The Dressage Foundation

The Dressage Foundation 1314 'O' Street, Suite 305
Lincoln, NE 68508
402.434.8585
www.dressagefoundation.org

The Dressage Foundation, founded in 1989, is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, tax-exempt, donor-driven organization that is dedicated to educating, supporting, and advancing the sport of dressage in the United States. Each year, grants are awarded to dressage riders of all ages and levels, judges, instructors, breeders, high-performance teams, nonprofit equestrian organizations, and more. All of the fundi

ng for these grants is provided by contributions from donors. These donations have come in all sizes - small, medium, large, and extra large. Every contribution is important and supports the dressage education of thousands of people across the country.

TDF’s Weekly Wrap-Up✨🇺🇸 U.S.-Bred Horses Award: TDF awarded the $15,000 Dr. Anne Barlow Ramsay Award to U.S.-Bred Horses...
09/04/2026

TDF’s Weekly Wrap-Up✨

🇺🇸 U.S.-Bred Horses Award: TDF awarded the $15,000 Dr. Anne Barlow Ramsay Award to U.S.-Bred Horses to owner Kate Fleming-Kuhn (IL) and breeder Maurine Swanson (SC) at the recent U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions. Vholt, an eight-year-old American-bred Oldenburg stallion, was the highest-scoring U.S.-bred horse in the Developing Prix St. Georges. Read the full story at https://bit.ly/3ShOsfV

📆Upcoming Grant Application Deadlines:
🟡September 10: Verne Batchelder Instructor Fund for USDF Regions 1, 3, and 8
🟢September 15: Gifted Memorial Fund for Adult Amateurs
🔵September 30: Major Lindgren Instructor Fund

See TDF's full grant calendar at https://bit.ly/43I0Urp

👑Fundraiser Update! TDF’s “Treasured Horses, Treasured Teachers,” has raised over $34,000 to support TDF’s Riding School Fund! All proceeds will go toward much-needed grants for riding schools and lesson programs across the country! Have a special horse you’d like to honor? Visit https://bit.ly/4sG4RYh to celebrate your past while helping to ensure future riders can learn the sport we love!

✔️Don’t forget to sign up for TDF’s monthly e-news at https://bit.ly/4h6C9MR

What a wonderful month it’s been! 🌞In August, TDF announced a partnership with Novella Equestrian to support TDF’s Ridin...
09/03/2026

What a wonderful month it’s been! 🌞

In August, TDF announced a partnership with Novella Equestrian to support TDF’s Riding School Fund fundraiser, “Treasured Horses, Treasured Teachers.” Thanks to amazing donors, we have raised nearly $35,000 (70%) of our first goal of $50,000!🖤💛

Soon, we’ll be announcing the next step in the Novella Equestrian sunshirt contest…but in the meantime, you can still honor your treasured horse with a donation that supports TDF’s Riding School Fund! 🐴

Donate at https://bit.ly/4sG4RYh

See the list of Treasured Horses at https://bit.ly/3Tgb2pv

Thank you to those who have donated so far! We are thrilled to be able to award much-needed grants from our Riding School Fund this fall! Learn more about TDF’s Riding School Fund at https://bit.ly/3UqBIEm

Photo is Carrie Dorn with her treasured horse, Ava.

“The Gifted Fund is near and dear to my heart." – Carol LavellThe Gifted Memorial Fund for Adult Amateurs is one of TDF’...
09/01/2026

“The Gifted Fund is near and dear to my heart." – Carol Lavell

The Gifted Memorial Fund for Adult Amateurs is one of TDF’s oldest grant Funds. Started in 1997 in memory of Carol’s great horse Gifted, hundreds of adult amateurs of all levels and all ages have received a grant from this Fund. In fact, 42 states can boast that they have a Gifted Fund recipient!

After Carol and many of her friends seeded the Gifted Fund, Carol’s father, Gordon Cadwgan, made significant donations to the Fund. Since then, with additional donations from dressage enthusiasts, the Fund now awards $1,500 grants to up to 13 adult amateurs annually (one per USDF Region and four wild cards).

The Gifted Fund is special as it awards grants to those with a strong history of volunteerism within their GMOs. Its purpose is to give adult amateurs the chance to take a week for time with their horse; to bond, to learn, and to grow together. 🐴

The 2026 deadline for applying for the Gifted Memorial Fund is September 15. Visit https://bit.ly/4fWclkK

Questions? We’re here to help! Contact us at 402-434-8585 or at [email protected]

Thank you to Carol, Gordon, and the many folks in our community who make grants like this possible! We’re honored to continue this support in memory of Carol and Gifted. 🖤💛

08/30/2026

As we wrap up our time at U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions, we want to say thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth to say hi or learn more about TDF! 🖤💛

TDF's grants and programs don't exist without amazing, generous donors. As our TDF community continues to help make dressage dreams come true, listen to one grant recipient and hear how TDF's Cynthia Aspden Fund for Youth and Young Adults helped make her dream of competing at Festival possible.

🎥 Elan Stremmel (NY), a 2025 recipient of the Cynthia Aspden Fund grant.

The deadline to apply for this year's Cynthia Aspden Fund grants is just a few days away! Apply at
https://bit.ly/48lHStX

08/30/2026

Honor your treasured horse by donating to TDF's Riding School Fund. Donations of $25 or more will be entered to win the chance to have a Novella Equestrian shirt named after them! Make sure to get your donations in by August 31 for YOUR horse to be considered!

Donate now at https://www.dressagefoundation.org/ridingschoolfundraiser.html

The Dressage Foundation is pleased to present a $15,000 award from its Dr. Anne L. Barlow Ramsay Fund for U.S.-Bred Hors...
08/29/2026

The Dressage Foundation is pleased to present a $15,000 award from its Dr. Anne L. Barlow Ramsay Fund for U.S.-Bred Horses to Kathryn Fleming-Kuhn (IL) and Maurine Swanson (PA). Established by Dr. Barlow Ramsay’s daughter, Barbara Cadwell, this award aims to recognize and promote the excellence of top horses bred in the United States. 🇺🇸

Vholt, bred by Maurine Swanson and owned and ridden by Kathryn Fleming-Kuhn, received this $15,000 award as the highest-scoring U.S.-bred horse in the Developing Prix St. Georges Championship at the recent U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions. The owner and breeder will receive $7,500 each. Vholt is an eight-year-old Oldenburg stallion by Vitalis, out of Rhiddle.

Kathryn Fleming-Kuhn is a USDF Certified Instructor through Fourth Level and a USDF bronze, silver, and gold medalist. She said, “Thank you for this award from the Dr. Anne Barlow Ramsay Fund for U.S.-Bred Horses. I purchased Vholt from Maureen Swanson when he was just two weeks old. We’ve been together a long time, and he is a really special horse. I am grateful for the U.S.-breeders who supply such wonderful horses. This award will enable me to continue my education with Vholt. Thank you to those who make this possible through The Dressage Foundation!”

Maurine Swanson, breeder of Vholt, has bred warmbloods for nearly five decades, producing hundreds of foals. Her program has yielded numerous Dressage at Devon champions, elite mares, and stallions.

The $15,000 Anne Barlow Ramsay Award for U.S.-Bred Horses will be awarded to the owner and breeder ($7,500 to each) of the highest-scoring horse, with a minimum score of 65 percent, at the Developing Prix St. Georges Championship at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions.

Barbara Cadwell, daughter of Dr. Barlow Ramsay, said, “My mother chose to be an American citizen and believed strongly in the American dream. Her support of U.S.-bred horses comes from the patriotism she held for our country and belief that U.S.-bred horses have an important place in the sport of dressage. I dream that this Award, in my mother’s name, shines a light on top American-bred horses, their owners, and their breeders. I hope to see more U.S.-Bred horses competing at Festival of Champions in the future.”

Read more at https://bit.ly/3ShOsfV

Photo by Susan J. Stickle

08/29/2026

We’re here at the US Dressage Festival of Champions with Lendon Gray, who shares why supporting TDF’s Riding School Fund matters, and how it helps riding schools, lesson horses, and the future of our sport. 💛🐴

Honor your treasured horse with a donation of $25 or more by August 31 and enter the TDF x Novella Equestrian “Treasured Horses” Shirt Contest! All proceeds benefit the Riding School Fund. Visit dressagefoundation.org for more information!

08/28/2026

🐴 Could your horse’s name be on a Novella Equestrian sunshirt? 👀✨

We caught up with Taryn of Novella Equestrian at the US Dressage Festival of Champions to talk about a pretty special opportunity for your treasured horse and how Taryn comes up with her shirt names. Did you know they are all named after horses with a special story? Can your horse be next?

💛 Donate $25+ to TDF’s Treasured Horses fundraiser for your chance to have your horse’s name chosen for a new Novella sunshirt! All proceeds will support TDF's newest grant fund, the Riding School Fund, which helps support dressage riding schools and lesson programs across the county.

⏰ Enter by August 31 at https://bit.ly/4sG4RYh

There are lots of reasons to stop by TDF's booth this week at Festival of Champions!Treats for everyone (including our f...
08/27/2026

There are lots of reasons to stop by TDF's booth this week at Festival of Champions!

Treats for everyone (including our famous gold cookies!), a chance to celebrate the special horses in your life, and the incredible opportunity to have a Novella Equestrian sunshirt named after your treasured horse.

We're also here to answer any questions you may have about TDF's grants, programs, and other ways to get involved!

Our booth is just across from the show office!
See you soon!

#

Address

1314 O Street, Ste 305
Lincoln, NE
68508

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Dressage Foundation posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to The Dressage Foundation:

Shortcuts

Share

Category