$25,000 Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize Awarded to Sabine Schut-Kery

Dressage

U.S.A.

Sabine Schut-Kery (CA) became the recipient of the $25,000 Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize for 2024.

The Prize provides financial assistance for coaching and training to talented, committed, proven horse and rider combinations with the ability and plans to reach and excel at the elite, international standards of high-performance dressage.

Since 2009, the Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize Fund has awarded 25 grants totalling $625,000 in support of U.S. high-performance teams.

Sabine and Jersey

Sabine plans to use the Prize to train Sonnenberg’s Jersey, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by Gina and Dan Ruediger (OR) and bred by M.A. Van de Goor (NED). At the 2024 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions, Sabine and “Jersey” were Intermediate 1 Champions.

Sabine will use the Prize for intensive training with her longtime coach and mentor, Christine Traurig. She will also take video lessons with her German-based trainer, Jan Nivelle, and participate in clinics with Lilo Fore.

“I am beyond excited and grateful," said Schut-Kery, who also got the prize in 2017 for training Sanceo. "This generous Prize from The Dressage Foundation will give me more concentrated training to help me develop Jersey toward Grand Prix. Without this grant, our education would be limited, and we could not receive the training needed to reach the highest levels of the sport. I am extremely excited about Jersey's potential and our future together."

Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize Fund

The Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize Fund was established in 2009 in special remembrance of Carol's mother, May Cadwgan, and in honor of her father, Gordon Cadwgan.

Carol Lavell achieved excellence in all phases of dressage – as an Olympian, rider, competitor, trainer, teacher, and judge. She knew firsthand the work, sacrifice, and struggle necessary to make it to the top of the dressage world.

Through the creation of the annual $25,000 Prize, she wanted to help other deserving riders who aspire to climb this high-performance mountain.