NEDA Remembers Beth Jenkins
Beth patrols the NEDA Spring Show grounds in 2021 with Paul Cormier.
Click here to read Beth's obituary
On Thursday, February 22nd, NEDA lost a piece of itself with the passing of Beth Jenkins, NEDA Director of Competitions, and fierce supporter of all things New England Dressage.
Please join us in keeping her close family and friends in our hearts, and extending support to each other as we reconcile ourselves to a world without her.
Those of you blessed with memories, stories, or photos of Beth, please click the link below to join us in creating a special memorial publication honoring her impact on our lives.
NEDA Vice President Kate O’Connor reflects on the legacy of our wonderful friend:
Beth Jenkins passed away the morning of February 22, 2024, leaving behind a legacy of accomplishments few could ever hope to achieve.
For decades, Beth managed what was arguably the largest horse show in the US; the NEDA Fall Festival of Dressage. The show included Open classes, qualifier classes, Adult Amatuer and Junior/YR classes, a breed show; later The Northeast Breeders Championship and eventually the Region 8 Championships. Adding the Regionals forced a move to HITS, a much larger facility with great stabling, enough rings and more amenities.
Beth made it as special as she possibly could and competitors loved it! Even as recently as Tuesday, the 20th, she was working on competitions via a meeting with the committee; laying out plans, ideas and assignments for the smoothest operation possible for management, volunteers and competitors.
Beth was the go-to for all competition questions. She was a rock that established a solid foundation upon which successful competitions have been built. She went to great lengths to make sure it all worked through thick and thin, hurricanes, systems failures, floods and all the hazards of running a show. She was nimble and able to react in such a way that many times competitors never knew there was a hiccup at all. She made it special for everyone, especially for the competitor. Things as simple as flowers and the competitor party acknowledged that she wanted them to know they were a priority.
I started volunteering in the mid 80's, taking my vacation every year to work for Beth. As the years went on; we became closer and she took me to France for the World Cup in Caan. A trip of a lifetime for me and just so much fun to share with Beth. Inevitably, I joined the NEDA board and worked closely with Beth on all things competitions with other "stuff" thrown in, i.e. the Fall Festival. As a matter of fact, I became keeper of "The Stuff" that we loaded in the trailer every year that she dragged to the Fall Festival and Championships.
Beth Jenkins accepting her USDF Member of Distinction Award. Photo by The Framed Equestrian.
Beth's impact has been enormous in the industry as a resource and a "worker bee". She established a "Riding Through Winter" program and wrote an accompanying book. She taught for years; was a R judge and stable owner all while raising a family. She did it all in the truest sense of the word.
The passing of Beth Jenkins signifies the end of an era. An era of grand events that celebrated all things Dressage and competition at its finest. She was a "class act" as they say; rightfully so. Her impact will be felt for generations of competitions. But I shall remember that Beth Jenkins was a great lady who did big things in a grand way. She will be missed and not easily forgotten.
~Kate O'Connor, NEDA VP of Activities
