The U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation has awarded the Amanda Warrington Grant to Heather Morris, Lewisville, Texas, for 2010. This grant provides up to $5,000 for the recipient to use towards training costs.

This year Morris was named to the U.S. Equestrian Federation 2010 Developing Event Rider Program with two horses, Allison Freeman’s Slate River and Lynne Partridge’s First Mark. Slate River finished sixth overall in the U.S. Eventing Association Horse of the Year points, while Morris finished as the seventh-placed rider in the USEA Nutrena Rider of the Year standings.

Morris is a professional rider at Gold Chip Stables in Bartonville, Texas, for Olympic three-day eventer Mike Huber.

“The grant is such a good thing for up-and-coming riders to have that opportunity to go and get the extra help that we need,” said Morris. “Any time that you get to further your training and look outside the box, to possibly work with different people, always ups your game. I look forward to doing that in Florida in the spring.”

While Morris’ plans are not confirmed, she hopes to work with grand prix rider and fellow Texan Mike McCormick on her show jumping skills and with a dressage trainer as well. Her goal for 2010 is to compete with Slate River in the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** and with First Mark two weeks later at the Jersey Fresh CCI***.

The Amanda Pirie Warrington Fund was established by Amanda’s family in her memory with the purpose of helping provide financial assistance to a developing event rider who has been identified as a rider with great talent and ability to represent the United States in the future.