Parking Information
Below is a map with various parking lots within a block of the hotel. The underground garage cannot accommodate trucks.
Starks Parking garage is the closest one that is 7’ tall
All events will take place at the Embassy Suites hotel at 501 S Fourth St, Louisville.
Please join us February 3, 2024 in Louisville, KY for a day full of education and a night full of celebration.
All events will take place at the Embassy Suites hotel at 501 S Fourth St, Louisville.
Dinner and awards tickets are $75 through January 24, and $100 January 25 through the day of the event on a first come first serve basis. Dinner ticket includes a full meal, one alcoholic beverage, and attendance to the awards ceremony. The cocktail hour begins at 6p, and dinner will be served at 7p.
Attendance to educational sessions are included in your MSEDA membership and dinner ticket.
Educational Session Schedule and Information:
Saturday, February 3, 2024
9a-10a: Annual Business Meeting
All MSEDA members are invited to hear an overview of the 2023 MSEDA year from each MSEDA committee. MSEDA members are invited to vote on our incoming board members and officers.
10a-11a: Organizer's Meeting, with Leigh Anne Claywell
This meeting is specifically geared toward MSEDA competition organizers and officials. MSEDA will discuss important rule changes for the 2024 season. Leigh Anne Claywell will discuss our new safety officer program.
11a-12p: Western Dressage, with Karen Winn and Laura Muller
Join Karen and Laura for a discussion about Western Dressage in our area.
12p-1p: Lunch break
There is a hotel restaurant and many restaurant within walking distance of the hotel.
1p-230p: Sports Psychology, with Dr Ashley Samson
Dr Ashley Samson is currently a professor of Sport Psychology at the University of Kentucky and prior to that, she spent 12 years at California State University, Northridge (in the LA metroplex). She teaches courses in the areas of sport psychology and sport sociology, conducts research on athletes, and also works as a sport psychology consultant in both the university setting and in private practice. In that role, she works with individual athletes, teams, and coaches on the psychological aspects of peak performance. In her research, she mainly focuses on athlete self-perceptions (self-efficacy, self-confidence, self-talk, etc), and also has an interest in mindfulness practices for athlete well-being and performance enhancement. When not at work, Dr Ashley is either running, doing yoga, or sitting on her horse.
3p-5p: Conversation with David O'Connor
Two-time Equestrian of the Year and only the fourth American to win Individual Gold in Equestrian sport, David O’Connor’s success has made him a living legend. His Individual Gold medal in Sydney was won with the best score in Olympic history, and in a four year span he won medals at the Pan American Games, the Olympic Games and the World Championships − all with the same horses.
An integral part of the U.S. Eventing program for nearly two decades as an athlete; O’Connor has grown even more prolific since his retirement in 2004. He is the president of the United States Equestrian Federation (the National Governing Body of Sport), chairs two committees for the FEI (the International Governing Body of Sport). He teaches dozens of students and continues to train young horses. Wife Karen, who was also a member of both the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Teams, is the reigning Pan American Gold Medalist and together they have built an empire in the sport. They are the only husband and wife team in history to have been on two Olympic medal winning teams together.
O’Connor’s commitment to the Olympic movement is evident on every level, from teaching and training young horses and riders to designing competition courses. But it is his governance and the vision he has had for the NGB and the sport that put him in elite company. His dedication to youth, building programs and guiding our high performance programs is second to none.
As past president of the United States Equestrian Federation, David O’Connor served as the official spokesperson of the Federation on all matters relating to its governance and direction. In addition, the president serves as the lead executive and administrator of Board of Director meetings; provides services as a liaison between the numerable directors of the breeds and disciplines that, together, form the Federation; and provides guidance in relation to establishing and enforcing policies set forth by the rules and regulations of the Federation.
As a lead spokesperson for the Federation both nationally and internationally, O’Connor lends his expertise and skill as one of the United States most decorated and respected equestrian athletes. His extensive knowledge of the political realm of the sport, coupled with his years spent as an athlete, afford him a unique perspective on the inner workings of equestrian sport and its governance.
Through O’Connor’s leadership as coach of the Canadian Eventing Team 2005-2012, Team Canada won silver at the 2010 World Equestrian Games and numerous medals at international team competitions including the 2007 and 2011 Pan American Games. O’Connor’s coaching style stresses correct fundamentals and a classical approach that leads to competitive success. O’Connor went on to coach the USA Team from 2012-2017 to medals in the Pan AM Games and Olympic Games
David has rejoined the USEF as Chief of Sport starting in 2022 a new position in the USEF staffing plan. His extensive knowledge and long range planning in all aspects of equestrian sport will drive and implement the strategic plan for the USEF for years to come.
Bios
Karen Winn
Karen Winn has been a member of MSEDA since moving to Lexington Kentucky in the mid 1970s. She worked for many years in all aspects of the horse industry, and although retired now from a day job, is still very active as a licensed official. Karen is an FEI Eventing Judge, TD, and Chief Steward, as well as a “R” judge in both Dressage and Western Dressage. She has earned her USDF bronze and silver medals, and with homebred Thoroughbred Shawkilito, has achieved the WDAA Register of Excellence and Bronze Medal.
Laura Muller
Laura Muller is a middle aged, mid sized momma who’s sanity is held together by her horses. Currently her equine therapist is a Quarter Horse gelding, Peppys Dazzlin Romeo “Ben”. Laura has been involved with horses since the age of 8 and has competed in Endurance, CTR, Hunters, and Dressage but found her passion & calling with Western Dressage. Laura and Ben are showing WDAA 3rd level and would like to attend the World Show - whenever it stops interfering with her son’s youth football.
