Bedford, NY – Dressage4Kids and Anne Baber Wallis are proud to announce the creation of the new D4K Christian Kennedy Young Adult Scholarship.
This scholarship will be awarded in memory of Christian Kennedy. As a young rider, Christian was known for his patience, his kindness, his horsemanship, and his joie de vivre. Dressage4Kids, Christian’s family, and the equestrian community have chosen to remember Christian through programs and scholarships that reflect and recognize his own understanding that horsemanship means much more than simply riding.
The D4K Christian Kennedy Young Adult Scholarship will be awarded to promote, train, and inspire young riders through a special winter training grant. The scholarship will fund one advanced rider, age 18-26, for the 2019 Wellington Winter Equestrian Festival, January through March 2019. The selected rider will work under the training leadership of Oded Shimoni at OS Dressage in Wellington, Florida. Riders must plan on bringing their own horse, whether owned or leased. Kim Van Kampen of Hampton Green Farm has offered a special stabling rate. The scholarship recipient will need to trailer from Hampton Green Farm to OS Dressage twice weekly for lessons. The scholarship will provide funds up to $15,000 towards transportation to/from Wellington, stabling, training, showing expenses (if applicable), and living expenses (recipient must find his/her own housing).
Riders must submit an application with information regarding recent training and clinic experience, a training video, a letter of recommendation, two references, and a letter stating riding and life goals. The selection committee is interested not only in an excellent rider, but in a well-rounded and committed student who is a strong team player, who demonstrates ethical behavior, and who has sound horsemanship skills.
Evaluation criteria may include: exceptional talent, proven ability to work hard, demonstrated ethical behavior, horsemanship skills, and consistent drive towards stated goals.
