New Foundation Formed To Aid Olympic Dressage
Competitors
Marietta, GA- The Applewood Foundation for
Excellence in Dressage was recently formed in Marietta, Georgia, to support
Olympic level dressage riders in a quest to develop top horse and rider
combinations for the USA Olympic Dressage team.
The inspiration to develop the tax-exempt charitable (501(c)3) foundation was
Olympian, Michelle Gibson. Gibson, a US bronze medallist in the 1996 Olympics,
has trained at Applewood Farm in Georgia since she returned form Europe in
1992. "We have seen how difficult is was in 1996 for Michelle to raise the
necessary monies to achieve success. We were discouraged by the limited avenues
for financial support of such an expensive sport." says Brad Thatcher,
owner of Applewood Farm and Foundation trustee.
For many would-be Dressage Olympians, the down side of the sport is the
incredible expense. It is estimated to cost between $750,000 and one million
dollars to get one horse and rider team to the Olympics. To that end, almost
100% of proceeds from the Applewood Foundation go to the competitors for
training, equipment, travel and equine needs.
Despite the increase interest and participation in the sport of Dressage, there
are only a handful of horse and rider combinations that can successfully
compete at the Olympic level. Michelle Gibson is one of the contenders who hope
to benefit from the Applewood Foundation in her quest to compete in the 2004
Olympics in Athens. Gibson still holds the all time high score for a US rider
in an Olympic Dressage qualifier. "Bronze isn't good enough," says a
resolute Gibson. "America deserves a gold medal in the 2004 summer
equestrian Olympics and I am determined to get it for us".
The Applewood Foundation may be one of the ways to over come the financial
challenges that Olympians like Gibson face in their quest for the gold.
"With the legal battle heating up between the American Horse Shows
Association and the United States Equestrian Team over which should be the
sport's governing body, we want to make sure that rider's needs are not
overlooked", said David Gower an Atlanta Neurosurgeon and Foundation
trustee. "The sole function of the Applewood Foundation is to provide a
legitimate pathway for tax exempt money to help the Olympic level
competitor."
Persons interested in making a contribution to the Applewood Foundation for
Excellence in Dressage or to be considered as a potential recipient of
Foundation monies can visit their web site at
www.applewoodfoundation.org for complete details.
Applewood Foundation
For excellence in Dressage
www.applewoodfoundation.org
789 Oak Trail Drive
Marietta, GA 30062
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