ODS Youth Scholarship

The Ohio Dressage Society has established a Youth Scholarship Fund to encourage the serious pursuit of the art of dressage. The purpose of the fund is to help young equestrians to pursue a career devoted to dressage.

Any Junior Rider or Young Rider in Ohio who is a member of ODS may apply to the Ohio Dressage Society for monetary assistance to further their knowledge of and skills in dressage. The funds may be used for a national or international sponsored opportunity, a horse related course at an approved university or college, or a USDF or USEF clinic, symposium, or NAYR Qualifier.

Up to $1,000 a year may be awarded, depending on the availability of funds. It may be given entirely to one person or divided among those youth applying, if all are deemed worthy of receiving monetary assistance. The Scholarship does not have to be awarded if none of the applicants or their intended uses are considered appropriate.

Any Junior Rider or Young Rider must apply for the ODS Youth Scholarship by January 15^th of the year it is to be awarded. The application/letter should be sent to the ODS Youth Scholarship Committee and should contain the following information:

A statement explaining why the youth feels they should be chosen;

A brief resume of the youth’s equestrian related experiences,

including two references;

The intended use of the scholarship if awarded;

A budget showing how the money will be spent; and

How the awarding of the scholarship to the recipient will benefit the

Ohio Dressage Society.

The Scholarship Recipient will give a report to the Ohio Dressage Society during the ODS Awards Banquet the year following the Scholarship’s awarding. The report should explain the use/benefits they have received due to the Scholarship and give a brief accounting of expenditures.

The Scholarship will be awarded by the ODS Scholarship Committee consisting of the Vice-President (Committee Chair), the Youth Chairman and one other member of the society in good standing. The Scholarship Committee will meet and review any and all application letters and interview the candidates if necessary. The decision of the Committee will be final and will be announced at the ODS Awards Banquet or no later than the last day of February.