Board of Directors Nominee Results 2023

In accordance with Section 2 of Article IV (Voting and Elections) of the Constitution of the United States Icelandic Horse Congress (USIHC), the Election Committee accepted nominations until October 22, 2023. One nomination was received: Caeli Cavanagh - Nominated by Virginia Lauridsen and seconded by Lucy Nold and Deb Cook.

As stated in the Notice of Election 2023, the upcoming election shall select three directors, who will serve for terms of three years starting on January 1, 2024. Incumbent directors Jeff Rose, Lori Cretney, and Sara Stewart were up for re-election. Jeff Rose and Sara Stewart opted to run for re-election. Lori Cretney declined to run for re-election. Since there was one nominee there will not be an election held for 2023. Jeff Rose, Sara Stewart, and Caeli Cavanagh will serve three-year terms beginning January 1, 2024.

Caeli Cavanagh

Caeli has been actively participating in the United States Icelandic Horse community for almost 20 years. Caeli was the third American ever to attend Holar University College’s Bachelor’s program in Riding and Riding Instruction, as well as one of only three Americans with a Level 3 training and certification from FEIF.

Currently, she runs Alfadans Equestrian Arts, a full service Icelandic Horse training and education center, in Portland, Oregon. A successful sport competition rider, Caeli has earned the highest National Ranking in Four Gait in 2022 and in Five Gait in 2022 and 2023. She was additionally nominated for FEIF Trainer of the Year in 2019 and 2022. In 2022 she received the top spot in the world for number of nominations for Good and Harmonious Riding, and was honored to represent the United States at the 2023 World Championships in Oirschot, Netherlands.

Caeli has authored and assisted on numerous projects for the USIHC and affiliated organizations. She ran the third North American Youth Cup, was an integral part of the working group that produced the US Trainer’s Exam, and recently spearheaded the Lifetime Achievement Medal program. She looks forward to continuing to serve the Icelandic Horse community in the United States through a place on the USIHC Board, bringing both a national pride and a global perspective to the position.