after two stellar days at the 2025 USDF Trainers’ Conference in Loxahatchee, Florida. ©Alana Harrison

Heather Bender and her 9-year-old KWPN mare Keisha B worked on achieving more suppleness. ©Alana Harrison

Olivia LaGoy-Weltz praises her 10-year-old Hanoverian mare Fade To Black following Day 2 at the USDF Trainers’ Conference. ©Alana Harrison

Following this year’s conference, Tate said clinicians Christine Traurig and Monica Theodorescu reminded attendees to commit to the beautiful and classical principles of dressage and simply let those work for you and your horse. ©Alana Harrison

Christopher Hickey rode 7-year-old Hanoverian gelding Saskatoon OMF at this year’s conference. ©Alana Harrison

Theodorescu answers a question from the audience at the 2025 USDF Trainers’ Conference. ©Alana Harrison

Irons worked with Traurig, who’s successfully developed many young horses in her extensive career, on further developing E.T.’s basics to improve his collection and self-carriage down the road. ©Alana Harrison

Irons and E.T. prepare for their second session during this year’s conference at the scenic High Meadow Farm. ©Alana Harrison

Hickey, who’s ridden in many previous USDF Trainers’ Conferences, worked on gymnasticizing Saskatoon OMF. ©Alana Harrison

Traurig, chef d’equipe of the USEF dressage team, coached top-level riders on fresh training perspectives at the 2025 USDF Trainers’ Conference. ©Alana Harrison

More the 300 dressage trainers from around the country audited this year’s clinic, despite the unusually chilly weather in Florida. ©Alana Harrison

Shoemaker and Vianne after their applause-worthy performance at the conference on Tuesday. ©Alana Harrison

Irons and E.T. warm up before their second training session at this year’s conference. ©Alana Harrison

Neve Myburgh gives her 7-year-old DSP mare Firiet a carrot after their first training session on Monday at this year’s conference. ©Alana Harrison

USDF Executive Director Stephen Hienzsch and Member Education Coordinator Evelyn Lancione welcome conference attendees and riders. ©Alana Harrison

For More:

To read more about the horse-and-rider combinations who participated in the the 2025 USDF Trainers’ Conference, click here.
Be on the look out for our full report and key takeaways from the 2025 Adequan/USDF Trainers’ Conference.
Coming soon: Watch the full conference for top tips and training exercises from Traurig and Theodorescu on EQUESTRIAN+.