By Mary Moon; Photos courtesy of The Dressage Foundation
On July 15, 2024, Dressage for Kids™ (D4K) and The Dressage Foundation (TDF) co-hosted an online panel discussion to share information about grants from TDF and grant applications. The presentation was a D4K UP (unmounted program), one of the series of educational events open to riders of all ages, levels, and disciplines, their family members, trainers, licensed officials and other members of the horse community.
In its twenty-fifth year, D4K is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization incorporated for the express purpose of providing educational and competitive opportunities for youth riders and the adults who support them.
The Dressage Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to cultivate and provide financial support for the advancement of dressage in the United States.
Program
Olympian Lendon Gray, founder and chairman of D4K, welcomed the audience and moderated the panel discussion.
First, two staff members at TDF, Jenny Johnson, Executive Director, and Sara Weiss, Director of Grants and Programs, gave general information about TDF, the types of grants, and the application process. Next, Tokyo Olympian Sabine Schut-Kery and her assistant, Young Rider Sophia Chavonelle, shared their experiences as applicants and recipients of TDF grants. Then, the panelists graciously responded to questions submitted by attendees, and the presentation concluded.
TDF’s Story
“We’re really happy to share a bit of our story with you today,” Johnson explained, “The Dressage Foundation, or TDF, was founded in 1989 by Lowell Boomer. Years before that, in 1973, he was also one of the founders of the United States Dressage Federation. Both organizations were founded in Nebraska.
“TDF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to cultivate and provide financial support for the advancement of dressage in the United States,” Johnson added, “TDF is a national nonprofit organization with two full-time and two part-time staff based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Since its founding, TDF has awarded millions of dollars in grant funding to improve dressage in the United States.
“Basically, TDF raises money, manages it, and gives it away to support the education of riders of all ages and levels, instructors, judges, breeders, show managers, technical delegates, dressage clubs, and even more. Because we are not a membership organization, our only sources of revenue are donations and returns on investments. All donations, from five dollars to five figures or more, are incredibly important and have a positive impact on our sport,” Johnson continued.
“To date, we have awarded more than four million dollars in grants to people across the country who are involved in almost every aspect of the sport of dressage. At this time, we have nearly forty different grant funds. From these funds, TDF awards 100 grants on average to individuals and organizations each year,” she concluded.
Weiss explained, “All the information about our grants is available on our website, dressagefoundation.org. That’s where we house all the criteria for grants, application deadlines and online applications. Information about TDF and our grants and applications is also available on social media and in our e-newsletter.
“While many organizations award grants to equestrians, grants from TDF are typically used for educational purposes such as clinics, intensive, week-long training programs, longer-term training in Europe, or leadership development programs,” Weiss noted.
In addition to raising, managing, and giving away money, TDF manages two programs, the Dream Program and the Century Club. Each year, the Dream Program provides a fully-funded trip for five young American dressage riders to either Wellington, Florida, or Aachen, Germany, for five days of learning opportunities. For the upcoming trip to Aachen, applicants must be between 21 and 25 years of age and training and competing at Fourth Level or above. The next application deadline is January 15, 2025.
“Interest in the Century Club has just exploded! We’re now welcoming more than 100 new members each year,” Weiss reported. The Century Club recognizes partnerships of dressage riders and horses whose combined ages total 100 years or more. To join the Club, the horse and rider perform a USEF dressage test at any level at a show (schooling or recognized) or event and are scored by a USEF dressage judge. TDF provides a beautiful black and gold ribbon to be presented at the show and a personalized Century Club plaque.
“There are a lot of organizations that have grants and scholarships available for equestrians,” Weiss noted, “We suggest that each applicant check for grants from organizations that are close to their discipline. For dressage, TDF, D4K, USDF, and USDF GMOs are good examples, but breed organizations, Pony Club, and 4-H are other possibilities.” Next, Weiss discussed some tips for preparing grant applications for TDF and other organizations.
Tips for Preparing TDF Applications
“Each of TDF’s grant funds has different criteria, but they all focus on helping grant recipients obtain more education in dressage,” Weiss explained. Whether it’s for lessons or a clinic, education is the key point such as:
- Week-long intensive training programs
- D4K events
- Clinics and symposiums
- Training in Europe
- Leadership and mentorship programs
The best source of information about TDF grants and applications is the TDF website. Information is organized by the different categories of grants for youths, adult amateurs, FEI/high-performance competitors, para riders, Western dressage riders, licensed officials, and organizations. Anyone with questions is welcome to reach out to TDF staff at (402) 434-8585 and info@dressagefoundation.org.
Next, Weiss discussed her top tips for potential grant applicants:
- Find a grant opportunity that is a good fit for you and your qualifications. Read the criteria carefully before you decide whether to apply for a specific grant.
- Note the deadline and allow plenty of time to prepare a grant application. TDF does not accept applications after the grant deadline. “Many applications are submitted at the last minute, and we can usually tell,” Weiss warned.
- Make a plan for what to do with the grant money. Make a list of goals and how to achieve them.
- Study the online application. Some applications require items such as a budget, letters of recommendation, video, list of competition scores, etc.
- Gather the items needed for the application.
- Contact TDF about any questions.
- It is currently not possible to save an incomplete application on the TDF website. TDF recommends downloading the application forms into a Word document, adding information, and spending time to review and polish them.
- Ask for help with writing, graphics, making a video, etc.
- Carefully proofread the final draft. Check grammar, spelling (especially names), punctuation and consistency. Do not use abbreviations. Use the Spelling and Grammar check in Word. Also, ask a friend or family member to proofread it.
- Copy and paste information from the draft into the online application on the TDF website. Check it once more and submit it.
- Save a copy of each application for future reference.
Videos
If the grant application requires a video, it’s important to prepare one that shows clear images and meets the criteria of the application. A grant application may specify the type (competition or training) of video and content (level of performance, movements). “Show TDF and the grant reviewers what they want to see – a clear video that makes a good impression and shows the applicant’s skills and dedication to dressage,” Weiss recommended.
- Horse and rider need to be in clear focus and centered in the frame.
- To make a good impression, the horse should be clean and tidy with appropriate tack and a white saddle pad.
- Likewise, the rider should be clean, tidy and wear appropriate attire such as light-colored breeches.
- Film the video in horizontal (not vertical) format.
- Be careful to check and control lighting, noise and background to your advantage.
- When making the video, support the camera on a tripod.
- More helpful suggestions for making a video are available from D4K.
Budgets
Do some research, make realistic estimates of expenses and organize them in a format that the reviewers can understand.
| Expenses | Description | Total cost |
| Training | 6 private lessons with X, $100/lesson | $600 |
| Trailering | 200 miles from Y to Z at $1.00/mile, each direction | $400 |
| Feed and bedding | Hay, sweet feed and bedding for 1 week | $100 |
| Stabling | 1 stall at X, 1 week, $250 | $250 |
| Hotel | Hotel for 7 nights ($100/night) | $700 |
| Meals | Meals for 7 days ($30/day) | $210 |
| Total | $2,260 |
Scores
Some grants require applicants to submit a list of competition scores. It’s important to submit scores that meet the criteria of the application. TDF suggests submitting no more than three pages of scores for its applications.
Letters of Recommendation
For some grants, the application must include one or more letters of recommendation. The application criteria may specify that an instructor, trainer, judge, or other professional must write these letters. Be considerate and ask for letters of recommendation at least several weeks before the application deadline. Then, upload the letters to the online application. Do not submit letters of recommendation from family members.
TDF Selection Process
Grants are awarded according to the merits of the applicants and the criteria for the grant. Always answer the application questions honestly and to the best of your ability. It’s not unusual for an applicant to apply more than once before receiving a grant.
- TDF accepts applications until the deadline for each grant.
- An independent Selection Committee of dressage experts reviews every application for each grant and makes recommendations.
- The TDF Board of Directors reviews the recommendations made by the Selection Committee.
- TDF notifies the grant recipients and issues a press release.
“Please remember that many of our grants are highly competitive,” Weiss concluded, “and the decisions of our Selection Committees are not personal.”
TDF Awards and Reports
- When an applicant receives a grant, TDF will send a check for 75% of the funds to the recipient one month before the start of training.
- TDF will send the recipient the remaining 25% of the funds after TDF receives training and financial reports from the recipient.
- TDF grant recipients are required to provide training and financial reports of their experience. The reports may be written, video, photos, or another format.
- TDF grant recipients should keep careful records of their expenses and a diary of their experiences with photos, videos, etc.
- Examples of reports written by previous TDF grant recipients are available on the TDF website.
In the next part of the panel discussion, two recipients of TDF grants discussed their experiences.
Sabine Schut-Kery
Schut-Kery was born in Germany and earned her Bereiter license. She relocated to the US to pursue her career as a trainer and became an American citizen. Schut-Kery trained Alice Womble’s stallion, Sanceo, and competed with him on the silver-medal-winning Tokyo Olympic team in 2021 and the gold-medal-winning Toronto Pan American Games team in 2015. She operates a dressage training stable at The Palms Equestrian Center in San Diego, California. She prioritizes the welfare of the horse above all else, “When I train a horse, it is important to me to interact with him, not only on a physical level but a mental one, as well. I feel it is my responsibility to safeguard the spirit and the soul of the horse.”
Schut-Kery received the Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize from TDF twice, in 2017 and 2018. These prizes of $25,000 annually are based on merit and need. TDF awards them to a rider who is competing successfully at Prix St. George or higher, is a model of horsemanship and sportsmanship, and has a horse with the potential to grow and succeed internationally. Funding can be used for training, boarding and competition expenses. Other recent winners include Olympians Laura Graves, Adrienne Lyle and Olivia Lagoy-Weltz (traveling reserve).
Schut-Kery recalled, “The first grant I used to take Sanceo to Europe and train for two months before he came out in Grand Prix. The second grant I used for intensive training for five months in Florida leading up to the Tokyo Olympics.
“Taking time away from a business is a sacrifice,” she admitted, “but there are good reasons to do so.” She told her clients, “I’ll come back with more knowledge, and you will benefit.”
First, “Because dressage is so complex, I found it to be helpful to use grant money for a ‘chunk’ of training instead of several clinics. This mimics what is available for training in Europe.”
Second, “A bigger chunk of training time is more valuable. It shows TDF that you are serious. It shows your dedication and your commitment to the sport of dressage and your goal.”
Third, “The experience will come back to you in the form of more business in the future when you are more successful. It’s an investment in your future.”
Fourth, “It’s good to have your brain away from what you do at home and focus during this educational period. You can really experience it, focus on your horse, and take notes that you can refer to in the future.
“Taking Sanceo to Europe was a good opportunity to see how he traveled and do a few shows in Europe. I got to spend a lot of time with Sanceo and really got to know him. And I spent time working out. It’s important for a rider to maintain their own balance when riding, even when the horse is not in balance.”
Schut-Kery noted, “The application is complex, and it should be. I recommend starting early. For this grant, I needed letters of recommendation from two high-ranked judges and coaches. When the applicant waits until the last minute to ask someone for a letter of recommendation, it can become stressful because they need enough time to write it. It’s important for an applicant to be professional and ask each reference several weeks ahead of the application deadline so they have enough time to prepare the letter.
“Ask for help to prepare the whole application. Show TDF that you have a good plan in place. I made mine in a binder and kept a copy for myself for the memories.” she added.
“Dressage is a passion; it’s very close to my heart. The beauty of our sport is that you never stop learning,” Schut-Kery concluded.
Sophia Chavonelle
Chavonelle grew up in Maine where she rode and volunteered as a Region 8 Delegate to USDF, was a member of the USDF Youth Programs Advisory Subcommittee, and the New England Dressage Association’s Youth Liaison. She has earned her USDF Bronze and Silver Medals. She currently works as an assistant trainer to Schut-Kery in San Diego, CA and competes with her horse, Jetson, through Intermediate 1.
In 2016, Chavonelle was recognized as USDF’s Youth Volunteer of the Year, and in 2018, she represented Region 8 at the North American Youth Championships.
The next year, Chavonelle applied to TDF’s Dream Program. “I needed a whole month to prepare the application – I needed two letters of recommendation, a list of my competition scores, and had to write answers to questions and an essay,” she remembered.
“I was very lucky to be selected to participate in the Dream Program in 2019,” Chavonelle recalled. “It was an amazing experience! Four other girls and I (plus two chaperones) got to watch all the events at Aachen and meet riders, trainers, judges, and members of the press. We picked their brains and talked about everything! Each of the five of us kept a journal. Then we worked together to write one big report about our experiences.”
Chavonelle also received one of four 2019 Youth Convention Scholarships, a grant from USDF for financial support to attend the USDF Convention, which was “a great opportunity to see the inner workings of USDF.”
“In 2021, I received a grant from TDF’s Gerhardt Politz Instructors’ Fund (now part of the Maryal and Charlie Barnett Continuing Education Fund for Dressage Instructors Fund) to provide financial support to attend a USDF Instructor/Trainer Workshop (now the USDF Instructor/Trainer Development Program)! The leap between being a ‘young rider’ to becoming a ‘young professional’ can be so daunting, but this program helped prepare me to make this leap successfully.”
She also received grants from TDF and D4K to provide financial support to attend Intensive Training programs organized by D4K in 2020 and 2021. These programs give youth riders opportunities for extensive training in horse care, training theory, and competition skills.
“TDF and D4K grants and programs led me to meet Sabine and start working for her!” Chavonelle reminisced.
“When I needed a working student, I contacted Lendon and asked her if she knew someone who had experience and came out of a really good program,” Schut-Kery remembered, “and she recommended Sophia.”
“I hired Sophia for the right reasons. For her, horses and their welfare are #1. She treats each horse as though it were her own. She is very smart and self-motivated and always eager to learn new things like saddle fitting and shoeing. Sophia now manages the veterinary appointments, vaccinations, etc. for all my horses. I couldn’t be more thrilled! I hope she will move on to be a trainer. She loves the sport of dressage and the horses for the right reasons. She is patient and has goals,” Schut-Kery concluded.
Q ’n’ A Session
Q: What is the minimum age for a grant applicant?
Weiss: Each grant has a different age requirement. In different cases, the age requirement is less than 25 years, 25-35 years or 25 years and older.
Q: How do you decide when it is the right time to apply for a grant?
Weiss: TDF recommends that applicants develop a training goal and plan two months to two weeks before the application deadline.
Gray: I strongly suggest allowing time to prepare a video with good focus and useful content.
Q: Are there age requirements for an applicant’s horse?
Weiss: No, but some grants have training requirements for the applicant’s horse.
Q: What happens if the applicant’s horse is no longer available?
Weiss: We understand that horses can be sold, become ill or unsound, etc. If this happens, the applicant should contact TDF and explain the circumstances. TDF will evaluate a revised grant application.
Q: What are some ways that a young rider can get a good education?
Schut-Kery: I think it’s nice when a rider sticks with one or two coaches instead of frequently switching coaches. Coaches are impressed by a rider’s commitment.
Chavonelle: I think it’s important to ride or work with someone who is super-easy to talk with. Sabine is easy to approach and talk with. She always listens to my needs. This makes me feel super-encouraged.
Schut-Kery: I’m very impressed when a student or assistant is reliable, has plenty of knowledge, and doesn’t stop learning. I think it’s important that working students get enough time in the saddle and coaching. I’m careful that my staff don’t work too many hours and risk getting burned out. When working with animals, it’s important to feel fresh and alert.
Johnson: There are many ways to learn through being involved with the dressage community. Volunteering for D4K, USDF and GMOs is a great way to learn more about dressage.
Q: Sabine and Sophia, do you have any advice about diet and exercise?
Schut-Kery: I try to eat healthy and stay away from sweets. My body tells me when it needs protein, and I love salads.
I think that cardio, stamina and balance are all important for a rider. I want to be fit enough so that when I’m riding a horse, I have enough strength to maintain my balance and position, even when the horse’s movement influences my balance. When it comes to exercise, I like Pilates, and I love hiking.
Chavonelle: Most days I ride several horses. I go to the gym when I can, and I do a variety of things, such as running and exercises. For me, the benefits are more mental than physical.
Q: Sabine, did riding in exhibitions help you as a dressage rider?
Schut-Kery: Yes, riding in exhibitions in front of big crowds like those at Dressage at Devon helped me learn to stay focused on my horse, shut out my surroundings and not be distracted. I also learned to have fun with my horse and look at my horse as a partner and friend. I keep this in mind when I compete. I balance my competitive goals with love and respect for my horse.
