Dressage Foundation Awards Grants to Cooper and Peer

The Dressage Foundation has awarded two riders $30,000 grants to support the training of American-bred horses.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Equestrian

The Dressage Foundation has awarded Hope Cooper and Mackenzie Peer $30,000 grants to support training American-bred horses for international equestrian competition. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Hope Cooper and Mackenzie Peer have each received a $30,000 Dr. Anne L. Barlow-Ramsay grant. The funds are designated to support the development of American-bred dressage horses competing on the international stage.

Why it matters

These grants aim to improve the competitiveness of American-bred horses by providing financial support for high-level training in the United States and Europe. The foundation recently increased the annual funding amount to enhance the resources available to riders.

The Dressage Foundation increased the grant amount to $30,000 per recipient, up from the previous $25,000 level. Hope Cooper received the award for her 7-year-old mount O Romeo S, while Mackenzie Peer was selected for her 6-year-old horse Sonnenberg's Primrosa.

The players

The Dressage Foundation

This non-profit organization provides financial support and grants to advance the sport of dressage in the United States.

Hope Cooper

An accomplished dressage rider who plans to use her grant funding to train with Christoph Koschel.

Mackenzie Peer

A dressage rider who intends to work with Sabine Schut-Kery as part of her training program.

Christoph Koschel

A professional dressage trainer who works with riders in both Florida and Europe.

Sabine Schut-Kery

An elite dressage competitor and trainer who assists athletes in developing their horses.

The details

Recipients will utilize the funds to train with top coaches, including Christoph Koschel in Florida and Europe and Sabine Schut-Kery in Florida. The grant program was originally established in 2008 to foster success for U.S.-bred horses at the highest levels of competition.

The Dr. Anne L. Barlow-Ramsay Grant Fund was established in 2008.
Hope Cooper and O Romeo S competed at championships during the 2025 season.
Grant funding per recipient increased to $30,000 in 2026.
The annual deadline for grant applications is August 15.

Season Trajectory

This injection of capital supports the long-term development of elite American-bred horses, aiming to elevate their standing in the international Grand Prix circuit. By securing high-level coaching, these riders aim to improve their results, following Cooper's 12th place finish in 2025.

These grants provide the necessary financial resources for riders to secure premium coaching and training time, which is essential for success in future Grand Prix events. Supporters can monitor the progress of O Romeo S and Sonnenberg's Primrosa as they transition into higher levels of competition.

The takeaway

These grants underscore the importance of targeted financial support for the development of national talent in specialized sports. Readers interested in competitive equestrianism should note how access to elite coaching facilities directly correlates with international success.