About Us

The official mission of the South Dakota Dressage Association is to bring the equine discipline of dressage to South Dakota riders thru awareness and education.

SDDA was formed for the pleasure rider, the lifelong student, the rider with big show aspirations, and even the horse lover who doesn’t physically ride anymore, in mind. We believe dressage is an all-inclusive discipline for all horses and riders. SDDA will accomplish awareness and education through clinics, events, and shows with a focus on community and bringing horse people together.

The founder: 

Jen's obsession with Dressage came at a later stage of her life. Growing up as a self taught rider with mostly trail experience, a western saddle was all she knew. It was her love of the Friesian breed that brought her to the English world and then Hendrik into her life. Working with trainers like Jeanine Bonine, Mario Contreras, Endel Ots, Heather McCarthy, Brittany Burson, Haley Lundin, Kelly Shetter-Ruiz, Shelly Day, Eric Dierks and so many more in the last 27 yrs. fueled that fire to today. Jen closed down her professional boarding, training and lesson barn in Northern Illinois in Dec 2022 and made the move cross country with her fiancée Randy (Randy's Rescue NFP), 7 horses, 3 dogs and two cats in Newell, South Dakota. When she got there, she found cowboys and no outlet for dressage riders like herself. This is why the SDDA was started in March of 2023. It is Jen's hope to bring dressage riders together for continuing education, clinics and events