Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian has awarded grants totaling $54,000 to 84 licensed official applicants as part of a grant program that further supports the development of both new licensed officials and higher-level officials.

Each of the 84 grant recipients are active USEF competing members and are either a current licensed official or have started a licensed official application.

“It's exciting to see so many dedicated individuals taking steps toward advancing their officiating careers. This grant program not only helps ease financial challenges but also fosters growth and excellence within our community of licensed officials,” said Alina Brazzil, US Equestrian Director of Licensed Officials.

The grant program, which was launched in 2022, aims to reduce financial barriers for USEF or U.S. Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) officials across all USEF-recognized breeds and disciplines. The grants offset the travel costs related to attending licensed official clinics and completing apprenticeships, which are requirements for a new license application or license promotion, and now may assist with international travel for FEI officials.

Individuals applied for grants in one of three categories: general, U35 (under 35 years of age), and officiating abroad. The general grants were evaluated and awarded based on the competition environment need for more officials overall and higher-level officials. The U35 grants are offered to encourage the development of a new generation of licensed officials. This year included the new grant category — officiating abroad — which was designed to support FEI officials to officiate abroad at a competition they would normally not be able to attend.

“Thirteen of our grant recipients applied for the officiating abroad category, so we are thrilled to support these FEI officials receiving valuable education and experience at FEI competitions outside of the U.S.,” Brazzil added. “As we look forward to LA28, talent identification and expanding international experience are key components of strengthening of our officiating pool in the U.S.”

Are you interested in becoming a licensed official? Review the Become Licensed webpage (usef.org/compete/resources-forms/licensed-officials/become-licensed) for information about the process as well as other grant opportunities offered by the FEI and USEF-recognized affiliates and their foundations.