May 25, 2009 — Dressage Canada and the Domestic Development Committee (DDC) are pleased to announce that the Dressage Canada Levy Program has distributed the first funds through the Dressage Canada Bursary and the Domestic Program Support programs.

The Dressage Canada Levy Program, which began in 2008, requires all Equine Canada-sanctioned Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum Dressage competitions to collect and remit $7.00 per horse entered in their competition to Dressage Canada. The revenues generated from the Levy Program are used to support a number of domestic, provincial and national programs, all of which are designed to foster the development of dressage riders, coaches, officials, owners and the industry at large.

The funds are distributed

• 70 per cent to Domestic Program Support,
• 20 per cent to National Team Program Support,
• five per cent  to Dressage Canada Bursary, and
• five per cent to administration including publicity and public relations.

The Dressage Canada Bursary was created in recognition of the difficulty riders face as they strive to continue their dressage education while competing at high levels of equestrian sport. Dressage Canada has developed the Bursary program for competitors in the Federation Equestre International (FEI) dressage divisions—Children, Pony, Junior, Young Rider, Advanced and Grand Prix.

The 2009 Dressage Canada Bursary recipients are

• Robin-Lynn Byrne Brent of Metcalfe, ON (Prix St. Georges, Intermediaire I)
• Whitney Harris of Burlington, ON (Prix St. Georges, Intermediaire I)
• Jessica York of Delta, BC (Young Rider)

Under the Domestic Program Support portion of the Levy Program, a domestic program is defined as an event or function that is designed to develop and educate the dressage community in Canada. The programs provide the opportunity for personal improvement for community members.

Recipients of the first disbursement of these funds are

• CADORA Inc. — riding clinic with FEI O judge Stephen Clarke ($230)
• Calgary Area Alberta Dressage Association — riding clinic with international clinician Sylvia Loch ($1,850)
• Calgary Area Alberta Dressage Association — scribe clinic ($800)
• Dressage New Brunswick for riding clinics and a coaching skills development clinic — various programs ($1,260)
• Dressage Winnipeg — junior riders camp ($3000)
• Kawartha Lakes Dressage Association — rider development clinic ($1,800)
• Kawartha Lakes Dressage Association — performance enhancement team seminar with sports psychologist Dr. Kate Hays and personal trainer Glenn Minor ($3,900)Ottawa Area Dressage Group — riding clinic with Olympian Steffen Peters ($1,346.47)
• Riders Interested in Dressage and English Riding (R.I.D.E.R.S Nova Scotia) — riding clinic with Olympic bronze medalist Lisa Wilcox ($2,000)
• Parkland Area Alberta Dressage Association — symposium with FEI I judge Christoph Hess ($627.50)
• Linda Pepin for a “Through the Judges Eye” clinic — with FEI O judge Cara Whitham ($1,150)
• Southlands Riding Club — riding clinic with international rider Betsy Steiner ($1,421)
• Victoria-Saanich Area CADORA — freestyle clinic with international freestyle designer Karen Robinson ($800)

Earlier this month, Jessica Rhinelander of St. John’s NL became the first recipient of the Travel Assistance Support program which is designed to provide financial assistance for athletes competing at the Dressage Canada National Youth Championships as well as representing Canada internationally at major competitions. Rhinelander competed as the Canadian Representative at the FEI Young Rider World Cup held December 2008 in Germany.

“Our committee was very impressed with the overall quality of submissions for both the Dressage Canada Bursary and the Domestic Program Support,” said Lisa Hossack-Scott, a member of the DDC. “Those that supported the Levy program last year should be proud of the fact that a wide variety of domestic programs across Canada have been able to be created to the benefit of as large a community as each program could reach.”

For more information on the Levy program in 2009 and how to apply for Levy money, please visit the Dressage Canada Levy Program section of the Equine Canada website.

 
About Dressage Canada

Dressage Canada, as a committee of Equine Canada, is the National governing body for Dressage in Canada. Dressage Canada's objective is to foster the growth of Dressage and the pursuit of excellence in the sport at the local, national and international levels. Dressage Canada provides support and guidance to both amateur and professional through the following programs: coaching education and programs, officials’ education and programs, rules & qualifying criteria, sport development, publications & awards. For more information about Dressage Canada, please visit the Dressage section of the Equine Canada site.

About Equine Canada

Equine Canada is a member-based association that represents, promotes and services Canada's equine community and industry. Its core areas of activity involve sport, equine health and welfare, education and safety, governance and marketing, representation and communication. Equine Canada is recognized by Sport Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Coaching Association of Canada as the national organization representing equestrian sport and equine interests in Canada. For more information about Equine Canada, please visit equinecanada.ca.