CANTER PA grants scholarships to OTTB riders

Karessa Dress, a scholarship winner, with Dance on the Double

Karessa Dress, a scholarship winner, with Dance on the Double

CANTER Pennsylvania has announced the winners of an educational scholarship intended to boost the skills of equestrians and their off-track Thoroughbreds.

On Jan. 7, three Pennsylvania-based Pony Club riders were each awarded $500 to be put toward lessons, clinics and camps aimed at improving their skills, says Sue Smith, executive director of CANTER PA.

Funds for the scholarships were provided by a grant from the USA Equestrian Trust, without whose support the first-time award would not have been made possible, Smith says.

“The USA Equestrian Trust was just fabulous! We’d never applied for a grant before, but we had a strong goal to offer educational scholarships to the next generation of horsemen” who are riding ex-racehorse Thoroughbreds, Smith adds.

Although it was difficult to choose from a stellar list of Pony Club members and applicants, who all ride registered Thoroughbreds, three $500 winners and five runners-up, who each received $75, were finally selected.

Winners of the $500 scholarships are:

  • Karissa Dreese and her 2004 gelding Dance on the Double. Dance had seven starts, and earned $7,640.
  • Colleen Mauro and her unraced 2004 OTTB Kingsdreamofdreams.
  • Hannah Simmons and her 2000 bay gelding Cubanero, who had 29 starts, and earned $56,065.

    SueSmith

    Sue Smith, executive director of CANTER PA

Winners of the $75 scholarships are:

  • Cayla Hammaker and her 2007 bay gelding Copper Socks Jr. Cooper Socks had three starts and $300 in earnings.
  • Jill Johnson and her 2004 gray gelding Kaz Silver. He was unraced.
  • Victoria Kager and her 2006 gelding Elwood Blaze. Elwood Blaze had one start, and $0 earnings.
  • Hailey Rudicille and her 2008 gray gelding Long Island Duck. He was unraced.
  • Courtney Sarson and her 2005 bay gelding Editor’s Column. Editor’s Column had 49 starts and earned $106,260.

CANTER PA was “overwhelmed” by the quality of the applications.

One response to “CANTER PA grants scholarships to OTTB riders”

  1. Louise Ferro Martin

    Wonderful story! Still trying to catch up on your great posts…..So glad you are doing so well helping the horses! Congratulations, Susan!! 🙂

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