Applications Open for the Alvin Topping Governance Grant

New Grant Will Assist Young Member in Attending an Annual Meeting

Lexington, Ky.—September 9, 2019—The USHJA Foundation is pleased to announce that applications are open for the inaugural Alvin Topping Governance Grant, which will be awarded to one USHJA member 25 years old or younger to assist them with attending the USHJA or US Equestrian Annual Meeting. 

The $500 grant was established by an anonymous donor to honor Topping’s work in equestrian sport governance, including his commitment to the establishment and success of USHJA. 

“Alvin Topping is a consummate horseman and was a driving force in the successful creation of the USHJA. His passion for fairness and deep respect for horses and fellow equestrians are the principles that have guided his lifetime involvement in sport governance,” the anonymous donor said. “Alvin recognized and embraced the duty to give back to our sport and he accomplished this through his volunteer service to both USEF and USHJA. It is our hope that this grant will assist interested equestrians who share Alvin’s principles in their efforts to be involved in the governance of our sport.”

Topping was a USHJA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, the USEF Pegasus Medal of Honor recipient and was named the first USHJA Director Emeritus. He has also trained many riders, horses and ponies in the jumper and hunter disciplines who have achieved national, zone and state recognition competing successfully at some of the sport’s most prestigious horse shows. 

Upon hearing about this new grant, additional donors wanted to contribute to honor Topping: Mark Baus, Craig Berkoski, Barbara Borg, Janice “Lolly” Clarke, Douglas Feinberg, Jill Franco, Rebecca Gaynor, Sandra Jungck, LI Professional Horseman’s Association, Laura Newcomb, Yvetta Rechler-Newman, Samantha Rudin, The Keller Family Foundation, Kate Whalen, Peri Wolfman and an additional anonymous donor.

Eligibility requirements for the grant are: being an active USHJA member age 25 or younger, a US citizen or legal resident, and demonstrating financial need. The grant may only be received by an individual once. 

The USHJA Annual Meeting, presented by World Equestrian Center, will be December 8-12 at Denver Hilton City Center in Denver, Colorado. The USEF Annual Meeting will be January 8-11 at the Hilton West Palm Beach in West Palm Beach, Florida. 

The deadline to apply for the grant is October 15. The decision for the grant will be made by November 1, and applicants will be notified of the decision via email. 

To apply for the grant, visit the ushja.org/foundation/grants or click here.