The Dressage Foundation (TDF) is honored to announce the creation of its new Schmidt Family L Education Program Fund, established by USEF S Dressage Judge Lisa Schmidt, through an estate gift from her late parents, Victoria and Ralph Schmidt.
Beginning in 2026, the Schmidt Family L Education Program Fund will provide financial assistance to participants of Part 2 of the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) L Education Program. Individuals may apply to attend Part 2 of the L Education Program which includes Session D1, Session D2, and the Final Exam. Grants will range from $1,000 - $2,000 each, and the first application deadline will be February 20, 2026.
USEF S Judge and L Program Faculty Member, Lisa Schmidt
In addition to holding an S Judge license, Lisa Schmidt is an L Education Program Faculty Member, accomplished rider, instructor/trainer, and past USDF Region 1 Director. The Schmidts chose to leave a gift to the Foundation through their estate in honor of Lisa’s love of dressage, devotion to the sport, and desire to help others become judges.
Lisa said, “As a USEF S Dressage Judge and a member of the L Program Committee, judging and judge training have been a passion in my life for many years. It is my dream that establishing the Schmidt Family Fund in honor of my parents, who encouraged my judge career, will help L Program candidates and further the grass roots of judge education.”
Beth Baumert, President of The Dressage Foundation, said, “The Dressage Foundation has felt the need for a Fund like this for a long time, and the entire dressage community is grateful to the Schmidt family for providing this much-needed assistance.”
Specific grant guidelines, requirements, and the online application are available here.
For more information about the Schmidt Family L Education Program Fund or The Dressage Foundation, visit www.dressagefoundation.org, email info@dressagefoundation.org, or call (402) 434-8585.
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.
