The Dressage Foundation has awarded Elisabeth Austin with the $25,000 Anne L. Barlow Ramsay Grant to train and compete in Europe in 2012. Austin and her Grand Prix horse, Olivier, will continue their education with Carl Hester, winner of team gold and individual silver at the 2011 European Championships, in England after the 2012 Olympic Games in London are finished.
“I can’t thank the Dressage Foundation enough for this award,” Austin said. “I think Carl is absolutely amazing, and I can’t wait to learn as much as I can from him.”
Austin has been riding the 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion (Idocus—Rowillie, Porter) at Grand Prix for nearly five years. Her mother, Madeleine Austin, bred “Fizzy” at their Imajica Farm in Williston, Vt. Austin and Olivier won the Brentina Cup in 2006 and 2007.
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“We’ve had individual moments that have just been amazing,” Austin said. “But in no way have I ridden my best test with him yet.”
The grant was established in 2009, and its purpose is to showcase American-bred horses ridden by U.S. citizens by providing money to train and compete in Europe. Past recipients include James Koford with Rhett in 2009, and Jennifer Williams with H.S. Wistar.
