The Southwest (SW) chapter serves members from Southern & Southwestern Wisconsin, Madison and the surrounding region.

The SW chapter has hosted clinics with nationally and internationally known instructors Janet Foy, Maryal Barnett, and Cindy Ishoy, the Annual Capital Mini Event, plus schedules 8-10 monthly meetings and special events. Many meetings include an educational program. Educational presentations in recent years have included: overview of the USEF Young Horse Dressage Program, rider biomechanics, equine body scoring, equine massage, lungeing, braiding demonstrations, intro to jumping, and a wet lab at the UW Vet School.

Among special events of the past: a sporthorse evaluation seminar with Gerd Zuther, a practice test riding day, and the major 2011 symposium Dressage Through the Levels with Olympian Steffen Peters and  FEI dressage judge Janet Foy, involving more than 400 participants from the Upper Midwest region and beyond. In 2017, we hosted the William Fox-Pitt Eventing Symposium at the Alliant Energy Center.

As a member of WDCTA you are eligible for state scholarships and the awards program.  As a SW Chapter member you will have priority riding in SW Chapter clinics.

Events for 2019 included:

• Matt McLaughlin speaks at Annual Meeting in March 2019
• Janet Foy Dressage clinics
• Patrica Becker Dressage clinics
• Cindy Ishoy Dressage Clinics
• Introduction to Working Equitation Clinic
• Capital Mini Event July 20-21
• Annual Death by Chocolate Holiday Party

SW Chapter member benefits:

• Two chapter scholarships, $300 maximum each, available annually. Mini Scholarships up to $100 are also available. See the FORMS page for program description and application. 
• Special scholarship: Linda Burich Scholarship: $250 maximum each scholarship, total of three scholarships available; fund has been exhausted and scholarship retired in 2019.
• Reimbursement for purchase of approved safety helmets & vests (See below)
• Chapter members audit most SW Chapter clinics at NO COST, with discounts to Chapter members for some special programs, as announced.

SW CHAPTER MEMBER BENEFITS-- HELMET & VEST POLICY:

The chapter will reimburse $20 toward the purchase of a safety vest and $10 for a safety helmet. Limited to: one reimbursement per member per calendar year for a helmet and one reimbursement per member per calendar year for a safety vest.

Criteria and procedure for reimbursement: Helmet must be ASTM/SEI approved. Vest must be ASTM or BETA Class 3. Chapter members should submit a copy of the receipt, no later than six months from date of purchase, to the SW Chapter Treasurer for payment. (Original policy 1988; amended in 2000 and Sept. 2012.)

• Chapter Inventory

SOUTHWEST CHAPTER EVENTS POLICY:

• SW Chapter Clinic & Events Policy

2022 SW Chapter Officers (effective 12/1/21):

President: Becky Bebber-Wells
Vice President:  Sue Genin
Treasurer: Cathy Wunderlich
Secretary: Cathy Gallagher
Chapter Representative: Susan Walsh
Alternate Chapter Representative: Mary Barr