Bid Now! Our Annual Online Auction is Open!

There's something for everyone! Thanks to the generosity of over 170 individuals and businesses, our annual online auction promises to be our best yet!

From lessons and artwork to tack, apparel, gifts and more -- you can shop, bid, and make a difference. All proceeds will support TDF's many grants and programs.

Gardy Bloemers Joins Board of Directors

We are thrilled to welcome Gardy Bloemers to our Board of Directors!

Gardy brings a lifetime of global experience and a deep passion for horses to her role on our Board. She currently leads a boutique wealth management practice at Merrill Lynch and is an active dressage competitor. Additionally, she is the most recent past President of the Virginia Horse Center Foundation and founder of the Mid-Atlantic Dressage Festival.

Gardy shared, “I joined The Dressage Foundation Board to turn my passion for dressage into impact. The organization’s excellent leadership and structure made it an easy choice, as together with both staff and the Board, I will help support riders, education, and programs that improve every aspect of the sport nationwide.”

Inaugural $15,000 Lavell Developing Prize and Two $25,000 Lavell Advanced Prizes Awarded

Big news! For the first time, we have awarded a $15,000 Carol Lavell Developing Dressage Prize along with two $25,000 Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prizes. Through her generosity and vision, Carol Lavell ensured that dedicated athletes would have access to the support needed to pursue their highest goals, advancing not only their own careers, but U.S. dressage as a whole.

The $15,000 Developing Prize was awarded to Lauren Sprieser (VA). She said, "It is an unreal privilege to ride a horse like Cadeau, and I’m beyond thrilled to have won this Prize. I worked for Carol as a young professional, and I know she’d be proud of what a soft, compassionate rider Cadeau is helping me become."

Recipients of the $25,000 Advanced Dressage Prizes are Hannah Bressler Jaques (FL) and Genay Vaughn (CA). Hannah shared, “I’m deeply grateful for The Dressage Foundation’s belief in our potential and for the recognition of Jim’s exceptional talent as an international-caliber horse. This grant makes it possible for us to deepen our partnership and continue developing toward the elite level.”

Grants Awarded to 11 Adult Amateurs from Gifted Memorial Fund

Congratulations to the recipients of this year's $1,500 Gifted Memorial Fund Grants for Adult Amateurs! These recipients have shown dedication to not only their dressage education, but also to their home dressage communities through volunteer work.

Recipients are:

Region 1 - Molly Bull (VA)

Region 2 - Dianna Harmon (KY)

Region 2 - Deanna Hertrich-Nelson: (WI)

Region 4 - Jen Lowe (SD)

Region 5 - Ashley Adams (UT)

Region 5 - Katherine Lorens (UT)

Region 5 - Sarah Woltman (WY)

Region 6 - Julie Throckmorton (WA)

Region 7 - Stacie Rice (CA)

Region 7 - Taylor Saunders (CA)

Region 9 - Yevette Harrell (LA)

Spreading Knowledge Through Instructor Grants

Two $2,500 grants were recently awarded to instructors from the Verne Batchelder Instructor Fund, to enable them to continue their education and share the knowledge with their students.

Recipients are Ralea Casperson (FL) and Allison Cyprus (SC).

Ralea said, "This grant is more than an investment in my own development; it’s an opportunity to elevate my students as well. By strengthening my knowledge and skills, I’ll be able to guide them, and their horses, toward their highest potential, sharing the education and experience that have been so generously supported through this incredible award.”

Musical Freestyle Grants in Memory of Amanda Johnson

We congratulate Teresa Ball (MT) and Evie Oliver (PA), recipients of this year's $1,500 Amanda Johnson Freestyle Fund grants! The funding will be used to create professionally prepared musical freestyles for competition.

Teresa said, “This year marked my first experience riding a freestyle, and the experience opened my eyes to the incredible feeling of performing with my horses to music—and I am now hooked. The opportunity to work with a professional freestyle designer will be invaluable to my technical and artistic development. Thank you so much to The Dressage Foundation and all the people that make these grants possible. I am endlessly grateful!”

Heading to the USDF Convention?

Will you be attending the Annual USDF Convention in Lexington, Kentucky, from December 3rd - 6th? If so, we are excited to see you and share information about grants that are available to you and your dressage club...including some brand new opportunities for 2026!

Be sure to stop by our booth to pick up a handy notebook and pen set so you can take notes during all of your important meetings!

A Lifetime of Enjoying All Things Equine

We welcome one of our newest Teams to the Century Club -- Linda Buhl (age 73) and Regina (age 27) from South Carolina!

Not born into a horsey family, Linda fell in love with horses at age three and spent her childhood and teen years learning at a local barn. She said, "Fortunate enough to start riding lessons at age ten, I rode what was available on mounts of dubious distinction but with hearts of gold. My first lesson horse was a one-eyed geriatric Saddlebred named Genius. He always tried his best for any rider who pointed him in the general direction of a jump."

After time away for school and career, she returned to riding, discovered fox hunting, and ultimately found her true passion in dressage.

Along the way, she’s been blessed with remarkable equine partners, including Regina, the talented Dutch Warmblood who carried her to her Century Club ride.

Upcoming Grant Deadlines

It's not too early to start thinking about your goals for 2026!

Take a few minutes to review our online grant calendar, save some dates for grants that might work for you, and let's see if TDF can help you reach your goals!