According to Sam Barish, president of the U.S. Dressage Federation, Wednesday, June 22, was the date of “the most significant event in the history of the USDF.” That’s when 15 representatives of the USDF, the Kentucky Horse Park and the Commonwealth of Kentucky quite literally dug their shovels into the ground for a groundbreaking ceremony for the USDF National Education Center in Lexington, Ky. And the earthmovers started digging as soon as they were out of the way.

Added Barish, “We’re looking forward to being included on a daily basis in an equestrian community environment [at the Kentucky Horse Park] where we can work effectively on behalf of dressage and our members.”

The USDF new headquarters and educational center is being built next door to the U.S. Equestrian Federation headquarters and within view of several other national organizations. It’s being paid for through the USDF’s National Capital Campaign, which so far has raised $2 million of the $5 million goal.

Charles Smith, the campaign’s chairman, said they hoped to reach the goal by April 2006, the scheduled date for the center’s opening. “This is a very special moment for USDF,” said Smith, “and I want to thank those that have worked with the campaign in contributing money, time and energy.”

John Nicholson, the Kentucky Horse Park’s executive director, waxed poetic while pondering the center’s relationship to the KHP’s bid to host the 2010 World Equestrian Games. He dreamed, “We’re listening to our national anthem because the United States has just won a gold medal in dressage. And they’ve done it literally in the very shadow of [the USDF’s] national headquarters.”

The USDF was founded in 1973. The progress of the building project and the capital campaign can be viewed at www.usdf.org.