The Dressage Foundation (TDF) is pleased to announce that Jaclyn Pepper (CA) is the recipient of The Dressage Foundation’s third annual West Coast $2,500 Patsy Albers Award. The award was presented at the recent USEF Heritage competition 77th Annual Del Mar National Horse Show managed by HITS.
Photo by Terri Miller
Since 2013, TDF’s Patsy Albers Award has been presented to the highest placing rider (preference to Grand Prix) at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions who previously competed for the U.S. at the FEI North American Youth Championship (NAYC). In 2023, the award was expanded to Dressage at Devon and then to the Del Mar National Horse Show in 2024. The goal of the Patsy Albers Award is to highlight riders who transitioned from NAYC to competing successfully in the CDI ring.
Jaclyn is an FEI Level rider, trainer, and USDF silver and gold medalist. Jaclyn started riding at age 3 and began riding dressage as a teenager. With her first dressage horse, Taboo, Jaclyn competed at NAYC in 2011, 2012, and 2013 for USDF Region 7, where she was in the top 10 each year and won a gold and silver team medal. About participating in NAYC, Jaclyn said, “Winning this award was such a special and meaningful moment. My time at NAYC remains one of my favorite memories in this sport. Being part of the Region 7 team helped shape me into the rider I am today. It taught me how to perform under pressure and gave me invaluable experience riding for a team. Those years are something I will always cherish.”
Jaclyn continued, “A year ago, I lost Taboo, and I know he would be so proud of where this journey has taken me. I truly owe so much of my career to him. Now competing in the Grand Prix in the CDI arena is a true 'pinch me’ moment and a lifelong dream realized. I could not be more grateful to The Dressage Foundation and the donors who make opportunities like this possible. You have supported me at so many pivotal moments in my career, and for that, I am forever thankful.”
Patsy Albers was a longtime supporter and Chef d'Equipe of the North American Youth Championship Region 1 team. She was also very involved with the prestigious Dressage at Devon, where she served for many years as the FEI Event Director. Her expertise extended into management, officiating, and volunteering, for which she was honored multiple times. This award was established at TDF by Patsy’s friends and colleagues when she passed away in 2012.
Additional information about The Dressage Foundation’s Patsy Albers Award is available at www.dressagefoundation.org.
For more information about The Dressage Foundation, contact (402) 434-8585 or visit www.dressagefoundation.org.
About 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 educational grants to dressage riders, judges, instructors, breeders, high performance teams, and nonprofit equestrian organizations. For more information, please visit www.dressagefoundation.org.
