The Dressage Foundation (TDF) is pleased to announce that the 2024 Karen Skvarla Fund Grants for Emerging Professionals have been awarded to Cassandra Falardeau (NC) who will receive a $1,500 grant to pursue training or educational opportunities.

The Karen Skvarla Fund provides grants enabling dressage professionals, at the beginning stages of their careers, to receive education that will enhance their knowledge and teaching abilities. The Karen Skvarla Fund selection committee especially looks for applicants who are eager to grow and improve, and who are fair and respectful to both students and horses.

Cassandra Falardeau is a member of the Southeastern Virginia Dressage Association and has been a full-time dressage professional since 2021. Cassandra is looking forward to becoming a USDF Certified Instructor and working toward her USDF silver medal. Most of her students are young riders, but she teaches a few adult clients as well. Cassandra plans to use her grant funding to participate in clinics with Natalie Lamping and Stacey Hastings.

Honored and Humbled

Cassandra said, “I am honored and humbled to have been selected for a Karen Skvarla Fund for Emerging Professionals grant. This grant will help me attend clinics with top professionals and judges, which in turn will help me help my students. It will also aid me in getting one step closer to my goal of becoming an international dressage rider. Thank you to the donors and The Dressage Foundation who have made this possible.”

The Karen Skvarla Fund for Emerging Professionals awards two annual $1,500 grants, with applications due on or before February 15th of each year. The application can be found at www.dressagefoundation.org.

For more information about the Karen Skvarla Fund or The Dressage Foundation, please contact Sara Weiss at (402) 434-8585, by email at sara@dressagefoundation.org, or visit 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.