The Dressage Foundation (TDF) is pleased to announce that Christine Calao (TX) and Allison Stai (TX) are the recipients of Region 9 Teaching Excellence Awards. The awards recognize outstanding instructors within USDF’s Region 9. Usually only one Award is presented each year; however, this year, the selection committee felt both recipients were worthy of this special award. Each recipient receives a $5,000 grant to strengthen educational opportunities within their local dressage community.
Christine Calao (TX) is a USDF bronze, silver, and gold medalist and has received her USDF bronze and silver freestyle bars. She is an L Graduate with Distinction and serves as owner and head trainer of Cadence Ranch Dressage. She plans to use the grant to host subsidized educational clinics with respected clinicians, enhance her teaching resources and educational materials, and establish a scholarship fund to help offset lesson and clinic expenses for dedicated riders facing financial barriers.
Photo by Rhen Vega
Christine said, “Receiving TDF’s Region 9 Teaching Excellence Award is incredibly meaningful to me. Some of the greatest rewards of my career have come from helping riders grow in their confidence, horsemanship, and understanding of correct training. To be an effective teacher, I must always remain a student myself. This award will allow me to continue investing in my own education and bring that knowledge home to my students, working students, and the broader dressage community. I am truly grateful for this honor.”
Allison Stai (TX) is a USDF bronze and silver medalist and an instructor and trainer at Rocking M Stables. She works with riders ranging from beginners through the FEI levels, including FEI Youth competitors. She plans to use the grant to host a clinic and educational seminar for her students and local riders. In addition to the riding portion, the clinic will include unmounted lectures and discussions on topics involving theory and horsemanship.
Allison said, “My loyal and hard-working students invest so much of their time and money into this sport, so I am really excited to surprise them with the news that we will be able to use this grant from The Dressage Foundation toward their education.”
For more information about TDF’s Region 9 Teaching Excellence Award, please visit www.dressagefoundation.org or contact Sara Weiss, Director of Grants and Programs, at 402-434-8585 or sara@dressagefoundation.org.
To support this Award through donations, please contact Jenny Johnson, Executive Director, at 402-434-8585 or at jenny@dressagefoundation.org. Donations can also be made online at www.dressagefoundation.org.
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.
