The Dressage Foundation (TDF) is pleased to announce the 2025 recipients of a grant from its Judges’ Licensing Fund. Thanks to the continued support of the Shannon Foundation, donations in memory of Carter Bass, and gifts from donors who wish to support the education of U.S. dressage judges, TDF’s Judges Licensing Fund is awarding $2,000 grants to Margaret Boyce, Michell Combs, Kendra Hansis, and Erin Hurley.
Margaret Boyce (NY) will use her grant funding to apprentice for her Western dressage "R" status and to apprentice for her Level One FEI Para license.
Michell Combs (AZ) will use her funding to apprentice for her large "R" license.
Photo by Marilyn R. Sheldon of Blue Moon Studios
Kendra Hansis (NJ) plans to apprentice with several judges and participate in the USDF Sport Horse Seminar at Hilltop Farm as she fulfills the requirement for her 'Dressage Sport Horse Breeding' judging program.
Photo by Oona Plotkin
Erin Hurley (NJ) has been accepted into the USEF/USDF "r" Dressage Judge Training Program and will use the grant funding to fulfill the program requirements.
Michell Combs said, “I am incredibly honored to have been selected to receive a grant from TDF’s Judges' Licensing Fund. This grant will enable me to focus on succeeding in the USEF “R” Judge’s program. Judging is a big responsibility, and our words matter. I intend to learn and grow as a judge, instructor, and competitor so that I can apply the knowledge to help our dressage riders and horses. The costs involved in becoming a dressage judge make the journey something to think carefully about. I am grateful to TDF for being a supporter of this important educational program. Truly, thank you!”
Grants from TDF’s Judges’ Licensing Fund are for participation in activities related to obtaining a judging license of “recorded” (small ‘r’) or higher, including Dressage Sport Horse Breeding and FEI judging levels. The application deadline for TDF’s Judges Licensing Fund is March 15th.
For more information about this Fund, please contact Sara Weiss, Director of Grants and Programs, at sara@dressagefoundation.org or 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 educating, supporting, and advancing the sport of dressage. The organization solicits contributions, appropriately allocates the 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.
