Maryal Barnett (MI)
Maryal Barnett is a highly accomplished dressage instructor, retired dressage judge, and part-owner of Nottingham Equestrian Center in East Lansing, Michigan. In addition to teaching at various stables across Michigan, she has given regular clinics in multiple states, including Illinois, Indiana, New York, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
Throughout her extensive career, Maryal has served as a dressage trainer, competitor, and mentor. She was appointed to train and examine United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Judges and United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Certified Instructors. Her impact on the dressage world is further reflected by her students. Many of them have earned local and national awards and gone on to become USEF Judges or USDF Certified Instructors.
Maryal is a retired Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) “C” Dressage Judge, a former US Equestrian “S” Dressage Judge, a retired Instructor and Examiner for the USEF Judges Training Program, and she was on the USDF “L” Faculty to teach future dressage judges. Maryal has given many Judges’ mini-forums throughout the United States. Attending US Equestrian Judges’ Forums and participating in USDF International Judges’ Forums and FEI Seminars for Dressage Judges has taken her to Europe, Canada, and all over the United States.
Maryal is a retired USDF Instructor Certification Examiner and Faculty Member. She has attended every USDF/Violet M. Hopkins National Dressage Instructors’ Seminar since the inception of the program in 1979. Initially, she took part as a participating rider and participating instructor, then as a regional workshop instructor and a member of the teaching staff. She was a co-instructor and then an instructor at several USDF Regional Workshops. As chairperson of the USDF/Hopkins National Seminar for Dressage Instructors Planning Committee from 1981 to 1989, she had the responsibility for planning the annual seminar held in Union Lake, Michigan.
In 1994, Maryal chaired the USDF University Committee at the request of the USDF Executive Board. This committee coordinates the USDF’s different educational programs and identifies areas where improvement is needed. USDF recognized Maryal’s dedication by presenting her with a USDF Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014, and she was inducted into the Midwest Dressage Association Hall of Fame in 2015.
During her competitive years, Maryal showed her own horses from training level through Grand Prix and earned many USDF awards. She won the Midwest Dressage Association’s “Award of Excellence” through the levels to Grand Prix, and her horses won numerous local and national awards, including the USDF Horse of the Year from training level through USEF I-1.
Maryal has been a member of TDF’s Board of Directors for 30+ years and has served as Vice Chairman and Chairman.
