CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

It is time to call for nominations for THREE positions on the ADA Board that are up for election:

• PRESIDENT
• VICE PRESIDENT
• TREASURER

Visit our website to review our Policies and Procedures for a job description or contact any board member.

Nominate yourself or a friend (make sure they know you are nominating them!)

Nominations extended until September 30, 2026 are due to our Secretary, Vera Muckleroy.  Email her directly or complete this form. 

The Alamo Dressage Association hosted a fun and educational short clinic at Retama Equestrian Center on Saturday, and it was a wonderful day of learning, horses, and fellowship!

Judge Carolyn West led a group of youth and adult participants through the basics of judging and scribing dressage tests, with riders performing the tests live in front of the group. The clinic began at Training Level and worked its way through the levels, finishing with a live judged commentary of a Second Level Test 3, performed by Leah Stephen and her horse, Mattias.

Participants gained valuable insight into what judges look for in everything from movements, geometry, and gaits to the many details that come together to create a successful dressage test. Having the opportunity to watch the tests live while learning how and why judges score each movement made for an especially valuable experience!

And, of course, no ADA event would be complete without food! Lunch was included, and thankfully, nobody left hungry!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out and participated in this educational and fun event. We are so grateful to our wonderful demo riders and their amazing horses for sharing their rides with us. And an extra-special thank you to everyone who helped with setup and breakdown—your time and hard work were truly appreciated!

What a great day of learning, laughter, and dressage! ❤️

Below is the schedule for the John Mason clinic this weekend! 

We hope to see you there!

ADA's treasurer, Llorye Flores, has decided to step down.  We appreciate Llorye's many years of service in this crucial role, and wish her well!

ADA would like to welcome member, Nina Fassell, who has agreed to step into this important role. 

Nina Fassell has lived in San Antonio for 12 years with her husband of 45 years. Nina brings a range of business skills developed over a long and accomplished career.

Nina recently retired from the Texas Department of State Health Services, where she served for 11 years in the regulatory division as a Health Physicist. In this role, she was solely responsible for ensuring Federal and State compliance for more than 90 mammography facilities across South Texas. Her work required extensive knowledge of Federal and State laws governing mammography operations, conducting onsite inspections, preparing detailed inspection reports, and demonstrating strong communication and organizational skills.

Before moving to Texas, Nina worked for 17 years as an Imaging Specialist with the Maui Medical Group. Midway through her medical imaging career, she pursued a change in direction and returned to college while working full time, studying business law and corporate accounting for two years. Although she excelled academically, she ultimately chose to remain in the medical imaging field due to her passion for personal interaction with patients.

Nina is currently a dedicated dressage student working with Leah Stephen for over a year. Prior to that, she trained with Vera Muckleroy, who gifted her first horse—an experience that Nina describes as a tremendous privilege. She considers herself fortunate to have trained with exceptional instructors throughout her equestrian journey.

Equestrian Business Tips are compliments of Llorye Flores, ADA Treasurer and owner of Timberwood Bookkeeping.  Read her full article here!

Form 1099 Article by Llorye Flores.pdf

We welcome 3 new board members this year!

Secretary: Vera Muckleroy

Member-at-large: Liz Moser

JR/YR Chair: Maria Olenick   

We thank James Humphreys for his outstanding service as Member-at-Large, and Christine Rivlin's for her service as Secretary, and Charlie Sokolov's service as JR/YR chair.  Learn more about our new board members below!  Feel free to contact them with your ideas!

SECRETARY: VERA MUCKLEROY

Hello, 

For those who do not know me, I was one of the first Presidents of ADA when it started, Cindy Joiner and Becky Snell preceded me.

I started out dressage with a QH, Flash Bid, rode western, jumped and trained him to 3rd level (got my Bronze medal with his scores) and a half Arab/Saddlebred Ferjean, aka Hassel, trained to second level before he passed. I then bought a Danish Warmblood jumper from Denmark, trained and showed him to I-1, then trained Baccus, a Secretariat Grandson, from a 3-year-old to I-1, and Oberon, aka Bear, a Oldenburg/Arab cross also to I-1, and won the 2002 SWDC Championship at I-1. Along the way I have trained many horses from training level through third and sold to various persons who have earned their scores and loved the gentleness of the horses I’ve trained. When you are only 4’10”, you need to have good training program, earning my USDF Bronze and Silver Medals, with half my Grand Prix scores before Bear passed.

I also became a “L” graduate, and was the USDF Region 9 Instructor/Trainer Liaison for about 10 years. I was chosen as the  USDF Region 9 Horse Person of the Year in 2012 for the education programs that I put on at my barn in Marion, Diamond M Dressage Park. Lendon Gray’s Dressage 4kids, Riding through the levels with Gerhard Politz, 2nd and 4th level testing’s for USDF Instructor Certification, USDF Instructor Courses, and USDF Judges Certification testing program.

My focus through all this has been the biomechanics of riders and how to teach riders to ride the best they can.  I have Certificates from Sally Swift’s Centered Riding Courses, Major Lindgren Instructors Courses, and am a Certified Balimo Instructor.

I look forward to getting more active in the club again and meeting some of the new faces of ADA!

Sincerely, Vera Muckleroy

MEMBER-AT-LARGE: Liz Moser

JR/YR Chair: Maria Olenick

Dr Maria Olenick is a Tenured Associate Professor of Nursing at Texas A&M University.  She and her family have horses they keep just outside San Antonio in Stockdale.  

Her daughter, Sofia, is a 14 year old dressage competitor and polo player. Prior to moving here, they resided in the Wellington area of Palm Beach County in Florida.  Dr Olenick has over 30 years experience in critical care nursing, teaching, research and service to her community and profession.  She is very interested in equine therapy as a complimentary and alternative medicine approach to specific health conditions, especially for veterans.  

Dr Olenick also offers equine red light therapy (upon veterinary consultation and approval) for horses.  Red light therapy (RLT) is non-invasive and offers pain relief, healing and has great potential for improving performance and overall well-being.  She is dedicated to keeping horses and their people (riders and non-riders) safe and happy.  

Click here to Nominate!

Click her to contact a Board Member!

Just a gentle reminder that ADA offers an excellent year end awards program.  Gather your tests together from the year and complete the application available on our awards page. 

The deadline to submit your application is December 31, 2025. 

Did you miss our recent events on volunteering and scribing?  If so, have no fear! We have posted the power points and recordings on our website.  Visit the Education page to view now!

Thank you to all our competitors, sponsors, volunteers, advertisers, silent auction donors, and staff for your support!  We had an amazing show.  Though we had about the same number of entries as last year, with your support, we raised the following:

$5,365 from ads and sponsorships

$4,539 from the silent auction

We will share with you our final financial results from the show when they are available.  In the meantime, you can view the competition results on-line here and see our High Points and Special award winners here!