USEA FOUNDATION GRANTS

The USEA Foundation is honored to administer a number of grants and scholarships, all designed to help USEA members reach their goals. To find more information on each grant, including application forms and due dates, visit the links below.

Adult Riders

Kim Meier “Kick On” Memorial Grant

This grant is intended to assist those riders who are struggling financially to compete their own horse(s) at the upper levels and who have passed beyond the funding available for juniors and young adults. Available to riders 26 years or older, this $5,000 grant is given each year to a recipients that wholly own their horse(s) and are currently competing at the Preliminary level or above.

Le Samurai Fund

The Le Samurai Fund was established by Rebecca Broussard and Amy Tryon in memory of the great five-star horse Le Samurai. The USEA Foundation has allocated a total of $10,000 annually from the Le Samurai Fund for adult amateur education programs that are USEA Area activities. Grants from the fund are in addition to Area allotments and can be used for the same adult amateur education programs. The Area Chair should fill out one application form per year and have the principal organizer sign it and send it to the USEA. Grants will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Upon approval, the funds will be forwarded to the Area Treasurer. The maximum grant request is $1,000 per annum.

Developing Riders

Rebecca Broussard Developing Rider Grants

Available to riders of all ages competing at CCI4*-S and above who have not yet represented the United States at the Olympics or World Equestrian Games. The National Developing Rider Grant awards $10,000 to one rider at the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention and the International Developing Rider Grant awards $50,000 to one rider at the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention.

Wilton Fair Fund

The Wilton Fair Fund allows up to $100,000 in grants to be given each year for a variety of educational opportunities for riders ages 29 and under who have not yet ridden on a senior team.

Richard Picken Memorial Grant

Established in memory of the late Richard Picken by his loved ones, the Richard Picken Memorial Grants from the Fund of the same name are established to fund the intensive training of riders aged 25 years and younger competing at the FEI CCI2* level or higher. Each year one applicant will be selected to receive this $5,000 grant.

Essex Horse Trials Grant

The Essex Horse Trials Grant is available to a developing rider aged 25 and under who is competing successfully at CCI4*-S and above and who is working towards representing the U.S. in international team competition. The $10,000 grant is intended to assist the recipient develop the essential horsemanship skills required for a successful transition from the Young Rider ranks to the Senior Rider ranks. The grant may be used for expenses related to equestrian education, coaching, training, and competing.

MARS Bromont Rising Grants

The MARS Bromont Rising U25 Program was first introduced at the Bromont Three-Day Event in June 2019 when nine riders under the age of 25 were awarded grants of up to $3,000 to assist with the expenses incurred in preparing for and competing in the Bromont CCI. A complete training program was devised to help the riders prepare themselves and their horses for the competition. An additional six riders were invited to participate in the training sessions and were given free entries to the event. 

Seema Sonnad Junior Rider Grant

The Seema Sonnad Junior Rider Grant is for riders 14-18 years of age who are competing successfully at the Preliminary/two-star level and who are working towards representing his or her Area at the NAYC CCI3*-S team competition in the following year. The grant is intended to assist the recipient in developing the essential horsemanship skills required for a successful transition from the Junior Rider ranks to the Young Rider CCI3*-S level. The grant may be used for expenses related to equestrian education, coaching, training, and competing. 

Educational grants for licensed officials and coaches

Broussard Charitable Foundation Trust Going Forward Grants

In 2020, the Broussard family, through the Broussard Charitable Foundation Trust, awarded several educational grants to USEA members for three programs: Horsemanship Immersion Program, Instructors’ Certification Program, and Eventing Officials “r” Training Program. The Trust made a generous gift of $25,000 to the USEA Foundation to award deserving candidates ages 18 and older who are passionate about moving their commitment to the sport forward.

Cindy Burge Memorial ECP Grant

The Cindy Burge Memorial Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) Grant is offered each year by each USEA Area Adult Rider Program to one (or more) of its Area’s instructors who meets the grant’s qualification standards and is selected as a recipient. These qualification standards include merit as an instructor, service to the sport, potential to provide future benefit to the sport, demonstration of compatibility with the educational goals of ECP, and intention to be assessed for ECP certification. This grant money will help pay the fee for each recipient’s participation in an assessment for ECP certification.

Haller Educational Scholarship

The USEA has established two educational scholarships in memory of the late Roger Haller and his wife Ann Haller. Designed to provide financial assistance to those licensed officials who are working towards promotion to the "R" license, the "S" license, or the FEI licenses. The Scholarship may be used to offset the costs involved in gaining the necessary education and practical experience required to attain promotion. The sport is in urgent need of well-trained and committed officials who can serve at the highest international levels of the sport.

Tremaine Cooper Fund for Cross-Country Design

The Tremaine Cooper Fund for Cross-Country Design will be awarded annually to support the attendance of FEI Level 2 or higher course designers who are U.S. citizens at FEI Eventing Continuing Education Seminars/Clinics that are held overseas (i.e. outside of North America).

Other Supporting Grants

Holekamp/Turner Young Event Horse Lion d’Angers Grant

The Holekamp/Turner Young Event Horse Lion d’Angers Grant will award the highest scorer of the USEA Young Event Horse 5-year-old Championships, both East and West Coast Championships combined, with funds that will enable them to travel to the FEI World Young Horse Championships at Mondial du Lion in Le Lion d’Angers, France, for the 7-year-old three-star Championships. 

Liz Cochran Memorial Groom’s Award 

The Liz Cochran Memorial Groom’s Award recognizes an outstanding groom who has had a large influence on their rider’s career and the health and well-being of the horses under their care. Nominees should epitomize the example set forth by Liz Cochran in setting the standard for a professional groom.

Mike Huber Award

Donated by friends of Mike Huber, this prize is awarded annually to any NAYC coach, chef d’equipe, or team support person who best exemplifies Huber’s enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and dedication to the youth of the sport. This special trophy was earned for the first time at the 2016 NAYC. Each winner will take home their own trophy to keep as well as have their name engraved on a plaque for a perpetual trophy.

Patrick “Packy” McGaughan Prize

Following his passing, an award in Packy McGaughan’s honor was established through the USEA Foundation. That award includes a beautiful bronze trophy and award recipients will be recognized at the USEA Annual Meeting and Convention, and a $3,000 award given annually.