REBECCA BROUSSARD DEVELOPING RIDER GRANTS
The Rebecca Broussard Developing Rider Grants are bestowed by the Broussard family through the USEA Foundation in memory and honor of Rebecca Chaney Broussard. “Becky” supported numerous international riders through both her generous financial contributions and horse ownership. Becky was truly respected and admired by all who knew her, and the sport of eventing has benefited at all levels from her extraordinary vision, involvement, and loyalty.
The Event at Rebecca Farm was the fulfillment of Becky’s vision of creating a world-class international facility for education and competition. 2011 marked the inauguration of the Rebecca Broussard Developing Rider Grant, the culmination of Becky’s dreams to create and fund a grant with the goal to inspire, advance the skills, educate, and expand the knowledge of developing riders at the international level.
The Rebecca Broussard Developing Rider Grants are designed to assist and to encourage the education and development of event riders at the highest level of the sport. These grants are awarded to offset some of the travel and training expenses in the pursuit of achieving the qualities of an international rider. These grants are not available to any rider that has already achieved the honor of representing the United States at the Pan American Games, Olympics or World Equestrian Games.
The Rebecca Broussard Developing Rider Fund is separated into three types:
The Rebecca Broussard International Developing Rider Grant (also known as the “Big Becky”) awards $50,000 for the educational development of an international quality rider based on competition in eventing on the global stage. The recipient of the grant will be selected by the grant committee based on performance record, interview, and involvement with the eventing community. The grant committee reserves the right to alter funding amounts based on their deliberations.
The Rebecca Broussard National Developing Rider Grant (also known as the “Little Becky”) awards $10,000 for the educational development of an international quality rider based on competition in eventing on the national stage. The recipient of the grant will be selected by the grant committee based on performance record, interview, and involvement with the eventing community. The grant committee reserves the right to alter funding amounts based on their deliberations.
The Rebecca Farm Travel Grants are smaller grants made available to better assist riders to visit The Event at Rebecca Farm in order to interview for the Developing Rider Grants. Various guidelines and conditions must be met and are viewable on the application page.
The International and National Developing Rider Grants may be used to offset expenses incurred to compete at international FEI events held outside of the United States.
While the focus of the grants is on riders at the CCI4-L level, competitors in 3* and 4* levels are encouraged to apply.
Applications for the Rebecca Broussard Developing Rider Grants are due November 1 and will be distributed during the grant interview process.
New for 2024: While in the past all Travel Grant recipients who were also interested in applying for the Rebecca Broussard Developing Rider Grant were expected to sit for an interview with the Grant Committee during the course of The Event at Rebecca Farm, the success of the program and resultant expansion of the pool of applicants have rendered such a universal interview procedure impractical. Accordingly, starting in 2024 there will no longer be an expectation that all applicants must sign up to be interviewed; instead, the Grant Committee may at its discretion choose to invite certain applicants to sit for interviews during the event. Such invitations to interview will be conveyed by email, text, or phone communications directed to the applicants.
Previous Recipients of the Rebecca Broussard International Developing Rider Grant
2024 James Alliston
2023 Andrew McConnon
2021 Maya Black
2019 Andrea Baxter
2018 Frankie Theriot Stutes
2017 Erin Sylvester
2016 Jennie Brannigan
2015 Tamie Smith
2014 Matthew Brown
2013 Katherine Groesbeck
2012 Jolie Wentworth
2011 Sharon White
Previous Recipients of the Rebecca Broussard National Developing Rider Grant
2024 Julie Wolfert
2023 Ashley Adams
2022 James Alliston, Rebecca Brown, Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride, Kaylawna Smith-Cook, Dani Sussman, and Chris Talley
2021 Marc Grandia
2019 Sara Mittleider
2018 Andrea Baxter
2017 Madeline Backus
2016 Mackenna Shea
2015 Kurt Martin
2014 Jennifer McFall
2013 Ellen Doughty-Hume
2012 Tamra Smith
2011 Alexandra Knowles