The USHJA Foundation has opened applications for the 2018 USHJA Foundation J.T. Tallon Memorial Equitation Grant, which provides $1,000 to one junior rider who has qualified for a select national equitation championship at a fence height of 3′ or higher. Completed applications must be received by Aug. 1.

“We are very excited to offer this new grant to USHJA members,” said Debbie Bass, chair of the USHJA Foundation. “Through the development of this grant, friends and family of the late J.T. Tallon honor his memory and continue his legacy of helping junior riders achieve their goals in the equitation arena. The Foundation is so thankful for the generosity of the equestrian community which allows us to provide grants like this to further our mission of supporting the USHJA membership.”

The grant is open to active USHJA  members in good standing who have qualified for one of the following equitation championships: ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Class, Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal, Hamel Foundation National Horse Show 3’3″ Equitation Championship, Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund/Washington International Horse Show Equitation Finals, Marshall & Sterling Children’s Medal Finals, Marshall & Sterling Junior Medal Finals, National PHA Medal, Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search—East and West, Taylor Harris National Children’s Medal Finals, and the USHJA 3’3″ Jumping Seat Medal Finals—East and West. Riders must be juniors competing on a horse to be eligible.

The J.T. Tallon Memorial Equitation Grant was developed by friends and family of the late, J.T. Tallon, a Lexington, Virginia, horseman and USHJA member who dedicated his career to equestrian sport for over 40 years. Tallon was dedicated to helping riders excel in the equitation arena. He was part of a group that founded the Southwest Virginia Hunter Jumper Association; he led the Southern Seminary for Women (Virginia) to Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association championship victory eight times; and the Randolph Macon Woman’s College (Virginia) won three championships under his leadership as equestrian director.

Sue Tallon and Barbara Bays initiated the concept and spearheaded fundraising efforts to make this grant possible. Its purpose is to honor Tallon’s commitment to encouraging excellence in the equitation arena by inspiring junior riders with a passion for equitation to pursue their goals. Through this grant, juniors with limited financial means who have qualified for one of the select national equitation finals are provided the support they need to attend.

“Organizing the J.T. Tallon Memorial Equitation Grant was my privilege and a way of establishing a lasting reminder of J.T.’s legacy to the horse world,” said Barbara Bays, longtime friend of the family. “Good, all-around horsemanship was J.T.’s passion. He had a saying, ‘Some days you win, and some days you learn.’ He considered it a good day if his students did either one. I think he would be pleased to know that deserving young horsemen/horsewomen will get the opportunity to experience a national equitation final and, maybe, do both.”