The Professional Development Committee is very excited to announce some great changes!
The PD Committee has transitioned some new members onto the committee – please welcome Polly Limond and Katie Drennen! Nicole Chastain has been appointed as the new Chair, Michelle Lackey and Rose Watt will continue their work on the committee. Stephanie Hayes will remain on the committee while taking some personal time off, and Abigail Martinez will be helping as a volunteer with marketing.
The board has approved the committee’s updated program so expect its release in the coming weeks. Contact prodev@usawe.org with any questions.
Please see below to meet the new committee members:
For nearly 40 years Polly has been a dressage rider, trainer, breeder and importer in the Southern CA area. Since 2004 she has been selecting and importing sport horses from European countries including Germany, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands and France. Polly is a USDF Bronze Medalist with Distinction, a Silver Medalist With Distinction, and Silver Freestyle medalist.. Having trained several horses successfully through Intermediare, she won Regional and National Championships and coached students to Regional and RAAC championships and lifetime rider medals.
Polly earned her WE Bronze Medal in 2017, Silver Medal in 2019. She has competed several horses through Intermediate B with scores up to 80%, and was the 2021 Region 2 Level 5 Open Champion.
Polly is an S judge and a licensed TD with USAWE, and a USDF L graduate with distinction. She has judged countless WE shows across the USA and Canada, and local schooling shows in classical, eventing, western dressage and obstacle challenges, and has been mentored by several WAWE judges. She is a sought after clinician, and in 2021 she became a member of the USAWE coaches network. Since early 2023 Polly has been based out of Mooresville, NC.
Polly’s other contributions to Working Equitation include:
4 years service on WE United Board of Directors
Ex-officio member Licensed Officials Committee
2019 US Licensed Officials Seminar in San Diego organizer and facilitator
Co-chair 2019 WE United North American Championship Show Committee
WE United Judge Training Program Committee
WE Merger Board of Directors
Merger Licensed Officials Committee
USAWE 2023 Dressage Test Development Committee
2022 Co-Author of the USAWE Objectives of the Levels
USAWE S Team and judge candidate assessment
USAWE Professional Development Committee
USAWE Competitions Council
Michelle Lackey and I went to our first Working Equitation clinic 1 week after I got married in 2019 in Mexico and we have been hooked ever since! DaVinci is my Friesian Sporthorse and we have been partners for 7 years. In 2023, DaVinci and I earned our USAWE Bronze Medal! I have been riding horses since I was 2 years old, my parents had Arabians and National Show Horses growing up. My husband and I live in the Cleveland, Ohio area with our 4 cats and I am a sales person in foodservice industry.
“I love USAWE because everyone is always welcome and included and it feels like a huge horse family – I love having horse friends that live all over the USA.”
I’m excited to be joining the Professional Development Committee to assist growing USAWE professionals!
The Professional Instructor Program now includes levels of proficiency. These levels are Basic, Intermediate, Advanced and Masters. More complete information will be available in the Professional Development Program Guide. This will be updated on the link on the website PI page soon. If you have any questions regarding this, please reach out to one of our Committee members. The committee is excited about these enhancements as we continue to strengthen and grow the program!
