Dressage4Kids and Anne Baber Wallis are pleased to announce that Julia Lee Barton is the recipient of the 2022 D4K Christian Kennedy Young Adult Scholarship. 

Thank you to the many generous donors who have helped make this scholarship happen!

As the recipient of the scholarship, Julia will work under the training leadership of Oded Shimoni at OS Dressage in Wellington, Florida. Oded has very generously donated the lessons.

Julia is a former Dressage Seat Medal Champion and USEF Dressage Pony Rider Champion, and this year finished in the top 12 nationally to qualify for the US Dressage Festival of Champions in the Young Rider Division.

When asked about Julia, Fred Nostrant, DVM, writes, “Julia exhibits a strong work ethic and personal commitment to the horses in her charge, both as an individual and in a team environment. She consistently puts the welfare of the horses as her top priority. She is an excellent team player who is always willing to lend a hand. I have heard many heartwarming stories of Christian Kennedy from his peers, about his passion and his love for the horses and the sport of dressage, and Julia shares that same passion and love for the horses.”

Photo credit: Susan Stickle

When asked about the scholarship, Julia writes, “This scholarship will give me the resources to learn, grow, and compete with my horse in a way that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. Any chance to further my relationship with my horse is a gift, but this opportunity is truly one of a kind. I am humbled by the chance to ride in memory of Christian, and am so grateful to Dressage4Kids, Anne Baber Wallis, Oded Shimoni and the other donors for making this possible.”

This scholarship is awarded in memory of Christian Kennedy and reflects Christian’s passion for learning and dedication to horses. The scholarship is awarded to promote, train, and inspire young riders through a special winter training grant.  

Congratulations, Julia!