The Dressage Foundation (TDF) is pleased to announce three recipients from its Schmidt Family L Education Program Fund, established in 2025 by USEF S Dressage Judge Lisa Schmidt through an estate gift from her late parents, Victoria and Ralph Schmidt. The inaugural recipients are Meghan Kelley (OH), Heather McCullough (NC), and Amy Fowler (FL), who will each use the grant funding to complete Part 2 of the USDF L Education Program, organized by the New England Dressage Association (NEDA) in 2026.
Meghan Kelley is a USDF bronze, silver, and gold medalist, as well as a USDF silver and gold freestyle bar recipient. She has regularly competed at the FEI levels and Grand Prix on a self-trained horse and is continuing her education on the pathway to becoming a judge. She serves her local dressage community as a board member of the Northern Ohio Dressage Association (NODA). Meghan’s judging goals are rooted in a desire to give back to the community and uphold correct training standards through providing constructive feedback. She plans to continue the judging pathway, with her sights set on earning her ‘r,’ ‘R,’ and ‘S’ designations. Meghan said, “Gaining insight into the judging process will allow me to become a more thoughtful and effective rider and instructor, with a clearer sense of how to develop horses and present movements with greater accuracy and harmony. I see this opportunity as a stepping stone that will help me grow as both a student of dressage and a contributor to the sport moving forward.”
Photo by Jessa Janes
Heather McCullough is a USDF bronze and silver medalist, a regular competitor, and the owner of a small private farm in North Carolina. She competes as an amateur while working full-time as the Senior Director of Academic Programs for the University of North Carolina System. Through judge education and service, Heather hopes to support the sport’s growth and sustainability. Her interest in judging comes from a deep respect for dressage as a training system, and her future goals center on service to the dressage community and continued development in her own riding and education. She is committed to the judging pathway, to earn her ‘r’ certification and beyond. Heather said, “I am very appreciative of the support provided by the Schmidt Family L Education Program Fund. This support makes it much more feasible to finish what I started, and I look forward to giving back to the sport through judging.”
Photo by Pat Girard
Amy Fowler is a longtime rider with a career spanning more than 50 years, and she remains an active adult amateur competitor. She is a USDF bronze, silver, and gold medalist, with scores that make her eligible for the ‘S’ judge designation after completing the required programs. As a judge, Amy hopes to support a broader understanding of dressage and help maintain safe, ethical, and humane standards in horse handling and competition. Her goals are driven by her love of the sport and competition: she wants every rider to enjoy dressage with their horse. Amy said, “There is so much to learn in the L Education Program that having this grant takes some pressure off the process and allows me to focus more on the learning objectives. I will apply this educational opportunity to further the sport.”
Photo by Elizabeth Campbell
The Schmidt Family L Education Program Fund provides financial assistance to participants of Part 2 of the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) L Education Program. Individuals may apply to attend Part 2 of the L Education Program, which includes Session D1, Session D2, and the Final Exam. Grants will range from $1,000 - $2,000 each, and the application deadline is February 20th of each year.
For more information about the Schmidt Family L Education Program Fund or The Dressage Foundation, visit www.dressagefoundation.org, email info@dressagefoundation.org, or call (402) 434-8585.
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.
