The Dressage Foundation (TDF) is pleased to announce that a total of $12,000 has been awarded to three instructors from its Major Anders Lindgren Instructor Fund. These grants provide financial support that enables dressage instructors to receive continuing education that will improve their teaching, riding, and training skills. Each recipient will receive a $4,000 grant.
Stephany Fish Crossman (FL) is a USDF bronze and silver medalist and has been a dressage professional for 20 years. She has a wide variety of students and travels the country giving clinics with a specialization in biomechanics. With her grant funding, Stephany will train with Kathy Connelly twice a week with her horse, Dante. Stephany also plans on observing Kathy's other lessons for additional learning.
Stephany said, “I am so grateful to have been chosen to receive a TDF Major Lindgren Instructor Fund grant! I have been an avid collector of horse books, and Major Lindgren’s book of exercises was one of the staples of my teaching when I first started, so I feel there is continuity in being a recipient of his grant. With this grant, I will get more concentrated help from one of the best in our business, Kathy Connelly. I hope to move my horse Dante and me closer to our goal of Prix St. Georges by the end of this season! I am grateful to God, to the selection committee at TDF, and to the generous donors who make grants like this possible!”
Erin Hurley (NJ) is a USDF bronze and silver medalist, an L Program graduate with distinction, and currently enrolled in the USDF Instructor/Trainer Development Program, and the USDF “r” Dressage Judge Training Program. Erin is a licensed Occupational Therapist and runs an adaptive riding program and a Center of Excellence for U.S. Para Dressage. Erin has been a professional instructor for over 40 years. She currently trains five Para riders, as well as other levels and those within her adaptive riding program. She regularly works virtually with Shannon Dueck and in person with Heather Mason. She will use the grant funding to train in person with Shannon Dueck in Florida this winter.
Photo by Michelle Morgenstern Photography
Erin said, “I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to expand my knowledge in dressage thanks to the generous grant from The Dressage Foundation's Major Lindgren Instructor Fund. This grant will allow me concentrated training with Shannon Dueck over the winter months and will help me with my journey to riding at Grand Prix in the future. I am so appreciative and truly honored with this chance to foster my personal growth. Without this grant, my education would be limited, and we could not receive the training needed. I can't thank TDF enough for its incredible commitment and support for dressage in our country.”
Ashley Shaw (TX) is a USDF L Program graduate and has been an instructor at Galloping Spring Ranch for eight years. She has a variety of clients from beginners to Prix St. Georges. She regularly takes lessons from Stephen Hayes, Claire Darnell, and Lauren Sprieser. Ashley says that she is a lifelong learner and wants to encourage her students to be the same. She plans to use her grant funding to spend two weeks training with Eva Oldenbroek in Florida on a schoolmaster.
Ashley said, “I am overjoyed to receive The Dressage Foundation’s Major Lindgren Instructor Fund grant. I am excited to have an opportunity to advance my knowledge and skills, as I am passionate about sharing this knowledge with my students.”
Since 1996, The Dressage Foundation has offered annual instructor grants in Major Anders Lindgren's name. Major Lindgren was an accomplished dressage rider, having won the 1971 Swedish Dressage Championship and ridden on the Swedish Olympic Team in 1972. He also won the Scandinavian Eventing Championship in 1959. Lindgren's contribution to American dressage was large, as he was solidly committed to the education of U.S. dressage instructors. TDF’s Major Lindgren Grants are funded through its Carol Lavell Gifted Memorial Fund.
Applications for the Lindgren Grants are due September 30th of each year. For more information, 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.
