The Dressage Foundation (TDF) is pleased to announce that eight grants have been awarded from its Cynthia Aspden Youth and Young Adult Development Fund. The Cynthia Aspden Fund provides $1,000 grants to youth and young adult riders (age 25 and under) to aid in their development in dressage.
Jenny Johnson, Executive Director of The Dressage Foundation, said, “The Dressage Foundation is proud to support youth and young adult dressage riders. We love to see that these recipients represent a variety of levels, goals, and come from across the country. We are grateful for donors like Cynthia Aspden, who understood the long term need to support the young riders in our country.”
The 2025 recipients are as follows:
Chloe Courville (IL): Chloe will use her grant funding to participate in a clinic with Endel Ots. Chole said, “I am deeply grateful for this generous grant, which is not only financial support but also powerful upliftment for my dressage riding journey.”
Photo by Abigail H Photography
Eliza Fountain (GA): Eliza will use her grant funding for intensive training with Marian Bickers and to participate in Part 1 of the USDF ‘L’ Education Program. Eliza said, “Thank you so much for this grant! I am so excited to get started on my training. I can’t wait to see how the grant helps me achieve my goals.”
Photo by High Time Photography
Johanna Fugate (NY): Johanna will take part in her first ever clinic, which will be a three-day clinic with Todd Bryan. Johanna said, “Receiving this support is a dream come true, and it means the world to me to have an opportunity I otherwise would not have had. I am deeply appreciative of TDF’s donors for their generosity and am looking forward to using this grant to make a meaningful difference in my equestrian journey!”
Catherine Horrigan (NC): Catherine will use her grant fund to spend two weeks of high-intensity training with Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and Claudio Oliveira. Catherine said, “As a young adult working multiple jobs to support myself and my horse, the opportunity to receive this training would be inaccessible to me, were it not for the support from The Dressage Foundation. Thank you to TDF and its donors for providing this assistance, and for supporting the dreams of all dressage athletes, including self-made horses and riders!”
Landen Johnson (FL): Landen will use his grant funding to take lessons with several trainers including Jodie Kelly, Matt McLaughlin, and Kendall Cox. Landen said, “Thank you TDF for this amazing opportunity! The generosity shown to me by the Foundation is an added boost to help my dressage journey!”
Liz Rakebrandt (NY): Liz will use her funding to attend a clinic with Cesar Torrente. Liz said, “I am extremely grateful to have been chosen as the recipient of The Dressage Foundation’s Cynthia Aspden Youth and Young Adult Development grant. With the support of this grant, I will be able to further my education on the foundations of dressage and pursue my goal of receiving my USDF bronze medal.”
Catharine Schumacher (WA): Catharine will use her grant funding to train with George Williams in Florida. Catharine said, “I am grateful to have been selected for a Cynthia Aspden Youth Fund grant which I will use to train in Wellington this winter. Thank you to everyone who made this grant possible."
Photo by Carolynn Bunch Photography
Sage Smith (OK): Sage will use her grant funding to be a part of Dressage4Kid’s Winter Intensive Training (WIT) program. Sage said, “I’m excited to have the opportunity to learn from many dressage professionals which will help further my knowledge and riding abilities.”
Elan Stremmel (NY): Elan will use her grant fund to attend a USDF FEI Youth Clinic. Elan said, “I am so thankful to be a grant recipient of TDF’s Cynthia Aspden Youth and Young Adult Development Fund. The opportunity to travel to an FEI Clinic has always been a dream of mine. Thank you so much to TDF and all the donors that make these special opportunities possible.”
Cynthia Aspden was known as the “go-to-woman” throughout her dressage community, giving freely of her time and experience to whoever needed it. Cynthia was a groom and manager for race horses, show hunters, and in the last decade of her life, dressage horses. She had incredible knowledge and experience in horse care and management. Before Cynthia passed away in 2011, she made it clear that her estate gift was to be used to help youth riders in dressage. She felt that this group of riders needed to become horsemen, not just riders, as their foundation is critical for the growth of the sport.
The Cynthia Aspden Fund grant application is available on TDF’s website with a deadline of September 1st. For more information about this Fund, visit www.dressagefoundation.org or contact Sara Weiss, 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 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.
