The Dressage Foundation (TDF) is pleased to announce that Ali Potasky (KY) is the recipient of The Dressage Foundation’s East Coast $2,500 Patsy Albers Award. The award was presented at the recent USEF Heritage competition and World Cup Qualifier, Dressage at Devon.
Since 2013, TDF’s Patsy Albers Award has been presented to the highest-placing rider (preference to Grand Prix) at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions who previously competed for the U.S. at the FEI North American Youth Championship (NAYC). In 2023, the award was expanded to Dressage at Devon and then to the Del Mar National Horse Show in 2024. The goal of the Patsy Albers Award is to highlight riders who transitioned from NAYC to competing successfully in the CDI ring.
Ali is an FEI-level rider, trainer, and USDF bronze, silver, and gold medalist. She competed at NAYC at the Young Riders level in 2011, where she was a member of the bronze-medal-winning team. She grew up riding from a young age and has worked with several renowned FEI-level trainers, including Chris Hickey, Pam Goodrich, Morten Thompson, and Kathy Priest, for whom she currently serves as assistant rider and barn manager. Her current Grand Prix horse, INXS, is owned by both Kathy and Ali, and is the first horse that she has developed up to the Grand Prix.
Photo by Bethany P Photography
Ali said, “I’m honored to be recognized with TDF’s Patsy Albers Award at Dressage at Devon. INXS and I received the 2023 Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize from TDF, so I know firsthand how helpful funding and recognition can be. The path to becoming a seasoned CDI competitor looks different for everyone, and I’m lucky mine included competing at NAYC. I’m grateful to INXS for being such a willing partner as we’ve grown together, and to everyone who supported us along the way in large and small ways. Thank you to TDF and the donors who keep Patsy’s legacy alive by investing in riders’ education. I hope to honor that by continuing to grow as a trainer and competitor.”
Patsy Albers was a longtime supporter and Chef d'Equipe of the North American Youth Championship Region 1 team. She was also very involved with the prestigious Dressage at Devon, where she served for many years as the FEI Event Director. Her expertise extended into management, officiating, and volunteering, for which she was honored multiple times. This award was established at TDF by Patsy’s friends and colleagues when she passed away in 2012.
Additional information about The Dressage Foundation’s Patsy Albers Award is available at www.dressagefoundation.org.
For more information about The Dressage Foundation, contact (402) 434-8585 or visit www.dressagefoundation.org.
About 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 educational grants to dressage riders, judges, instructors, breeders, high performance teams, and nonprofit equestrian organizations. For more information, please visit www.dressagefoundation.org.
