The Dressage Foundation (TDF) is pleased to announce that grants for Western dressage riders have been awarded from TDF’s Western Dressage Fund. This Fund was established by Lynn Palm in 2019 to initially provide grants for Western dressage educational events and was expanded in 2021 to also provide $1,000 grants to riders for their Western dressage education.
TDF’s 2026 Western Dressage Fund Grant recipients are:
Janet Holland (NC): Janet is an adult amateur rider who has been showing in Western dressage since 2021. Her current partner is a five-year-old mule named Boyer, who was born and raised on her farm. Janet plans to use the grant funding for lessons with her current trainers, Brandon and Noelle Salmons of Balanced Equestrian.
Janet said, “Boyer and I are extremely grateful for being chosen for The Dressage Foundation’s Western Dressage Fund grant. We are going to take full advantage of it and use it for furthering both of our training. I can’t wait to get started and accomplish our goal of showing at the Western Dressage Association of America (WDAA) World Championship show in the future.”
Kristin Kill (MI): Kristin is an adult amateur who has been showing in Western dressage for six years. She trained with Sue Hughes, her mentor, and now trains with JJ Tate and Luke Gingerich. She plans to use the funding to accomplish her goal of competing at Level 4 (complete with clean flying changes) by taking lessons with JJ Tate, attending various clinics, and participating in the WDAA Judges Seminar.
Kristin said, “I could not be more excited to receive this grant at a time in my life where every minute I spend learning on my horse matters. As a self-proclaimed ‘Western Dressage QueenAger,’ I made being an ‘accomplished horsewoman’ one of my five life goals. Western dressage has provided the best platform for an older rider just getting into this sport. I will use this grant to help us refine the skills necessary to show the new 2027 WDAA Level 4 tests. More importantly, at 67, it is my goal to inspire and encourage riders to discover what is possible at an older age. Thank you, TDF!”
Edith Mielke (NC): Edith is a youth rider who trains with Noelle Salmons of Balanced Equestrian. With the help of this grant funding, she aims to continue developing a harmonious partnership with her nine-year-old mule, Sassy, while progressing through the Western dressage levels with correct, compassionate training. She is working toward her long-term goal of qualifying for the WDAA World Championship Show.
Edith said, “I am so happy and thankful to receive this grant because I love Western dressage and I love my mule, Sassy. Sassy is very special to me. She is already a World Champion with my trainer, Noelle, and I dream that one day Sassy and I can go to the World Show together. This grant will help me keep taking lessons, learning, and working toward my dream with Sassy. Thank you for believing in me and helping me do something I love.”
Nichole Phillips (PA): Nichole is an adult amateur who began riding Western dressage in 2017. She currently rides her nine-year-old P.R.E., Federico SFI (aka Rocky), and they are working toward Level 4 together. She aims to use the funding to participate in an intensive training program with Luke Gingerich, as well as take lessons with Meghan Hamilton.
Photo by Vince LeMaster Photography
Nichole said, “Thank you so much to TDF for selecting me and Rocky for this grant. I bought Rocky when he was 18 months old, as a ‘post-deployment’ gift to myself, after spending almost a year in the Middle East with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in 2018. He has been a joy to train and learn with, and I have done most of his training myself, with the assistance of some great instructors and trainers along the way. I am honored to have been selected for this and am excited to take the opportunity to use it to advance our learning this upcoming year, as we will work towards Level 4 skills, to include flying changes.”
Grants from TDF’s Western Dressage Fund will continue to be available for Western dressage clinics, camps, and symposia. Those applications are due at least 75 days prior to the event. Applications for TDF’s Western Dressage Fund for Individuals are due July 20.
Visit www.dressagefoundation.org for more information and to find the online application forms. Contact Sara Weiss, Director of Grants and Programs, at (402) 434-8585 or sara@dressagefoundation.org with any questions.
Donations to the Fund are welcome and can be made at www.dressagefoundation.org or by calling Jenny Johnson, Executive Director, at (402) 434-8585 or jenny@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.
