The Dressage Foundation and Western Dressage

Several years ago, as interest in Western Dressage was growing around the country, The Dressage Foundation (TDF) started to receive requests for grants to help the growth of Western Dressage and the education of its riders.  At that time, TDF’s Board of Directors offered to support Western Dressage because they agreed that classical dressage principles are beneficial to all riders and horses.

Since then, grants have been awarded to dressage clubs hosting events dedicated to Western Dressage.  For example, the Western Dressage Association of Oklahoma teamed up with the Oklahoma Dressage Society in 2012 to host a “Classical Dressage meets Western Dressage Clinic and Workshop.”  The event was awarded a $2,000 grant from TDF’s Violet Hopkins Fund.  Since Western Dressage was relatively new at that point, the goal of the event was to introduce Western riders to the correct basics of dressage.

Around that time, TDF also started welcoming Western Dressage riders into the Century Club.  To join the Club, the ages of horse and rider must add up to at least 100 years and they must ride any level test at a dressage show or event.  As of May 2020, eleven Western Dressage riders from across the country have joined the Century Club!

Century Club History – up to 2024

113 – Cayce Black: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/past-century-club-bios/cayce-black.html

161 – John FitzGerald: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/past-century-club-bios/john_fitzgerald.html

199 – Thomas Faylor: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/past-century-club-bios/thomas-faylor-and-wildmoon.html

232 – Yan Ross: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/past-century-club-bios/yan-ross-and-merlin.html

246 – Suzanne Hall: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/past-century-club-bios/suzanne-hall-and-cricket.html

259 – Harry Alban: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/past-century-club-bios/harry-alban-and-playboy.html

263 – Leanna Bellinger: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/past-century-club-bios/leanna-bellinger-and-fleeting-chance.html

320 – Isabel Surrey Saylor: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/past-century-club-bios/isabel-surrey-saylor-and-mister.html

324 – Stella Gordon: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/past-century-club-bios/stella-gordon-and-reggie.html

341 – JoAnne Percy: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/past-century-club-bios/joanne-percy-and-doll.html

382 – Carol Pizor: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/2019-rides/carol-pizor-and-finest-five.html

439 – JoAnn Wegenke: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/2020-rides/joann-wegenke-and-hesa-grand-slam.html

462 – Kathleen Ryan: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/2020-rides/kathleen-ryan-and-shades-bay-blaze.html

486 – Margaret Rivera: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/2021-rides/margaret-rivera-and-cruise.html

529 – Edith Finlayson: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/2021-rides/edith-finlayson-and-lil-bit-o-luck.html

546 – Stella Gordon: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/2022-rides/stella-gordon-and-diamond.html

568 – Janet Tisch: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/2022-rides/janet-tisch-and-gidgets-gadget.html

579 – Neide Cooley: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/2022-rides/neide-cooley-and-liberty-bend-nicodemus.html

587 – Larry Siemiet: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/2022-rides/larry-siemiet-and-general-mighty-star.html

592 – Ann Rubenstein: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/2022-rides/ann-rubenstein-and-jackson-blue-mcguire.html

634 – Karen Czapanskiy: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/2023-rides/karen-czapanskiy-and-eaf-kidman.html

652 – Sharon Petrone: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/2023-rides/sharon-petrone-and-bubbey.html

689 – Suzanne Cook: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/2023-rides/suzanne-cook-and-paddys-irish-starlet.html

697 – Gerald Linton: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/2023-rides/gerald-linton-and-kc-peppys-morris.html

700 – Henrietta Ellzey: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/2023-rides/henrietta-ellzey-and-zorrado.html

705 – Marsha Collins: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/2023-rides/marsha-collins-and-abbey.html

707 – Kathryn Adams: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/2023-rides/kathryn-adams-and-woodrun-pennyroyal.html

708 – Kathryn Adams: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/2023-rides/kathryn-adams-and-pacman-leroy.html

716 – Susan Conners: https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/new-members/2023-rides/susan-conners-and-wp-amir-rasheek.html

To learn more about TDF’s grants for educational events:

http://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/apply/educational_clinics_seminars_symposia/

To learn more about TDF’s Century Club:

http://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/century-club/

About The Dressage Foundation

The Dressage Foundation, located in Lincoln, Nebraska, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit 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 and scholarships to dressage riders, judges, instructors, breeders, high performance teams, nonprofit equestrian organizations and more.  For more information, please visit www.dressagefoundation.org.