Strides for Equality Equestrians (SEE) is accepting applications for two exciting scholarship opportunities this month.
Ever So Sweet Scholarship
Scholarship recipients will receive funding to immerse themselves in a high-performance training program with Sara Kozumplik at Overlook Farm Equestrian Center in Berryville, VA for three months. The scholarship covers expenses for full board and training costs for the horse, several lessons per week, housing for the rider, a stipend to cover living expenses, competition fees, and coaching at competitions. Participants will learn to manage, care for, and compete horses in an immersive program and will have the opportunity to work as part of the team in all aspects of running a large, competitive barn.
Applications are due May 7, 2023. Apply here.
Applicants must…
Leg Up Scholarship
Strides for Equality Equestrians continues to expand its partnership opportunities with coaches and programs around the country and is pleased to announce a new Leg Up Scholarship sponsored by the Maryland International Equestrian Foundation and Loch Moy Farm in Adamstown, Maryland.
Applications are being accepted for these new Leg Up Scholarships which are geared towards young equestrians from diverse and underrepresented communities competing at the grassroots level. Recipients will receive a credit of $500.00 towards any equestrian activity held at Loch Moy Farm. This includes both recognized and unrecognized competitions, schoolings, and any fees that might affect participation during the activities and may be used at any date on the calendar for up to one year. Participation can be customized to fit the recipients needs.
Applications are open right now and until April 24th. Spread the word to any deserving young person who is interested in taking advantage of this wonderful opportunity. Applications and details may be found here.
If you are a trainer, coach or other professional in equestrian sports and would like to join our growing list of Leg Up Scholarship Sponsors please contact us. Your sponsorship can be customized to meet your wishes. Every scholarship opportunity encourages and enriches the lives of those who receive them.
SEE the Change, Be an Ally
Nazila Hejazi and her 20-year-old Missouri Fox Trotter mare, Tessa, may have made for an unconventional pair at the USEA Area VI Championships, held in October at Galway Downs (Temecula, California) but they didn’t let that hold them back. It’s uncommon to see a horse in their twenties still competing in eventing, and even more rare for a gaited horse to compete in a jumping sport.
Today, we pause to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and reflect on the powerful moment in 1963 when he stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and shared his vision for a better future. Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech was more than just words; it was a call to action that transcended time, culture, and boundaries—a beacon of hope that continues to inspire.
We’ve all been there—on the horse who pokes his way around the warm-up ring, needs leg, leg, leg coming into the combination, or brings up the rear on every trail ride. None of us wants each and every ride to be a lower-body squeezefest, nor do we wish to do anything with our crop except maybe wave it at that annoying deerfly. In this excerpt from his book The Sport Horse Problem Solver, former international eventer Eric Smiley explains the essential quality of forwardness and how to prepare the horse to expect you to look for it in all that you do together.
The inaugural USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) Championships may have been the pinnacle for program members of the IEL last year, but that’s not the only exciting achievement that occurred in 2024. A total of 41 events offered IEL Team Challenges for over 360 program members, and in the end, a year-end leaderboard champion was named at every level from Starter through Intermediate. The following IEL members worked tirelessly with their clubs and on their own competitive journeys in 2024 to earn the title of Interscholastic Rider of the Year at their respective level. Join us in congratulating these up-and-coming eventers on their success!