The Dressage Foundation has announced that Lindsey Holleger and MW Ave Maria have been selected to receive this year’s $25,000 Anne L. Barlow Ramsay Grant for U.S.-Bred Horses. The purpose of the grant is to showcase talented American-bred horses ridden by United States citizens, by providing money to train and compete in Wellington, Florida, or in Europe.

MW Ave Maria is an 8-year-old Oldenburg mare (Voice—Fiderline, Fidertanz) bred by Nancy Holowesko and owned by Jen Vanover of Maplewood Warmbloods in New York. This year MW Ave Maria competed in Intermediaire 1 and was invited to the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions (Illinois) for the third year. Holleger and MW Ave Maria placed second with a score of 74.66% in the Prix St Georges test in the Intermediaire I Championship at the Festival.

Holleger, Middletown, New York, is a current Kundrun USEF Dressage Development Program member and qualified six horses for the 2021 Festival of Champions.

Holleger, 25, plans to use the $25,000 grant to travel to Wellington for the first time for training and competition.

“I am so very grateful to TDF and all involved for this grant,” she said. “Historically, we have not been able to make the trip to Florida due to the cost, but receiving this grant allows me to take MW Ave Maria to Florida this winter to work with Scott Hassler as we train toward Grand Prix. The exposure to the greatest trainers and horses in the country will mean so much to me as a rider in my education and experience. This grant will be a tremendous help on this journey with a very special horse.”

The Anne B. Ramsay Grant Fund was established at The Dressage Foundation in 2008 by Dr. Ramsay to fulfill her desire to support U.S.-bred horses that are competing on the international dressage stage.  Since 2008, eight recipients have been awarded a grant for training or competition, including those who have successfully competed at the highest level of sport such as the Olympic Games, FEI Dressage World Cup, FEI Dressage Nations Cup, and the World and U.S. Young Horse Championships.

For more information about the Anne L. Barlow Ramsay Grant or The Dressage Foundation, please contact Jenny Johnson at (402) 434-8585, by email at jenny@dressagefoundation.org, or visit dressagefoundation.org.