Isabelle Leibler Awarded $6,000 Michael Poulin Dressage Fund Grant

6/29/10 - A note from Isabelle:

Wow!  What a great trip this has been!  I have been learning so much here and having a blast!  Hagen was such an amazing experience!  It was so surreal and special.  I just wanted to let you know how great it was going here and that the training is going so well here at Frau Endres' that she has invited me to stay longer in her training program.  What I have been working on here is so important and vital for a dressage education.  Things like perfect technical accuracy in competition and constant swing and rhythm in all movements.  Frau Endres has also invited me to attend the European Championships with her team to watch and learn!  I am so excited for that.  I feel like this international experience at the shows and the training at Frau Endres' stable has already made me a much better rider, and I am so excited to continue my education with her.  I will continue to write about my experiences here in Europe!

Hope all is well!

Regards,

Isabelle

Read about Isabelle's European adventure on her blog:  www.isabellenml.blogspot.com

May 10, 2010

Isabelle and Depardieu at Dressage at Devon. Courtesy of Susan J. Stickle

The Dressage Foundation Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Isabelle Leibler, Greenwich, CT, has been awarded a $6,000 grant from the Michael Poulin Dressage Fund.  Isabelle has been invited to compete at the International Youth Festival in Hagen, Germany from June 15-20, 2010.  She will use the grant to travel with her two FEI ponies, Going West and Depardieu, to Germany to train and show.  The invitation to compete in Hagen was issued based on her current scores in CDI competition. 

Isabelle said, "Competing and training in Europe has always been a dream of mine, since the day that I began my international career.  With the support from The Dressage Foundation, I am able to go to the next level.  I am so grateful for The Dressage Foundation's support, and I am ready to represent the United States in the best possible way I can!"  Along with competing at the International Youth Festival, Isabelle will spend time training in Germany with Cornelia Endres and Jurgen Koschel.

The Michael Poulin Dressage Fund was established at The Dressage Foundation in 2003, to provide support for innovative programs that enhance the sport of dressage.  Michael's friends, family, and admirers established the Fund in his honor.  In previous years, this Fund awarded a grant to Kaitlyn Hamilton (MI) to represent the United States at the 2005 FEI Young Rider World Cup Dressage Final in Frankfurt, Germany, and a grant to two-time Brentina Cup winner, Elizabeth Austin (VT) to train with Klaus Balkenhol in Germany.

"We are incredibly pleased to award a grant to Isabelle," said Jenny Johnson, Administrative Manager of The Dressage Foundation.  "This is an amazing opportunity for her and fits well with the Michael Poulin Dressage Fund.  We all wish her the best of luck!"

For more information about the Michael Poulin Dressage Fund or The Dressage Foundation, please contact Jenny Johnson or Melissa Filipi at (402) 434-8585 or info@dressagefoundation.org.