The Dressage Foundation has announced that Michelle Haefer and Romanesque are the 2024 recipients of the $25,000 Debbie McDonald Fund For FEI Riders grant. The Debbie McDonald Fund provides funding for high-level training to horse and rider pairs who are training at Prix St. Georges or higher, who show potential to succeed at FEI levels, and who may not otherwise have the opportunity for the training.  

Haefer started her training program, Haefer Dressage, in 2021 after being an assistant for Catherine Haddad Staller. Haefer has been developing her own Romanesque, a 13-year-old Oldenburg, since he was 6 years old. They are currently training at Grand Prix.

Haefer and Romanesque will use the grant funding to train with Olympians Charlotte Bredahl and Cindy Ishoy. She also plans to pursue qualification for the USDF Regional Championships and the US Dressage Finals (Kentucky). Haefer hopes to not only further her education with her horse but also to improve as an instructor. Haefer is currently a director at large of the Oregon Dressage Society. 

Haefer said, “’Romy’ and I are incredibly thankful to The Dressage Foundation. Receiving this grant will allow me to pursue education in a way I have not been able to before. Running my own training business, I struggle to come up with funds for both showing and training. Now, this grant will allow us access to continued training and development in the arena, as well as give me the opportunity to expand on my own knowledge as a trainer, coach, and competitor. I hope to be an asset to USA Dressage in training horses and riders who will continue into the USA Dressage pipeline.”