Lexington, KY (August 17, 2018) - The United States Dressage Federation™ (USDF) is pleased to announce that the Albers Award perpetual trophy was awarded to Region 4 Chef d'Equipe Martin Kuhn, at this year's USDF North American Youth Dressage Championships, held during the 2018 Adequan®/FEI North American Youth Championships, presented by Gotham North (NAYC).

"For me, it is always a thrill to present the Albers Award. This year, when Martin Kuhn's name was announced, we came full circle," stated Roberta Williams, USDF FEI Jr/YR Committee Chair. "Martin himself had ridden in the NAYRC at Tempel Farms in 2002, where he was on the Region 2 Gold Medal team, and at Bromont in 2003 with the Region 2 Bronze Medal team. This year, as chef d'equipe, Martin navigated his two teams through a multitude of issues and heartbreaks with the same good sportsmanship he displayed as a Young Rider fifteen years ago."  

The Albers Award is named in honor of long time USDF Region 1 Chef d'Equipe, supporter, and good friend, Patsy Albers. The award is presented annually at the USDF North American Youth Dressage Championships, to the dressage chef d'equipe who best demonstrates the same level of dedication, enthusiasm, and team spirit shown by Patsy, throughout the years. The award is open to all of the dressage chefs d'equipe, and any competitor or chef d'equipe can nominate a candidate by submitting a written explanation as to why that chef deserves to win the Albers Award.

The NAYC is the premier equestrian competition in North America for youth, age 14-21. Young equestrians vie for team and individual FEI medals in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage, and eventing, the Paralympic discipline of para-dressage, and the FEI World Equestrian Games disciplines of reining and endurance.

Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage. For more information about USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org, email usdressage@usdf.org, or call (859) 971-2277.