The Dressage Foundation (TDF) is pleased to announce the 2026 recipient 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 a $2,000 grant to Elise Enoch (VA)
Photo by High Time Photography
Elise plans to use the funding to obtain her ‘r’ judging license. She is a USDF bronze and silver medalist and hopes to earn her gold medal on horses that she develops to the Grand Prix level herself. In the future, she also plans to pursue her ‘R’ and ‘S’ judge designations. Elise has a long history of involvement in the dressage community and currently works as a freelance trainer. By continuing her education as a judge, she hopes to promote correct training, harmonious riding, and good horsemanship, while also using the education to help her students develop their skills, ride with compassion, and succeed in the show ring.
Elise said, “I’m very excited and grateful to have been awarded TDF’s Judges’ Licensing Fund Grant! It is amazing how TDF supports those of us who aspire to become great horsemen. I don’t come from horses or money and have had to create my own connections and community within the horse world. I’ve been fortunate to have found some excellent coaches and mentors. Being given this grant feels like being accepted into another group of very supportive horse people, and I hope to make everyone proud.”
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.
