Lexington, KY: Angela Michaelson of Minnesota has been chosen to receive the 2026 Ellen DiBella Western Dressage Scholarship from The Morgan Horse Foundation, Inc. (MHF). 

Angela was in the saddle at three months of age. Her love for Morgans began after seeing some at local open and 4H shows at the age of 10 – she had to have one! Angela said, “Purchasing my first Morgan started a passion that hasn’t wavered for 44 years.” She enjoyed showing Morgans with her son and daughter for many years. When her daughter left for college, ChandlerCreek TakebyStorm GCH (aka Rain) entered Angela’s life. An unstarted 3-year-old, Rain became Angela’s project and their partnership quickly blossomed. In May 2019, they attended their first Morgan Show, continued working hard, and soon thereafter captured the championship at the Grand National in Western Dressage Suitability. For Angela and Rain, “Western Dressage checked all the boxes.” It improves overall carriage and balance. Showing in Western trail and ranch trail, too, the three disciplines complement each other. 

Angela is proud to be an amateur owner/trainer, having a wonderful time with her mare and showing others that it can be done. Studying with coaches Lynn Palm, Cyril Pittion-Rossillon, and Stephanie Bruggeman, she started with correct horsemanship skills and then developed a solid foundation for Western Dressage. She feels this combination of both training techniques has worked well for her and Rain. And, online showing and traveling to the Grand National have contributed tremendously to their growth. In 2024, Rain earned her AMHA GCH title. In 2025, this team was awarded the WDAA Register of Merit Achievement (for the second time) and won the Level 3 Western Dressage Championship at the Grand National. Angela and Rain plan to compete at the Grand National again in 2026. 

Congratulations, Angela! We wish you the best. Thank you for being such great Morgan ambassadors. 

Thank you, also, to our other talented applicants for their hard work and dedication. 

To learn more about this scholarship and others offered by the MHF, please click HERE.