The Dressage Foundation News 2016 EDITION A Tale of Two Olympians Accomplishments, Struggles, and a $25,000 Prize Unite Carol Lavell and Laura Graves By Jenny Johnson, Executive Director the USA in 3rd place for the bronze medal. Fast-forward to 2002, when young rider t’s not uncommon for the stories of top Laura Graves had a dream of being a top Iathletes to be similar. We often hear of the equestrian. That year her family purchased hard work, dedication, and sacrifices made Verdades as an extremely difficult 6-month- by the best in any sport, but it is rare when old from the Netherlands. As the years the stories of two athletes are entwined in passed, “Diddy” continued to be unruly, but such a way as those of Carol Lavell and moments of magic began to shine through. Laura Graves. As with Carol, Laura worked hard and didn’t In 1984, Carol Lavell purchased Gifted as give up on her horse when the going got an untrained 4-year-old from Germany. She tough. And seemingly out of nowhere, Carol Lavell and Gifted spent years building a solid, trusting relation- Laura and Diddy burst onto the US dressage Photo credit: Bob Tarr ship with Gifted and brought him up the scene in 2014. levels; however, it was not without setbacks There was a real chance for Laura and and frustration. Gifted was a big horse, es- Diddy to secure a spot on the 2016 US Olym- pecially in comparison to Carol’s petite, 5’4” pic Team, but they’d need some help to get frame, and he could be difficult to handle. there. Laura was used to scrimping and sav- At one point, a well-respected judge told ing, but this quest would need more support Carol that Gifted would never be a top inter- than she’d ever received. It was in the fall of national horse. Carol continued to toil away, 2015 that Laura submitted an application to living in her horse trailer at shows to save TDF for the $25,000 Carol Lavell Advanced money and working relentlessly to bring out Dressage Prize. Carol, her family, and friends the best in Gifted. had established the Prize in 2009 because Carol and Gifted ended up earning many Carol knew first-hand how difficult it was accolades at top national and international to finance international competition. She competitions, but their crowning achieve- decided that the ideal Prize candidate would ment was their performance at the 1992 be a talented, committed, qualified rider with Barcelona Olympic Games. At that time, USA a plan to reach and excel at the elite, interna- had been in a 16-year dry spell with no Team tional standards of high performance dres- finishes in the top three. Solid performances sage. In 2016, that person was Laura Graves. by Carol and Gifted in Barcelona, along with Laura Graves and Verdades The $25,000 Prize enabled Laura to Photo credit: Shannon Brinkman a team-high 6th place individual finish, put focus on training Diddy with coach Debbie (continued on page 4) THE DRESSAGE FOUNDATION NEWS | 2016 EDITION In This Issue The Dressage Foundation News The Tale of Two Olympians................................. 1, 4 is published by Message From TDF President & CEO, Beth Baumert ................ 3 The Dressage Foundation 1314 ‘O’ Street, Suite 305 Florida Dream Tour......................................... 4 Lincoln, NE 68508 Young Rider International Dream Program ....................... 5 Telephone: 402/434-8585 Grant Recipient Stories and Training Tips .......................6-9 Fax: 402/436-3053 Email: New Fund Spotlight ...................................... 10 [email protected] Catching Up with Carey – A Century Club Story ................. 11 Website: Two-Tempi Challenge Update................................ 12 www.DressageFoundation.org 2017 Dressage World Cup .................................. 12 Find us on Facebook Creative Ways to Help ..................................... 13 Leave a Lasting Legacy Through Your Will ...................... 14 Planned Giving........................................... 15 The publication is sent free TDF’s Book of Memory..................................... 16 of charge to Foundation Donor List ............................................17-19 donors and friends. It is also posted on The Dressage TDF – Funding for the Future ................................ 20 Foundation’s website, www.DressageFoundation.org, and is available to read or print as an Adobe® PDF file. THE DRESSAGE FOUNDATION 2016 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Maryal Barnett (MI), Chairman Michael Poulin (FL), Vice Chairman Judith Noone (MA), Treasurer Eliza Sydnor Romm (NC), Secretary Beth Baumert (CT), President & CEO The Dressage Foundation is a Barbara Cadwell (FL) Lendon Gray (NY) non-profit tax-exempt corporation Joseph Carr (KY) Hilda Gurney (CA) [IRS Code Sec. 501(c)(3)]. Catherine Chamberlain (CA) Carol Lavell (FL) All donations are tax-deductible Nicole DelGiorno (VA) Karin Reid Offield (MI) to the extent allowed by law. Ralph Dreitzler III (WA) John F. Boomer (NE), Emeritus Sarah Geikie (CT) General Jonathan Burton (AZ), Emeritus Staff Jenny Johnson, Executive Director © Copyright 2016 Jane Fucinaro, Administrative Assistant 2 THE DRESSAGE FOUNDATION NEWS | 2016 EDITION Message From TDF President & CEO, Beth Baumert Dear Friends of TDF, yet competitive with the comparable This is your newsletter because it European Championships for Juniors tells the stories of how you have helped and Young Riders. We clearly need TDF become the inspiring and important to press on with the efficiency of our organization that it is. We’re all on training across this huge country, and this journey with the goal of improving that requires funds that are currently dressage across the board, helping insufficient. not only high performance riders but While the size of our country is often also judges, instructors, breeders and seen as a stumbling block to progress, I anyone who can help raise the bar predict that it will soon be our strength. for dressage in the U.S.. Creating that As we see young stars emerge from the depth of dressage expertise is what I grassroots of disadvantaged dressage call the rising tide of dressage in this locations, it’s easy to see how our size country. This tide isn’t caused by the will become our strength--hopefully moon. Rather, this tide can rise faster soon. When the TDF Board of Directors than the regularity of the ocean’s surge. meets in October, we’ll brainstorm The tide of dressage in this country is about how to help the pipeline work Beth Baumert, TDF President & CEO rising faster because of the generosity even better. of donors. You’ll see, in these pages, that But the way isn’t always easy. For generosity doesn’t always come in the example, the USEF pipeline program form of wealth. Dressage fans also that ushers, trains and encourages contribute their wisdom and their work. talented horses and riders through the Wealth, Wisdom and Work make TDF system from young horses and young tick, and you’ll see throughout this riders to the Grand Prix is definitely newsletter that dressage lovers are inspiring and feels like the right way to finding all sorts of creative ways to give go, but we have yet to see great results. to TDF. Many thanks to each of you for I refer, primarily, to the NAJYRC where being a part of the rising tide! we see talented horses and riders, but Cheers, they (and their scores) are not Beth Baumert 3 THE DRESSAGE FOUNDATION NEWS | 2016 EDITION Florida Dreaming A Tale of Two Florida Dream Tour Participants Spend a Olympians Day with Top International Riders Accomplishments, ellington is known to draw • Havensafe Farm, owned by Betsy Struggles, and a $25,000 Wtop international riders dur- Juliano, with Laura Graves, Prize Unite Carol Lavell ing the winter, and it also drew a Adrienne Lyle, Kathy Connelly, and Laura Graves crowd of dressage enthusiasts for Olivia LaGoy-Weltz, Jennifer (continued) TDF’s 2016 Florida Dream Tour. The Baumert, and Molly Paris Tour, to benefit TDF and its Young • Stillpoint Farm, owned by Tuny McDonald in the months leading up to Rider International Dream Program, Page, with David Marcus and Rio. At the time of the award, Laura told gave people of all ages the opportu- Nicholas Fyffe us, “I am beyond honored to be the re- nity to learn from exceptional train- • MTICA Farm, owned by Janne cipient of this grant, which will allow me ers. At each stop on the Tour, the Rumbough to concentrate on everything Diddy needs trainers shared their philosophies • Bell Tower Farm, owned by Mikala as we move into our first Olympic year. and used real-time examples of how and Henrik Gundersen Having constant and consistent focus on they train and develop their horses. “ Seeing these talented riders our training will make a difference. It can We appreciate the generosity of the and amazing horses, and the be tenths of a percentage that decide farm owners and the riders who systematic way they all train, medals, and I don’t plan on letting any provided our group with an incred- was truly inspiring!” points slip away. Thank you!” ible learning experience! – Diane Skvarla, Tour Participant And by now, you know the rest of the story. Many thanks to the Florida Dream Tour Sponsors: The US hadn’t stood on a podium for team dressage since 2004, when the bronze was awarded to USA in Athens. Much like Carol and Gifted in Barcelona, Laura and Diddy’s solid performances 2016 Florida Dream Tour participants with Janne Rumbough in Rio anchored the Team, who stood and Mikala Gundersen on My Lady on the podium together to receive the bronze medals, the first for USA in 12 years. Carol said that she was overjoyed with Team USA’s finish in Rio. “While watch- ing the Olympics, I empathized with Laura. Very few people know the kind of pressure of being the rider who can get the score needed for the Team to medal,” said Carol.