The Dressage Foundation (TDF) has announced that a total of $17,500 has been awarded to support the upcoming USDF/USEF Young Rider Graduate Program, to be held in Florida on January 18-19, 2025. TDF will provide a $15,000 grant to USDF to help make the program more affordable for all attendees. Additionally, $500 grants have been awarded to five young professionals from the Captain Jack Fritz Young Professionals Fund to attend the program.
“Throughout the years, we have recognized the importance of the USDF/USEF Young Rider Graduate Program and how the education has helped many up-and-coming young professionals, so we are proud to continue our support to USDF,” said Jenny Johnson, TDF’s Executive Director. “Additionally, Carol Lavell had a wonderful mentor in Captain Jack Fritz, and she wanted to honor his memory by providing funds for young professionals to attend this wonderful program. Their development is vital to the future success of dressage in the United States.”
Teresa Ball (MT), Cameron Dauterive (LA), Emma Davern (NY), Jessica Nordqvist (AZ), and Sarah Maurer (TN) have each been awarded a $500 grant to attend the Young Rider Graduate Program because they demonstrated dedication to dressage, a desire to learn more about a professional equestrian career, and financial need to attend the event.
The Captain Jack Fritz Fund Grant recipients shared their thanks:
Teresa Ball said, “I am truly honored to have been awarded a TDF Captain Fritz Fund grant for the Young Rider Graduate Program. Without this grant, it would make attending the conference a near-impossible feat—since I am travelling from so far away and having to miss several days of coaching and riding to attend. This grant enables me to receive valuable education as a young professional running my own business. I cannot thank The Dressage Foundation enough for their support of our sport and continuing education for all levels of riders.”
Cameron Dauterive said, “This grant means a lot to me. This is my final year of participating in the Young Rider Graduate Program, so this grant is allowing me to take full advantage of all the knowledge and opportunities that come with this program. This will allow me to improve my networking, as well as how to build my business more, all while maintaining a full-time job. I am looking forward to taking the lessons learned and sharing them with my students and applying them in my everyday life.”
Photo by Marie Cobb, Ree Photographics
Emma Davern said, “I am incredibly honored to be selected as a recipient of The Dressage Foundation's Captain Fritz Fund for the Young Rider Graduate Program. This grant is a meaningful step in my journey as a trainer and rider, allowing me to deepen my understanding of classical dressage and refine my ability to guide others in developing harmonious partnerships with their horses. As I continue building Davern Dressage, I look forward to using the knowledge and experiences from this opportunity to inspire my students and help them grow at every stage of sport. I am so grateful to The Dressage Foundation for supporting my goals and fueling my passion for this incredible art.”
Photo by Fred Langstaff
Sarah Maurer said, “As a young trainer in the industry, I am always looking for opportunities to learn and grow in my business. I love attending clinics and seminars whenever possible, but location and financial constraints can make that difficult! Receiving this grant allows me to attend the Young Rider Graduate Program, an opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and meet other young trainers. Running your own business in this industry can be intimidating and difficult to navigate and having a dedicated program for professionals in that stage of life is so exciting! I am beyond thankful to The Dressage Foundation and their donors for this opportunity to learn and connect with others in our community."
Jessica Nordqvist said, "Receiving The Dressage Foundation’s Captain Fritz Fund for the Young Rider Graduate Program means so much to me. This grant provides an incredible opportunity to gain the knowledge and tools I need to take my career to the next level. This program will help me grow as a professional, build my business, and work toward achieving my biggest goals in dressage. I’m incredibly grateful for this support and excited to make the most of this experience."
For more information about The Dressage Foundation, visit www.dressagefoundation.org or contact Jenny Johnson at (402) 434-8585 or jenny@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.
