Canada’s dressage talent is highly competitive, and the country’s top dressage riders are known for their international successes. Canadian high-level dressage athletes put 100 percent of their efforts into improving their skills and scores and developing winning relationships with their horses.
The riders themselves aren’t the only ones who are so dedicated to Canadian dressage that they give their all to make it successful- the Canadian Dressage Athlete Assistance Program (C-DAAP) also gives 100 percent of its net proceeds from all fundraising events to riders.
The organization is completely dedicated to raising funds to help Canada’s dressage athletes offset the costs of training and competing. In just the past two years, over $130,000 was awarded to riders with another $80,000 planned to be given this summer. With the help of C-DAAP, Canadian dressage is quickly taking a stand as a formidable global competitor as all four of its 2015 Pan American Games Dressage Team members have received support from C-DAAP in the past.
The Canadian Dressage Athlete Assistance Program Advisory Council was recently formed to assist in setting criteria for recipients and dispersing the funds. The Council includes highly respected members of the dressage community, such as Nancy MacLachlan, David Marcus, Nancy Olson, Chris von Martels, and Victoria Winter, with Deborah Kinzinger Miculinic serving as the chair of the committee. Miculinic is the owner of two of the Grand Prix horses that David Marcus rides, including Chrevi’s Capital, Marcus’ mount at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
“My vision of developing C-DAAP into a national program and providing hardworking Canadian dressage riders with the financial support that they need to make it to the top of their sport is finally coming together,” Miculinic said. “With the support of our generous donors like Omega Alpha Pharmaceuticals and countless volunteers, we know we are making a difference.”
Omega Alpha’s sponsorship of C-DAAP has included donating over $15,000 to the cause in recent times.
The Canadian Dressage Athlete Assistance Program relies on the support of individuals and corporate sponsors to make this important source of funding possible.
“C-DAAP depends on the generous support of organizations like Omega Alpha Pharmaceuticals for financial support, as well as product donation to our fundraisers,” Miculinic explained. “Without these generous sponsors, we would not be able to support the riders to the extent that we do.”
The funding criteria for 2015/2016 has been established with guidelines available at www.cdaap.ca. The deadline for applications is July 31, 2015 and recipients will be announced on August 17, 2015. Grand Prix riders declaring to ride for Canada at the 2016 Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, are invited to apply if they meet all criteria. The applicant must be a Canadian rider who has competed at the Grand Prix level of CDI 3* and above within the last two years.
For more information about C-DAAP, visit www.cdaap.ca and view C-DAAP’s Facebook page.
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