The Mary Anne and Walter McPhail Judge Education Fund provides funding support for the United States Dressage Federation’s (USDF) Judge Education Initiative. This program is in partnership with Black Horse One and offers interactive educational opportunities to supplement current U.S. judge training programs. Additionally, grants from the McPhail Fund will enable USDF to broaden the scope of the program to provide more online and virtual education to USDF members and the U.S. dressage community.
History of the Mary Anne and Walter McPhail Judge Education Fund
As an accomplished rider and dressage judge, Mary Anne McPhail saw the need to help improve the consistency of judging across all levels. In 2024, Mary Anne and Walter McPhail established this Fund to support the education of dressage judges.
Mary Anne said, “Looking at results from dressage shows all over the world, I began thinking several things. One, our sport could be helped by more consistent judging on all levels. Two, more consistent judging could be achieved by more education. I’m hoping that USDF’s new Judge Education Initiative will make our U.S. judges the best in the world! I also think it is very important that the general membership of USDF has access to most of the same training as our judges, so we can all begin to understand how the judges make their decisions. I am grateful to the excellent committee that has determined the best way for this to happen and has set it up and made it a reality! I am excited that we are on our way to becoming the BEST!”
