The Dressage Foundation (TDF) is pleased to announce that a total of $16,000 has been awarded to four instructors from its Major Anders Lindgren Instructor Fund. These grants provide financial support that enables dressage instructors to receive continuing education that will improve their teaching, riding, and training skills. Each recipient will receive a $4,000 grant.
The recipients are Danielle Bartos (CO), Mary Burke (WA), Kate Mikulay (MN), and Sarah Silva (NV).
Danielle Bartos is a member of the Rocky Mountain Dressage Society. She will use her grant funding for a month of intensive training with Sara Storch-Kay. As an instructor, Danielle focuses on beginner students through Second Level.
Photo by Una Schade Photography
Danielle said, “I am honored to receive TDF’s Major Lindgren Instructor Fund grant. This support will allow me to continue developing my Gypsy cross, whom I’ve had the privilege of training myself, as we work toward competing at Third Level in 2026. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and TDF’s belief in our journey.”
Mary Burke is a member of the Equestrian Institute and will use her grant funding to train with Anna Marek and attend the USDF FEI-Level Trainers Conference in Florida. Mary plans to learn from and be immersed in the Wellington, FL, dressage scene and take that experience back to her students in Washington.
Mary said, “I would like to express my gratitude as a recipient of TDF’s Major Lindgren Instructor Fund grant. This incredible honor will help me to achieve my personal and professional goals of learning from and riding with one of the top professional Grand Prix riders in the country, Anna Marek, this winter training season. The skills and lessons learned will assist with increasing my riding skills as well as my abilities to transfer those valuable ‘lessons learned’ to each of my dressage students in Washington State. Thanks again for this amazing opportunity.”
Kate Mikulay is a member of the Central States Dressage and Eventing Association and is a USDF gold, silver, and bronze medalist. She will use her grant to train with Lehua Custer and Betsy Steiner in Florida with the goal of additional learning to take back home to her students.
Photo by Jamie Graham
Kate said, “I’m incredibly honored to be selected to receive a grant from TDF’s Major Lindgren Instructor Fund. I’ll use this opportunity to spend the winter 2026 season training in Wellington, FL, with Lehua Custer and Betsy Steiner, further honing both my and my horse’s FEI skills at home and in the show ring. While flying in clinicians throughout the year is invaluable, nothing compares to an intensive season of focused training. Thank you so much to both TDF and the donors who make these grants possible!”
Sarah Silva is a member of the California Dressage Society and has been a professional for over 20 years with students of all levels. Sarah is a USDF gold, silver, and bronze medalist. She will work with Gwyneth McPherson in Florida this winter.
Sarah said, “I am thrilled to have been selected for a Major Lindgren Instructor Fund grant. Teaching and continuing my dressage education are true passions of mine. Because I live in a fairly rural area, regular instruction isn’t always accessible. With this grant, I will travel to Florida to work with Gwenyth McPherson. I know that watching her work with horses and riders, along with receiving guidance for my own horse, will help me develop a broader range of techniques to bring back to my students at home.”
Since 1996, The Dressage Foundation has offered annual instructor grants in Major Anders Lindgren's name. Major Lindgren was an accomplished dressage rider, having won the 1971 Swedish Dressage Championship and ridden on the Swedish Olympic Team in 1972. He also won the Scandinavian Eventing Championship in 1959. Lindgren's contribution to American dressage was large, as he was solidly committed to the education of U.S. dressage instructors. TDF’s Major Lindgren Grants are funded through its Carol Lavell Gifted Memorial Fund.
Applications for the Lindgren Grants are due September 30th of each year. For more information, please contact Sara Weiss, TDF’s Director of Grants and Programs, 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.
