The Dressage Foundation is pleased to announce that two grants have been awarded from its George Williams Young Professional Fund. The two recipients, Brittany Burson (IL) and Lindsey Parker (TX) will each receive $5,000 for continuing education opportunities that will enable them to provide high-quality instruction to their students.
Brittany Burson (IL, Region 2): Brittany is a board member of the Illinois Dressage and Combined Training Association. She is a USDF gold medalist and Diamond Achievement recipient. Brittany has 14 students (from Training Level to Grand Prix) and 25 horses that she oversees and trains. She plans to use her grant funding to train with Scott Hassler in Wellington, FL, this winter and to attend the FEI Trainers Conference.
Photo by Bethany P Photography
Brittany said, “I cannot express enough gratitude for receiving the honor of a George Williams Young Professionals grant. It's an incredible opportunity to continue growing as a professional and expand my knowledge further. Taking what I learn and applying it to my training horses and clients back home in Illinois is an invaluable resource for me. I'm very much looking forward to building towards larger goals so training and collaborating with Scott Hassler's close eye for detail is what I'm excited about the most. Thank you to TDF and its donors for the ability to provide this amazing grant that will not only allow me to develop myself and my horses but also be able to fulfill my dreams."
Lindsey Parker (TX, Region 9): Lindsey is a Fort Worth Dressage Club member and a USDF gold medalist. Lindsey currently has six students training through FEI, and six horses training through Grand Prix. Lindsey will use her grant funding to participate in Part 2 of the USDF L Education Program and attend the FEI Trainers Conference in Wellington, FL.
Photo by Caitlin Ann Demura Photography
Lindsey said, “I would like to thank the donors and selection committee of TDF for organizing this Grant Fund. I am incredibly grateful to be chosen as a recipient. After becoming immersed in judging education through the first part of the USDF L Education Program, I knew I wanted to move on to the next part and commit to the journey of the judging pipeline. Dressage is something I am very passionate about. Becoming a judge will allow me the opportunity to become more educated in our sport, and to share my passion and education with others. Again, a huge thank you to the donors at TDF who make these grants possible!”
The George Williams Young Professional Fund was established in 2018 to honor his lifelong commitment to dressage. The George Williams Young Professional Fund supports dressage professionals, ages 25-35, who are committed to the sport and have established businesses as instructors and trainers.
For more information about this Fund, contact Sara Weiss, Director of Grants and Programs, at (402) 434-8585 or sara@dressagefoundation.org. Applications are due June 1.
TDF welcomes donations to further support young professionals through the George Williams Fund. Gifts can be made online at www.dressagefoundation.org or by calling Jenny Johnson, Executive Director, at (402) 434-8585 or jenny@dressagefoundation.org. Donations by check can be mailed to TDF’s office at 1314 ‘O’ Street, Suite 305, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68508.
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.
