Give to Lincoln Day Success!

Give to Lincoln Day 2026 was a success! A total of $20,563 was raised for TDF, and these donations will be partially matched by the Lincoln Community Foundation, increasing donor impact and supporting TDF for years to come.

Although Give to Lincoln Day is now over, we welcome donations to TDF at any time! Visit our website to learn about all the ways you can support our work.

A Season of Education and Growth

Hannah Owens (IA), a 2025 recipient of a Karen Skvarla Fund Grant for Emerging Professionals, used her grant funding to spend one month training in Florida with JJ Tate and Lee Tubman this past winter. The Karen Skvarla Fund provides grants that allow dressage professionals in the early stages of their careers to pursue education that enhances their knowledge and teaching abilities.

Hannah, a USDF bronze medalist who is working towards her silver medal, brought two clients’ horses with her: Pool Boy, a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding, and Bohemio CDF, a 13-year-old PRE gelding. Working with two very different horses gave Hannah the opportunity to further develop her skills as both a rider and trainer.

“The goal for me as a rider was to work on furthering my skills while riding two very different horses and to be clear and harmonious,” Hannah said. “The goal for me as a trainer was to use this opportunity to break down what I learned from each lesson and teach my own students and horses how to be better together.”

Hannah described JJ Tate as “a glitterbomb of positivity and ideas” and said Lee Tubman was wonderfully devoted to every step of the training process, as he could practically predict the future footfalls of the horses.

“This opportunity was really dream-worthy, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the help of grants like this,” Hannah said. “I soaked up every word in every single lesson. I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Inaugural Recipients of Schmidt Family L Education Program Fund Announced

The Schmidt Family L Education Program Fund, established in 2025 by USEF ‘S’ Dressage Judge Lisa Schmidt through an estate gift from her late parents, Victoria and Ralph Schmidt, has welcomed its inaugural recipients! Grants were awarded to Meghan Kelley (OH), Heather McCullough (NC), and Amy Fowler (FL) to complete Part 2 of the USDF L Education Program.

Meghan said, “Gaining insight into the judging process will allow me to become a more thoughtful and effective rider and instructor, with a clearer sense of how to develop horses and present movements with greater accuracy and harmony. I see this opportunity as a stepping stone that will help me grow as both a student of dressage and a contributor to the sport moving forward.”

Pony Club Alum Awarded Trip Harting Fund Grant

Sarah Buchanan (OR) is the recipient of a $1,000 grant from TDF’s Trip Harting Fund for Pony Club Members and Graduates. She will use the grant funding to participate in a series of clinics that will help her strengthen her partnership with her young horse, develop him with a solid dressage foundation, and progress up the levels together.

Sarah said, “This grant represents a meaningful investment in my continued education and development as a rider, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity it provides.”

A 22-Year Partnership Culminates in Century Club Achievement

Abby Braun (NM) first met Nadia while on a trail ride with a friend. Nadia, who had been rescued from a PMU farm in Canada, was only three years old at the time, but her quiet, steady demeanor immediately made an impression on Abby. Years later, after Abby retired her current horse, she learned that Nadia was for sale, and soon they officially began their journey together.

For the next 22 years, Nadia became Abby’s trusted partner on the trail and in the arena. Together, they learned to jump with Thom Pollard before making the transition to dressage with trainer Andrea Vassallo. Over time, their steady work and chemistry prepared them for their Century Club ride, a goal they accomplished together in May of 2026.

Upcoming Grant Deadlines

Don't miss out on the opportunity to apply for funding for your dressage education:

6/15 -- $25,000 Debbie McDonald Fund for FEI Riders

7/1 -- Barnett Continuing Education for Instructors Fund to attend USDF Instructor/Trainer Development Program

7/15 -- Team Tate Mentorship and Leadership Fund

7/20 -- TDF's Western Dressage Fund for Individuals

8/1 -- Region 9 Teaching Excellence Award

8/15 -- $30,000 Anne L. Barlow Ramsay Grant for U.S.-Bred Horses

8/31 -- $25,000 Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize

8/31 -- $15,000 Carol Lavell Developing Dressage Prize

75 days before the event -- Many grants are available for dressage clubs/groups to host educational events.