The Region 4 FEI Adult Excellence Fund provides financial assistance to adult dressage riders from USDF’s Region 4 for competition expenses at CDIs or national championships at an FEI level, as well as for the training leading up to the competition.
Amount of Grant:
- Grants of up to $8,000 are available for training and competition at the FEI level at a CDI/CPEDI or a championship class at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions.
- Grants of up to $6,000 are available for training and competition at the FEI level at a championship class at the U.S. Dressage Finals.
- See specific details and requirements for each competition below.
Application Deadline: May 20
The Region 4 FEI Adult Excellence Fund was established in 2025 by Region 4 resident Ruth Rensink. The goal of the Fund is to elevate dressage in the Region by showcasing riders at CDIs and national championships. The grant is available to professionals and amateurs who are at least 26 years old at the time of the application. Para dressage riders are welcome to apply.
Applicant Requirements:
Applicants Must:
- Be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.
- Be a current resident of USDF Region 4 (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota), determined by the actual legal residence associated with USDF and/or USEF membership.
- Be age 26 or older at the time of the application.
- Have a detailed and attainable training and competition plan that includes working with a long-time trainer/mentor.
- Need financial assistance for training and competition.
For applicants with plans to compete at a CDI/CPEDI:
- A grant of up to $8,000 is available -- $4,000 for training leading up to the CDI/CPEDI and up to $4,000 to use for travel and competition expenses to attend the CDI/CPEDI.
- Must have the goal to compete at the CDI at the small tour (Prix St. Georges and Intermediate 1), medium tour (Intermediate A and Intermediate B), or large tour (Intermediate 2 and Grand Prix).
- For para dressage riders, must have the goal to compete at a CPEDI at the Intermediate or Grand Prix level.
- Must have a history of scores that show progression toward CDI or CPEDI requirements.
- The full grant, including for training and competition, must be used within 18 months of the award date.
For applicants with the goal of competing at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions:
- A grant of up to $8,000 is available -- $4,000 for training leading up to the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions and up to $4,000 to use for travel and competition expenses to attend U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions.
- Must have the goal to compete at the Festival of Champions in Developing Prix St. Georges, Developing Grand Prix, the Prix St. Georges championship class, the Intermediate 1 championship class, the Intermediate 2 championship class, or the Grand Prix championship class.
- For para dressage riders, must have the goal to compete at the Festival of Champions in the Intermediaire I or Grand Prix championship class.
- Must have a history of scores that show progression toward qualification.
- The full grant, including for training and competition, must be used within 18 months of the award date.
For applicants with the goal of competing at the U.S. Dressage Finals:
- A grant of up to $6,000 is available -- $3,000 for training leading up to the U.S. Dressage Finals and up to $3,000 to use for travel and competition expenses to attend U.S. Dressage Finals.
- Must have the goal to compete in the championship classes at the U.S. Dressage Finals for Prix St. Georges, Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2, or Grand Prix.
- Must have a history of scores that show progression toward qualification.
- The full grant, including for training and competition, must be used within 12 months of the award date.
Additional Grant Information:
- Funding cannot be used for vet and/or farrier expenses, living expenses, or the purchase of a horse or equipment.
- An individual can receive a grant from this Fund more than once, but not in consecutive years.
- Recipients are chosen by an independent selection committee comprised of dressage professionals who have had national and international success. The applications and discussions of the selection committee are confidential, and their decisions are final.
- The selection committee reserves the right to not award a grant in any given year if they determine that no candidate has met the criteria.
- If the grant recipient is unable to attend the training and/or competition specified in their application, The Dressage Foundation must be notified as soon as possible. Approval for a change in the use of funds is at the discretion of The Dressage Foundation and the grant selection committee.
- The Dressage Foundation feels strongly that this grant should be based on merit and need. If your financial situation permits you to pursue these goals without the help of TDF, we urge you to allow other riders who are not in that position to apply.
Reporting Information:
- For all recipients, 75% of the training portion of the grant will be paid prior to the start of the recipient’s training plan; 25% of the training portion of the grant will be paid after the applicant has completed training and has submitted an update to The Dressage Foundation.
- For all recipients, 75% of the travel/competition portion of the grant will be paid once proof of entry to the competition has been received by The Dressage Foundation; 25% of the travel/competition grant will be paid after the completion of the competition and a final report and budget have been submitted.
- If the recipient does not attend the competition as included in this application, the competition portion of the grant will not be awarded.
- All grant recipients are required to provide training and financial reports of their experience to The Dressage Foundation. The reports may be written, video, photo journal, or in other ways pre-approved by The Dressage Foundation. The report is due within two months following the competition.
- Throughout their training, recipients are encouraged to share training/event updates with The Dressage Foundation via email or tag The Dressage Foundation on social media.
About the Fund:
In establishing the Region 4 FEI Adult Excellence Fund, founder Ruth Rensink shared, “My hope is that this grant will give Region 4 Adult FEI riders the chance to dream big, while assisting with providing an opportunity to develop and enhance their riding career. As the founder of this grant, I will look forward to watching these grantees when they ride down centerline.”
