Lexington, KY (June 28, 2019) – The United States Dressage Federation™ (USDF) announced today that Axel Steiner of San Marcos, CA, and Jane Savoie of Wellington, FL, make up the 2019 class of Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame Inductees. Axel and Jane will be recognized at the Salute Gala & Annual Awards Banquet, held at the 2019 Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention in Savannah, GA.

Established to honor and preserve the achievements of the people and horses that made outstanding contribution to the growth, development, quality, popularity, and appreciation of dressage in the United States, the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame represents the most influential and dedicated within our sport, making Axel Steiner and Jane Savoie perfect candidates for induction.

Axel Steiner is a USEF ‘S' and retired FEI 5* Judge, having served as such for numerous Olympics, World Cup Finals, and Pan American Games. Born and raised in Wiesbaden, Germany, Axel immigrated to the United States in 1961, to join the Air Force. While there he started teaching basic horsemanship and dressage. In addition to being one of the first American judges to gain an FEI classification, Axel is also one of the founders of USDF and has dedicated himself to the sport by having served as a member of USDF's L Faculty since its inception, a longtime member and three-year chair of the USDF Judges Committee, and a member of the USEF Dressage Committee, including sub-committees dedicated to Test Writing, Rules, Young Horse, and Judge Education. In addition, Axel has also authored numerous articles for publications such as USDF Connection, Dressage Today, and The Chronicle of the Horse, as well as providing the forewords to several books. His wealth of knowledge and expertise, along with his contributions to the sport, only begin to scratch the surface of why Axel is so deserving of this induction.

A high performance rider, who has represented and competed for the US as part of the United States Equestrian Team, Jane Savoie is also the author of six books, publisher of four videos and a collaborator on eight additional titles, all of which serve to connect with the adult amateur dressage rider. Through her experience, knowledge, and motivational speaking, Jane has continued to resonate with dressage riders in the USDF. Jane has been a long time member of USDF, as well as numerous USDF Group Member Organizations, and has dedicated herself to educating its members through her time as the lead instructor of the USDF Adult Clinic Series in 2007-2008, as well as serving as instructor for numerous USDF University events and convention education sessions. With Jane's competitive experience, dedication to education, and her overall support of the sport and organization, she embodies the criteria for this prestigious induction.

USDF would like to congratulate both Axel and Jane on their induction, and thank them for all of the contributions that they have made, and continue to make, to dressage in the US. For more information on the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame, please visit the USDF website at www.usdf.org.

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 [email protected], or call (859) 971-2277.