Carol Lavell and Gifted -
Photo Courtesy of Bob Langrish
The Carol Lavell Developing Dressage Prize was established in 2024 to help support a pipeline of international-level riders and horses in the United States. The purpose of this $15,000 grant is to provide financial assistance for the training and competition of horse and rider teams competing at Developing Prix St. Georges, Prix St. Georges, Intermediate 1, or USEF 7-Year-Old Test. Successful applicants will show potential to reach and excel at the elite, international standards of high-performance dressage.
Amount of Grant: $15,000
Application Deadline: August 31
Carol Lavell achieved excellence in all phases of dressage – as an Olympian, rider, competitor, trainer, teacher, and judge. With her legendary horse, Gifted, she brought pride and honor to our country through her performance on the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team. Carol knew firsthand the work, sacrifice, and struggle necessary to make it to the top of the dressage world. Through the creation of the Carol Lavell Fund, she wanted to help other deserving riders who aspire to climb this high-performance mountain.
Applicant Requirements:
Applicant must:
- Be a U.S. Citizen.
- Have declared the United States as the rider’s Sport Nationality with US Equestrian and/or the FEI.
- Be 18 years or older.
- Be competing successfully at Developing Prix St. Georges, Prix St. Georges, Intermediate 1, or USEF 7-Year-Old (with at least three scores of 65% or higher).
- Have a detailed and attainable training plan.
- Be a model of horsemanship and sportsmanship.
- Be a rider whose horse teammate has the potential for the collected movements within the Grand Prix.
- Need financial assistance for additional training.
Additional Grant Information:
- Training funded by this grant can start no sooner than two months after the application deadline date.
- Funding can be used for training, board, and competition but cannot be used only for competition. Funding cannot be used for vet and/or farrier expenses, living expenses, or the purchase of a horse or equipment.
- The recipients of this grant must use the funds within two years of the date of the award.
- Recipients are chosen by an independent selection committee comprised of dressage professionals who have had international success. The applications and discussions of the selection committee are confidential, and their decisions are final.
- The selection committee reserves the right not to award a grant in any given year if they determine that no candidate has met the criteria.
- If the grant recipient is unable to attend the event/training specified in their application, The Dressage Foundation must be notified as soon as possible. Approval for a change in the use of funds is at the discretion of The Dressage Foundation and the grant selection committee.
- An individual can only receive one $15,000 grant from The Dressage Foundation each calendar year.
- The Dressage Foundation feels strongly that this grant should be based on merit and need. If your financial situation permits you to pursue these goals without the help of TDF, we urge you to allow other riders who are not in that position to apply.
Reporting Information:
- For all recipients, 75% of grant funds will be paid prior to the recipient’s departure for training; 25% will be paid after the applicant has completed training and has submitted a training and financial report to The Dressage Foundation.
- The recipients of the grants are required to provide a training and financial report of their experience to The Dressage Foundation. The reports may be written, video, photo journal, or in other ways pre-approved by The Dressage Foundation. The report is due within two months following the completion of the training.
- Throughout their training, recipients are encouraged to share training/event updates with The Dressage Foundation via email or tag The Dressage Foundation on social media.
