The Dressage Foundation (TDF) is proud to announce the nine recipients of grants from its Carol Lavell Gifted Memorial Fund for Adult Amateurs. Each will receive a grant of up to $1,500 to enable them to set aside quality time in concentrated training with their horse.
The following Adult Amateurs were chosen as recipients from their respective USDF Regions:
Region 1: Sharon Rinkenbach-Grauer (PA): Sharon is a member of the French Creek Equestrian Association and plans on working with Stephan Cheret for six days to improve Third Level moments and prepare for the Fourth Level.
Region 2: Catherine Donworth (KY): Catherine is a member of the Kentucky Dressage Association. She will spend seven days training with Reese Koffler-Stanfield to become more confident at Fourth Level.
Photo by Samantha Clark
Region 2: Jorie Sligh (MI): Jorie is a member of the All Dressage Association. Jorie will spend five days working with Dr. Jenny Susser, Team Sport Psychologist for the 2012 London Olympic Dressage Team. Jorie's training plan includes mounted and unmounted lessons focusing on regaining the confidence she lost following a fall in 2020.
Photo by Nancy Chamness
Region 4: Michelle King (IA): Michelle is a member of the Eastern Iowa Dressage and Eventing Association. She will spend five days with trainer, Tammy Lisi, which includes two lessons per day and yoga. Her goal is to solidify Third Level moments to work toward a USDF bronze medal.
Photo by Derith Vogt
Region 5: Allison Hartman (CO): Allison is a member of the Rocky Mountain Dressage Society. Allison will train with Sue Martin for six days to build a relationship with her relatively new mare and take lessons on a schoolmaster.
Photo by Danielle Westover of Within the Eye Photography
Region 7: Patricia Hart (CA): Patricia is a member of the California Dressage Society. She will spend five days training with Kathleen Raine with the goal of being ready to compete at Second Level in 2025.
Photo by Elena Dotoli
Region 8: Prin Furst (NY): Prin is a member of the Cayuga Dressage and Combined Training Association. Prin will do a seven-day "boot camp" with trainer Michelle LaBarre. Prin is beginning Second Level and hopes to improve her fitness, seat, and understanding of aids.
Photo by Susan J Stickle
Region 8: Sofia Vallette (NY): Sofia is a member of the Central New York Dressage and Combined Training Association. She will spend seven days training with Cody Moore with the goals of maintaining connection, overall position and aids, and preparing for First Level.
Photo by Samantha Manee
Region 9: Kim Charney (TX): Kim is a member of the Fort Worth Dressage Club. She will spend five days training with Pati Pierucci and Louisa Zai. Her training will consist of strengthening the bond with her horse and exposing her horse to a new environment.
The Gifted Memorial Fund for Adult Amateurs was seeded with donations in remembrance of Carol Lavell’s great dressage horse, Gifted. The Fund’s purpose is for adult amateurs to set aside quality, concentrated time away from daily pressures to train and bond with their horses. The best applications include a training program of five to seven consecutive days with one trainer. Volunteerism is also an important requirement for this grant. Applications are due September 15.
For more information about The Dressage Foundation and the Gifted Fund Grants for Adult Amateurs, visit www.dressagefoundation.org or contact Sara Weiss, TDF’s Director of Grants and Programs, at (402) 434-8585 or sara@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 donations, and awards grants to dressage riders, judges, instructors, breeders, high-performance teams, nonprofit equestrian organizations, and more. For more information, please visit www.dressagefoundation.org.
