Christian Meriwether Kennedy Memorial Fund : Christian Kennedy Memorial Fund Scholarships : Scholarships : Dressage4Kids

The Christian Meriwether Kennedy Memorial Fund was established with Dressage4Kids to support Dressage4Kids' mission to develop youth riders through training that promotes horsemastership, riding, sportsmanship, education, and fun.

Christian's legacy is one of love: love for the horse, a spirit of love and respect between trainer and rider, and love and understanding that builds a bridge between the rider, the trainer, and parents.

As a young rider, Christian was known for his patience, his kindness, his horsemanship, and his joie de vivre. Dressage4Kids, his family, and the equestrian community have chosen to remember Christian through programs and scholarships that reflect and recognize his own understanding that horsemanship means much more than simply riding. Although Christian's strengths and intellect led him into dressage, he loved jumping and eventing and even went fox hunting with his mother. Christian's riding ability and work ethic made it possible for him to work in top national programs. In early 2017, he was awarded one of four national scholarships to train with Robert Dover, Chef d'equips of the US Olympic Team. Robert has since renamed that particular scholarship in Christian's honor.

Christian, his family, Lendon Gray, and other leaders in the sport have long felt that riding should be more accessible to all kids who are willing to work hard. His legacy will include not only scholarships for gifted athletes, but also support for programs that help democratize the sport and help train, from the grassroots, American riders who are competitive internationally.

Open requests may be submitted to the committee at any time during the year and will be considered based on need and available funds. Awards are for specific educational expenses such as seminars, workshops, clinics, lessons, and training programs. Applicants must state specific objectives, a defined beginning and end, and the request must be for the specific purpose of advancing the individual’s horsemanship skills, knowledge, or experience. All applicants must be actively pursuing a specific goal, and be able to demonstrate ability commensurate with stated objectives.

All recipients are expected to give back to D4K programs in some way. Riders can volunteer their time and/or expertise to benefit or enhance Dressage4Kids programs as a whole. Examples include assisting with D4K programs, organizing a clinic or a fundraising event, judging, writing an article or a blog, and/or mentoring new D4K riders.

Scholarship recipients are required to write a report or story about their experience in the form of a letter, journal, blog, or diary. Photographs may be included. The report will be kept by the Committee, shared with local organizations if applicable, and may be used for publicity purposes to advance the overall awards program.

Christian Kennedy Unicorn Scholarship

The Christian Kennedy Unicorn Scholarship opportunity is now available. The applicant must be from Iowa and must be nominated by a trainer in Iowa. The scholarship will be awarded to help fund an educational trip to Wellington, Florida during the Winter season (January – March). Scholarship funds will be available to help cover transportation to/from Wellington, transportation while in Wellington, accommodations, and other incidentals (please note applicants will be responsible for finding their own housing and will be responsible for transportation to and from the stable and other venues). Scholarship awards may vary depending on the expenses of the applicant(s) and may not cover all expenses.

The Christian Kennedy Unicorn Scholarship Application Form is available below in two formats - one a fillable online form and the other a downloadable pdf.

For questions please contact Mary Livernois at d4k.org@gmail.com.

CK Unicorn Scholarship Application Form - PDF Version

Applicant's Full Name

First Name *

Last Name *

Date of Birth (Required)

Address (applicant must be a resident of Iowa)

Country

Address Line 1 *

Address Line 2

City *

State/Province *

Postal Code *

Applicant's Phone Number (Required)

Applicant's Email (Required)

Parent or Guardian's Email (Required)

Parent or Guardian's Phone Number (Required)

Trainer's Name (Required)

Trainer's Email (Required)

Trainer's Phone Number (Required)

Please submit a proposal letter and include the following information:

Dates of your proposed visit
Housing information (including address and contact info)
Transportation to Wellington
Transportation while in Wellington (including how you plan on getting around, contact info for anyone helping you with transportation, etc)
If you are bringing a horse, stabling info (including address and contact info)

Proposal Letter (Required)

Describe your goals and reasons for applying for this scholarship (Required)

Detail the expenses you expect to incur. Itemize as much as possible. (Required)

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Post an uninterrupted 3-6 minute video of you riding. Include video link. (Required)

If you are accepted to this program, what do you hope to gain from this experience? (Required)

Please obtain one letter of recommendation from someone in the riding/horse industry. This letter of recommendation should be sent by that person recommending to d4k.org@gmail.com.

Signature of applicant. (Required)

Signature of parent or guardian. (Required)

Photo Usage Policy

Dressage4Kids often takes photographs and videos during its events and activities. Dressage4Kids may use these photographs and videos for general publicity and programming purposes, including to raise funds. Pictures may appear on the website, on the Dressage4Kids Facebook page, in newsletters, and in other print and digital marketing materials. In addition, participants’ names may be used to recognize individual achievement in marketing materials.