Deborah Howard - 2009 Gifted Memorial Fund for Adult Amateurs Grant Recipient

Photo by High Time Photography

I received a Gifted Memorial Fund for Adult Amateurs grant in 2009 to train with Debbie Rodriguez, a USEF ‘S’ judge. Thank you, TDF, so much!  I still smile thinking of that wonderful break in motherhood to pursue my riding skills with Debbie.

I currently have a 19-year-old Morgan horse and a nine-year-old Andalusian. I am planning to compete at qualified First and Training Levels this year. My Morgan, Sigi’s Boy (aka Loui) got me squeakingly into the Training Level winners circle two years ago at the USDF Region 1 Colonel Bengt Ljungquist Memorial Dressage Champions.

Between that glorious recent event and the generous Gifted Fund grant; my three children have graduated from college, married, and I survived Stage 3 ovarian cancer with the kind support of my husband, Lee.

The Gifted Fund grant was huge for someone like me, who always longed for a horse, but could not afford one until I was 36 years old. I just cannot thank The Dressage Foundation enough. What a great delight and honor that week in 2010 was to me.

Thank you so much! Please know what a happy difference you make in people’s lives.

Deborah Howard, Powhatan, VA