The Dressage Foundation is pleased to announce five grant recipients from its Maryal and Charlie Barnett Continuing Education for Instructors Fund.
The recipients are Mimi Benton (AR), Kyra Fraser (WA), Ila Handy (TX), Andrea Simpson (NE), and Jennifer Thompson (TN). Each will receive up to $1,500 to be used toward participation in the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Instructor/Trainer Development Program.
Mimi Benton (AR, Region 9): Mimi is a member of the Arkansas Dressage Society and is a USDF gold medalist.
Photo by Ashley Roberts
Mimi said, “This grant will help me achieve my goal of becoming a USDF Certified Instructor. I have at least a 10-hour drive each way to the program’s sessions, in addition to hotel and other travel expenses, so this grant will help lighten the load for me. As a horse trainer, income is not a consistent thing, so now I won’t have to worry about paying for the seminars and certification. Thank you so much for the opportunity to help in my learning!”
Kyra Fraser (WA, Region 6): Kyra is the principal trainer and instructor at Seven Hills Training and oversees students ranging from beginners to Fourth Level.
Photo by Dani LaLonde Photo
Kyra said, “I'm thrilled and honored to receive this grant from TDF’s Maryal and Charlie Barnett Continuing Education for Instructors Fund. This support allows me to attend the USDF Instructor/Trainer Development Program workshops, which will significantly enhance my skills as an instructor and trainer. I'm deeply grateful to TDF and Maryal Barnett for easing the financial burden of continuing education and helping me take this important step toward achieving my goals in dressage.”
Ila Handy (TX, Region 9): Ila is a member of the Alamo Dressage Association and is a USDF bronze and silver medalist.
Ila said, “This generous grant from TDF’s Maryal and Charlie Barnett Continuing Education for Instructors Fund will allow me to attend upcoming USDF Instructor/Trainer Development seminars for lunging, riding and teaching in Omaha, NE, and will help me reach my goal to become a USDF Certified Instructor/Trainer. I believe it is vital to have a program that provides a framework and standards, as well as mentorship, for teaching and training dressage. I am excited to become a part of this program and to contribute in the very best ways as an instructor to this amazing sport.”
Andrea Simpson (NE, Region 4): Andrea is a member of the Nebraska Dressage Association and is a full-time schoolteacher.
Andrea said, “I would like to extend a huge thanks to TDF! Receiving this grant will challenge me professionally both as a trainer and instructor, and I am excited to bring new tools and a renewed focus to the dressage community in central Nebraska and beyond.”
Jennifer Thompson (TN, Region 3): Jennifer is a member of the Central Tennessee Dressage Association and is a USDF bronze and silver medalist.
Jennifer said, “I am so thankful and honored to be a grant recipient from this Fund! Although I have been instructing and coaching for several years, and attending trainer training events as often as possible, I have not pursued USDF certification until now. I am looking forward to the opportunity to connect with other trainers to share ideas and experiences.
In the past, I have been privileged to spend quite a bit of time with Maryal when she judged shows for my GMO, and when she was Faculty for L Program sessions I organized. She is truly a delightful and generous person, and someone who I consider integral in sparking my interest in dressage education. I am beyond thrilled to be a part of her legacy.”
Interested instructors can apply for a grant to attend any portion of the Instructor/Trainer Development Program, including the workshops, pre-certification, and testing. Barnett Fund grants are awarded twice per year and the next deadline for applications is February 1, 2025.
For more information about the Maryal and Charlie Barnett Continuing Education for Dressage Instructors Fund or The Dressage Foundation, please contact Sara Weiss, TDF’s Director of Grants and Programs, at (402) 434-8585 or visit www.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 to dressage riders, judges, instructors, breeders, high performance teams, nonprofit equestrian organizations, and more. For more information, please visit www.dressagefoundation.org.
