The purpose of the MDA Scholarships are to promote Morgans in dressage in both open and breed competitions and to assist our MDA members in advancing with their Morgans in the sport of dressage. Scholarships are funded through the generous donations by stallion owners to the annual MDA Stallion Service Sale. Read More about the sale.
How to apply for the 2008 MDA Scholarships:
You must be a member of the Morgan Dressage Association to be eligible to receive a scholarship. If you are not already a member, download a copy of the membership application and send it to the address indicated on the form with your payment. Membership applications must be postmarked by the scholarship application deadline for you to be eligible for a scholarship.
Each year, the association intends to award up to eight scholarships in the amount of $500 to $750 each in three categories to MDA members: Training/First Level; Second/Third Level; Fourth Level and Above, with the larger amount considered for riders and Morgans competing a the FEI level. Scholarships will be awarded across the categories, distributed based on qualified applicants. A minimum of three of the scholarships will be set aside for amateur riders; a minimum of two will be set aside for junior/young riders. Based on application quality, the award amount and number of scholarships awarded may be adjusted.
Scholarships must be used to further the training and education of the applicant and their Morgan(s). Eligible expenses include instruction; clinics, mounted or un-mounted and the expenses to attend those clinics or instruction; educational materials such as training books and videos and other educational opportunities such as symposiums. The purchase of tack, computer software and competition expenses are NOT eligible. If you have questions on whether an expense is allowable, please ask before submitting your application.
The applicant must attest that he/she will continue to pursue dressage training on a Morgan for the duration of the scholarship (1 year). Winning applicants will receive their scholarship within 30 days of notification of the award. Within the scholarship year, they must provide MDA with a detailed listing of how the funds were spent. Winners who fail to provide this listing will not be eligible for future scholarships.
Scholarship winners will not be eligible to receive a repeat scholarship two years in a row. Winners will be eligible to apply in subsequent years only if they have moved up at least one level, unless they are already competing at the FEI levels.
Applications must be POSTMARKED by Oct. 1, 2007 and should
include the following pieces assembled in the following order:
• Application Cover Sheet.
• Answers to five questions (up to three pages, MUST
BE TYPED, DOUBLE SPACED, MINIMUM 12 POINT TYPE) answering the questions
below. Applications that do not follow this format will be returned and will
not be reviewed. Please answer the questions one at a time in order and number
each response so reviewers can match your response to the question. You will
be given points based on the response to EACH question separately, so make sure
you don't skip a question.
• Up to one page of photo(s) {Optional}
One original and Five Copies must be POSTMARKED by Oct. 1, 2007. Faxed or e-mailed copies will NOT be accepted.
Applications should be sent to:
Morgan Dressage Association
Scholarship Application
c/o Tonya Farina
2101 Cedar Grove Road
Winchester, VA 22603
Applications will be scored by a team of five reviewers and applicants will be notified of the results.
Questions? E-mail mattonmorgans@gmail.com or call 540-665-8244.
Answer the following five questions. The answers must be typed AND MAY NOT EXCEED THREE PAGES TOTAL, DOUBLE-SPACED WITH A TYPE SIZE OF 12 POINTS OR LARGER. APPLICATIONS THAT DO NOT FOLLOW THIS FORMAT WILL BE RETURNED AND NOT REVIEWED. The maximum point value for each section is listed in parenthesis. Please answer the questions in order, number your response and make sure you're answering each question in a clear and straightforward manner that allows you to stay within the three page limit.
1. Describe your involvement with Morgans. Give a short background of your history with Morgans that demonstrates your commitment to the breed. Please include the number of years you have owned a Morgan and the number of years you have been involved with the Morgan breed. You might want to include any promotional or volunteer activities. (Total possible score, 7 points.)
2. Discuss your background in the sport of dressage. Include such items as how long you have been riding dressage; the level you are currently riding your Morgan(s); the training principles you follow; the frequency you receive regular lessons; the qualifications of the instructor(s) and any other information that helps to clarify your background and commitment to the discipline. Please include any non-ridden involvement like show management or volunteer activities that involve dressage. (Total possible score, 7 points.)
3. List your competitive dressage accomplishments on a Morgan(s). Please include a comprehensive list of your competition record. Also include any national or regional year-end awards, such as United States Dressage Federation Horse of the Year, Junior/Young Rider or All-Breeds Awards; American Morgan Horse Association Open Competition; United States Equestrian Federation (formerly AHSA/USAE) regional and national awards, Morgan Dressage Association Awards of Excellence, Morgan or dressage club awards, any individual competition level championships, United States Pony Club dressage achievements, including scores from qualifying rallies, etc. Include the Morgan's name, award, level and year won; for individual competitions include the name of the competition, the level, and note whether it was open or from a Morgan breed show. Also please indicate if the competition is an USDF/USEF recognized or schooling show. List the highest level(s) you have competed your CURRENT Morgan(s) and the highest score you have earned at that level, including the name of the competition, year and test number. (Total possible score, 10 points.)
4. What challenges do you face in riding dressage seriously? What are your personal challenges and goals involving dressage? How might a MDA Scholarship help overcome these challenges and achieve your goals? (Total possible score, 6 points)
5. How will you use the Morgan Dressage Association Scholarship? You MUST provide a detailed description of all intended expenditures. If you plan to use the scholarship to ride with a clinician/instructor, name the instructor/clinician and his or her qualifications and the number of lessons/clinics and their projected cost. (Total possible score, 6 points.) Please note: Scholarships may only be used to further the training and education of the applicant and their Morgan(s) in dressage. The purchase of items such as tack, computer software and competition expenses are NOT eligible. Applicants who list a non-allowable expense in their application will receive zero points for this question.
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