The Dressage Foundation (TDF) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 Verne Batchelder Instructor Fund grants. The Fund, established by Verne’s family and friends in 2020, is dedicated to the memory of Mr. Batchelder’s long career as a dressage instructor and sport horse breeder. The Fund provides grants of up to $2,500 to professional instructors from USDF Regions 1, 3, or 8 for continuing education and training.
Ana O'Brien, Huntington, NY, is a USEF Certified Para-Dressage Coach and instructs a variety of students in dressage and para-dressage. She plans to use the grant funding to do a week of intensive training with Michelle LaBarre in the spring. Her hopes for this training are to gain a thorough understanding of various teaching techniques for blind riders.
Ana said, “I am so grateful to be the recipient of this grant, which will enable me to advance my education with biomechanics and kinesthetic learning under the tutelage of Michelle LaBarre. Ms. LaBarre is a Grade V Visually Impaired Para Athlete, trainer and coach, and having the ability to learn from her is an exciting and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I wouldn’t have if not for TDF.”
Cody Moore, Hartwick, NY, is a USDF Certified Instructor through First Level and has completed part one of the USDF L program. She has over 30 students and has been teaching professionally for 20 years. Cody plans to use the grant money to increase her monthly lessons with Donna Young and to attend two clinics with Tom Noone. She will also use some of the funds to attend the USDF Trainers Conference (when scheduled).
Cody said, “I am overwhelmed and honored to receive TDF’s Verne Batchelder Instructor Fund grant. This grant will allow me to ride more often with Donna and to continue my training toward my USDF gold medal. The grant will also allow me to attend the USDF Trainers Conference in 2023. Thank you TDF and all the wonderful donors who make these amazing grants available. Because of you, I will be able to afford my continuing education to further my career and bring it home to my horses and my students. I am forever grateful.”
Applications for the Verne Batchelder Instructor Fund are due September 10th. Visit www.dressagefoundation.org for more information and to find the online application form. Contact Sara Weiss, Director of Grants and Programs at (402) 434-8585 or sara@dressagefoundation.org with any questions
Donations to the Fund are welcome and can be made online or by calling Jenny Johnson, Executive Director, at (402) 434-8585 or jenny@dressagefoundation.org.
The Dressage Foundation
The Dressage Foundation is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, tax-exempt, donor-driven organization that is dedicated to educating, supporting, and advancing the sport of dressage. The organization solicits contributions, appropriately allocates the donations, and awards grants and scholarships to dressage riders, judges, instructors, breeders, high-performance teams, and nonprofit equestrian organizations. For more information, please visit www.dressagefoundation.org.
