By Eliza Fountain
This article received an honorable mention in the 2025 GMO Newsletter Awards for first person experience articles for GMOs with 499+ members. It appeared in the Georgia Dressage and Combined Training Association newsletter, Collected Remarks, October 2024.
Thank you GDCTA for awarding me this training grant! After learning that I had received a grant, I immediately started searching for a clinic or other educational experience to spend the money. I soon found Lendon Gray’s Dressage4Kids 2-day TEAM clinic and festival where I was able to further develop my skills, make new friends, and take my new horse, Fury, off property for the first time.
At the clinic, I worked with Lendon and Rachel Chowanec-Kaney to prepare me to compete at 3rd level and above. Specifically, I worked on movements that would be useful to earn my bronze medal. Lendon and Rachel were fun to work with and excited to challenge me and my horse, Fury. During the D4K clinic I met many other riders. On the second day, a girl named Ava and her mom came over to Fury’s stall. They recognized Fury as they had seen him when they bought their horse, Fay. Ava and I hit it off right from the start. I’m excited that I’m going back to another D4K clinic that will be hosted at Ava’s family farm in October. The TEAM clinic environment was incredible and allowed me to make connections with other riders also interested in dressage. The GDCTA training grant funded a memorable experience that I otherwise would not have attended.
I’m glad that I decided to stay for the festival the day after the clinic. The festival challenged me through required readings, equitation, team competition, and showing Fury for the first time. I am so incredibly grateful to GDCTA and D4K for giving me an opportunity to grow in my riding journey.
THE GDCTA TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM provides educational opportunities to members who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to and/or excellence in the sport as well as service and ambassadorship within the Association. GDCTA Members can apply for the Training Grants from February 1 through June 1 each year.
Details: https://gdcta.org/Programs
