The Dressage Foundation is now accepting applications from U.S. dressage breeders who want to continue their education in the United States or overseas.

The Elysium Farm Fund for U.S. Breeder Excellence, established at The Dressage Foundation in 2011 by Abbey Henderson, provides financial assistance to breeders to pursue educational opportunities related to breeding that will advance their careers, promote sound breeding practices and further enhance the quality of U.S.-bred dressage horses.

Specifically, the Elysium Farm Fund for U.S. Breeder Excellence supports attendance at educational programs related to breeding, such as a United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Sport Horse Seminar, the American Hanoverian Society Breed Orientation Course, the Hannoveraner Verband’s Breed Orientation Course, or similar educational program.  No preference is given to programs focusing on a particular breed.  Preference is given to USDF members.

The maximum amount to be awarded will be $1,000 per year for programs held in the U.S. and up to $5,000 per year for programs held overseas.  The amount awarded will depend on the financial plan provided as part of the application.

Completed applications are due to The Dressage Foundation by May 1^st for consideration.  Grant announcements will be made no later than August 1st.

Application and donation information for the Elysium Farm Fund for U.S. Breeder Excellence is available at The Dressage Foundation website, www.dressagefoundation.org.

For more information about The Dressage Foundation, please contact Jenny Johnson or Melissa Filipi at (402) 434-8585 or visit www.dressagefoundation.org.

The Dressage Foundation

The Dressage Foundation is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, tax-exempt, donor-driven organization that is dedicated to supporting and advancing the sport of dressage.  The organization solicits contributions, appropriately allocates the donations, and awards grants and scholarships to dressage riders of all ages and levels.  For more information, please visit www.dressagefoundation.org.

###

The Elysium Farm Fund for U.S. Breeder Excellence was established at The Dressage Foundation in 2011 to help support breeding programs in the United States. The Fund provides financial assistance to breeders to pursue educational opportunities related to breeding that will advance their careers, promote sound breeding practices and further enhance the quality of U.S.-bred dressage horses.

Specifically, the Elysium Farm Fund for U.S. Breeder Excellence at The Dressage Foundation supports attendance at educational programs related to breeding, such as a USDF Sport Horse Seminar, the American Hanoverian Society Breed Orientation Course, the Hannoveraner Verband’s Breed Orientation Course, or similar educational program.

No preference is given to programs focusing on a particular breed.  Preference is given to USDF members.

The maximum amount to be awarded will be $1,000 per year for programs held in the U.S. and up to $5,000 per year for programs held overseas.  The amount awarded will depend on the financial plan provided as part of the application.

It is required that complete application packets arrive in The Dressage Foundation’s office on or before May 1st of each year.  Grant announcements will be made by August 1st.

The Olympic Dream Program for Advanced Young Riders

–funded and administered by The Dressage Foundation

The Dressage Foundation Young Rider Olympic Dream Program is ready to go for the eleventh year!

The concept of the program evolved as a result of former Olympian Michael Poulin’s wish to offer an opportunity for gifted Young Riders to enhance their understanding of dressage theory through a European tour. The program is both funded and administered by The Dressage Foundation. (more…)

Dear ODS Members,

The Dressage Foundation has a scholarship available for an individual to attend an upcoming “L” Education Program.  The Trip Harting Fund provides a $500 scholarship for a current or graduate Pony Club rider with a rating of B or A to attend the L Program or Instructor Certification Program.  The deadline to apply for the scholarship is coming up fast – February 1st!  Details and the application can be found here: http://www.dressagefoundation.org/The_Trip_Harting_Fund.htm or by contacting The Dressage Foundation directly at (402) 434-8585.

More information about the upcoming ODS “L” Education Program – Part II can be found at http://www.oregondressage.com/lprogram.html.   There are 3 spots still available, first come, first reserved.

Thank you.

###

The Dressage Foundation is very excited to announce the opening date of our new online Equestrian Fundraising School – Offering Lessons in Fundraising and Giving!  This program is for any equestrian who wants to learn techniques for raising money to continue in their chosen sport.

The webinars will be taught by a nationally-known, distinguished faculty.  Complete details will be available on our website by November 1st, but for now, please see the recent press release that describes the program in a bit more detail:

http://www.dressagefoundation.org/Equestrian_Fundraising_School_Release_Oct_2011.htm.

I’m sure many of you are making your plans to attend the upcoming USDF Convention in December.  So are we!  I will be attending the convention with TDF’s Development Director, Melissa Filipi.  I am really looking forward to meeting many of you in person, since I have worked with you over the phone and email for the past 2 1/2 years.  It will be wonderful to speak with you about your GMO and answer any questions you may have about The Dressage Foundation.  We will have an information table set up somewhere around the meeting area, so please stop by and say hello!

Have a wonderful day!

Jenny Johnson

Administrative Director

The Dressage Foundation has a couple of High Performance grant opportunities that I’d like to share with you.

The deadlines will be here before we know it, and it is never too early to start working on an application! Please feel free to share this information with High Performance riders in your area.

Anne L. Barlow Ramsay Annual $25,000 Grant – The purpose of this annual grant is to showcase talented American-bred horses ridden by United States citizens, by providing funds to train and compete in Europe. The horse and rider applicants will be competing successfully at Prix St. George or higher, and demonstrate an ability to move forward into High Performance competition. The successful applicant will demonstrate an ability to be an ambassador for the American-bred horse in Europe. Applications are due October 25, 2011.  http://www.dressagefoundation.org/Anne_Barlow_Ramsay_Charitable_Remainder_Un itrust.htm

Carol Lavell $25,000 Advanced Dressage Prize – The Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize was established at The Dressage Foundation to provide financial assistance for coaching and training to a talented, committed, qualified rider whose plan is to reach and excel at the elite, international standards of high performance dressage. Up to TWO $25,000 grants are available each year. Applications are due December 13, 2011. http://www.dressagefoundation.org/The_Carol_Lavell_Advanced_Dressage_Prize.h tm

Please contact The Dressage Foundation office at 402-434-8585 with any questions.

Have a wonderful day!

Jenny Johnson Administrative Director — The Dressage Foundation 1314 ‘O’ Street, Suite 305 Lincoln, NE 68508 402-434-8585 www.dressagefoundation.org

(Lincoln, Nebraska) July 28, 2011 – The Dressage Foundation’s Continuing Education for Dressage Instructors Fund has awarded a $1,250 grant to Mija Paris (OR) to help her attend the United States Dressage Federation’s Instructor Certification Program.

Mija said, “This funding will be used to attend Instructor Certification workshops, and will help expand my dressage education as a rider, trainer, instructor, and judge.  It will allow me to access new information to help me develop a more well-rounded knowledge base.  In addition, I will be able to pass along the new knowledge I gain to my students.”

Maryal Barnett established this Fund in 2007, in order to provide grants for dressage instructor education.  Since that time, over $10,000 has been awarded to USDF Group Member Organizations and individual dressage instructors.

“We want to encourage dressage instructors and GMOs to take advantage of the grants that are available for furthering instructor education,” said Jenny Johnson, Administrative Director for The Dressage Foundation.  “If instructors continue to learn and improve, then everyone benefits.”

Individual grants range from $500 to $1,500 each and are awarded twice per year.  Upcoming application deadlines for individual grants are February 1, 2012, and a fall 2012 date to be determined.  GMOs may apply for financial assistance of up to $1,000 for instructor clinics, and those applications are due at least 90 days prior to the event.

For more information about the Continuing Education for Dressage Instructors Fund or The Dressage Foundation, please contact Jenny Johnson at (402) 434-8585 or visit www.dressagefoundation.org.

The Dressage Foundation

The Dressage Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt, donor-driven organization that is dedicated to supporting and advancing the sport of dressage.  The organization solicits contributions, appropriately allocates the donations, and awards grants and scholarships to dressage riders of all ages and levels.  For more information, please visit www.dressagefoundation.org.

LINCOLN, Nebraska, June 29–Up to $94,000 in grants are available from The Dressage Foundation for the rest of 2011.

The foundation is seeking applications for the grant money. More information is available on www.dressagefoundation.org or by phone to 402.434.8585.

–Gifted Fund Scholarship for Adult Amateurs – Due Sept. 15
This $1,000 Scholarship enables Adult Amateurs to set aside quality time, in concentrated training, away from daily pressures of job and family with a horse the recipient owns. Applicants can be riding dressage at any level. Volunteerism within a group member organization is very important. Up to nine scholarships–one per USDF Region–are offered each year.

–Major Anders Lindgren Scholarships for Dressage Instructors – Due Sept. 30
Two $2,000 Scholarships are available each year to dressage instructors to train in a concentrated amount of time of at least one week, away from home. Applicants are not required to be Certified Instructors, but it is suggested that applicants use the scholarship money to train with a Certified Instructor or USDF Instructor Certification Program Faculty Member.  One $6,000 Scholarship can be awarded each year to a dressage instructor, preferably to those in the USDF Certified pool, Training through Fourth Levels. The scholarship will enable the applicant to train in a longer concentrated time period away from home.

–Anne L. Barlow Ramsay Annual $25,000 Grant – Due Oct. 25
The purpose of this annual grant is to showcase talented American-bred horses ridden by U.S. citizens, by providing funds to train and compete in Europe. The horse and rider applicants will be competing successfully at Prix St. George or higher, and demonstrate an ability to move into high performance competition. The successful applicant will demonstrate an ability to be an ambassador for the American-bred horse in Europe.

–Carol Lavell $25,000 Advanced Dressage Prize – Due Dec. 13
The Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize provides financial assistance for coaching and training to a talented, committed, qualified rider whose plan is to reach and excel at the elite, international standards of high performance dressage. Up to two prizes are available annually in the amount of $25,000 each, to riders who are U.S. citizens, over 21 years of age, and selected by a national panel of dressage figures. Selection criteria are merit and need.

Good Morning!

Adult Amateurs are the backbone of our sport, yet many times they are the ones that just can’t seem to find enough time in the day or money in the checkbook to really pursue their passion. We are here to help! Each year, the Gifted Fund provides the opportunity for up to nine amateurs (one per Region) to take a week away from home and train with their horse. There have always been misconceptions about these scholarships – that you have to be an upper-level rider, that you have to want to be a professional, that you have to be young. None of which are true! To help clear things up, we created a flyer that I hope you will share with the adult amateurs in your GMO (it is attached). Feel free to post it on your website, include it in a newsletter, or send out through email. The deadline will be here before we know it (September 15th)! If anyone has ANY questions about the Gifted Fund Scholarships, please have them call me at 402-434-8585 or email me at jenny@dressagefoundation.org. Please just don’t assume that you aren’t eligible for one reason or another! I’m happy to answer any questions you may have!

On another note, the participants in our 10th Advanced Young Rider Olympic Dream Program trip are packing their bags for Germany! The four advanced young riders and two chaperones will leave June 28th for a 10-day immersion into European dressage. Their itinerary includes spending time with Ingrid Klimke, Jean Bemelmans, Matthias Rath, Hubertus Schmidt, and Klaus Balkenhol. We will be posting updates during the trip on the TDF website, www.dressagefoundation.org, and on our Facebook page (The Dressage Foundation page, as well as the Young Rider Olympic Dream Program page). We hope you’ll follow along on their amazing journey!

Have a safe and happy summer! Keep cool!