Drive. Determination. Dreams.
Support Our BC High Performance Dressage Athletes
Our talented dressage athletes have the drive, determination, and dreams to represent British Columbia and Canada on the world stage. Your donation will shape the future of our sport and support our athletes on their path to the podium. In collaboration with the BC Amateur Sport Fund and Sport BC, we are proud to present the Dressage BC High Performance Program Fund.
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The High Performance Program Fund directly supports eligible BC athlete/horse combinations to advance their ultimate goal of representing our province and nation at international competitions like the World Championships, the Pan American Games, and the Olympic Games. Your donation to the Fund and our program will elevate our BC dressage athletes to new levels and will help our riders and their horses dance on the world stage.
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The BC Amateur Sport Fund is a philanthropic gift-giving program, previously known as the National Sport Trust Fund, that was established through the Canadian Council of Provincial and Territorial Sport Federations (CCPTSF) for the development of sport on a national level. All donations over CAD$20.00 will receive an official tax receipt from the BCASF, which is a qualified donee as the BC chapter of the CCPTSF.
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Dressage BC gives special thanks to the BC Amateur Sport Fund. Without the support of the Fund, this Dressage BC High Performance Program Fund would not be possible.
Photo by Cara Grimshaw
​PROGRAM OVERVIEW
PROGRAM PURPOSE
BC dressage athletes and their horses possess the talent, ambition, and grit needed to succeed on the world stage, but they face numerous barriers, and the most difficult barrier is financial.
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The Dressage BC High Performance Program Fund provides direct financial support to eligible BC athlete/horse combinations toward the advancement of their ultimate goal to represent British Columbia and Canada at international competitions.
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The Dressage BC High Performance Program Fund reduces financial barriers through grants based on detailed eligibility criteria to support greater representation of BC dressage athletes at international competitions.
Photo by Robyn Cowan
Program Requirements and Performance Criteria
Program Requirements
Athlete/horse eligibility for one or more of the program tiers will be determined according to meeting both (a) program requirements and (b) performance criteria.
How it works
To be eligible for a funding award through the Dressage BC High Performance Program Fund, an athlete must meet each of the following mandatory program requirements during the Performance Criteria Eligibility Period:
October 1st, 2024 to September 30th, 2025
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The Dressage BC High Performance Program Working Group will verify that each athlete who makes an application for funding meets all program requirements.
Detailed Program Requirements
Performance Criteria
The criteria outlined in this section are aligned with Equestrian Canada’s National Team Program Performance Criteria.
Eligibility Period
To be eligible for funding, athlete/horse combinations must achieve all performance scores during the period of:
October 1st, 2024 to September 30th, 2025.
Tier 1 Performance Criteria:
A Squad (National Squad), B Squad (Development Squad), and Talent ID Squad (Young Riders)
A Squad (National Squad)
Performance Objective
Eligible BC athlete/horse combinations who have a national team top 8 objective at the World Championships and the Olympic Games.
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Performance Criteria
Eligible BC athlete/horse combinations who meet the minimum eligibility requirements per Equestrian Canada’s National Team Program Performance Criteria, as set out in section 3.1:
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Three (3) panel scores of 68%, or better, from CDI3*, or higher, competitions in the Big Tour Technical tests (Grand Prix/Grand Prix Special).
Tier 2 Performance Criteria:
National/Gold Squad
Performance Objective
Eligible BC athlete/horse combinations competing at Equestrian Canada Gold level competitions in Canada, USEF Level 4 competitions in the United States of America, or the equivalent to EC’s Gold level competitions in other countries (e.g. Germany, France, Denmark, Sweden, Mexico, etc.).
Funding Opportunities for 2025-2026
Four Funding Opportunities
There are four (4) funding opportunities available for the coming year. If awarded, athletes must use all funding during the period of:
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January 1st, 2026 to December 31st, 2026
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Eligible Tier 1 (A Squad, B Squad) athlete/horse combinations who wish to compete at FEI CDI competitions in Canada, USA, Mexico, or European nations. Tier 1 B Squad U25 riders, Tier 1 Talent ID Squad, Para Dressage, and FEI Young Horse are not eligible for this funding opportunity at this time.
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Eligible Tier 2 (National/Gold Squad) athlete/horse combinations who wish to compete at FEI CDI competitions in Canada, USA, Mexico, or European nations. U25, Para Dressage, FEI Young Horse, and Young Riders are not eligible for this funding opportunity at this time.
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Eligible Tier 1 or Tier 2 athlete/horse combinations who wish to participate in the 2026 BC Technical Advisory Program.
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Eligible Tier 1 or Tier 2 athlete/horse combinations who wish to participate in the 2026 BC Technical Clinic Program.
An athlete may apply for one or more funding opportunities in their application.
Funding opportunities are subject to change. The Awards Committee will allocate funds based on assessment of the applications received. Any and all funding awarded is dependent on sufficient donations to the Dressage BC High Performance Program Fund.
Awards Committee
The Dressage BC High Performance Program Fund Awards Committee is a volunteer committee that assists the Board of Dressage BC in the exercise of its oversight responsibilities of this Program.
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The Dressage BC High Performance Program Fund Coordinator is responsible for assembling and sharing all eligible applications with the Awards Committee for their review.
Program Funding and Application Timeline
For 2025-2026, we have an ambitious but attainable fundraising target of
$50,000 or more
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At any given time, funding for this program is contingent upon receiving sufficient donations to the Dressage BC High Performance Program Fund through its collaboration with the BC Amateur Sport Fund via Sport BC. Donations received directly through this program collaboration are eligible for a charitable tax receipt.
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The Dressage BC High Performance Program Working Group will determine funding allocations based upon available funding along with an assessment of the applications received.
2025 Projected Timeline
Sep 2025
Official launch
Sep & Oct 2025
Secure donors and donations for $50k+
Nov 1st, 2025 (Tentative)
Application period opens
Nov 30th, 2025 (Tentative)
Application period closes
Use of Funds
Successful applicants/athletes will be able to use the funding awarded to them during the period of January 1st, 2026 to December 31st, 2026.
Revocation or Recission of Program Funding
The Dressage BC High Performance Working Group, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to revoke or rescind the funding of:
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An athlete/horse combination who does not maintain the performance criteria for their respective tier/squad, and/or who does not fulfill and maintain the program requirements as set out on this website.
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An athlete whose horse becomes unsuitable for any reason (including but not limited to sale, loss of form, lapse of performance criteria (scores), and prolonged lameness or injury) and is still unsuitable three (3) months from the date that reason became apparent.
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An athlete/horse combination who does not, without good reason, participate in the program stream(s) the athlete identified in his or her application.
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An athlete who is in breach of the rules of Equestrian Canada, Horse Council of British Columbia, Dressage BC, or other national/international policies and rules.
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An athlete or horse found to have a positive finding (a banned substance or a medication not covered by a therapeutic use exemption (TUE)).
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An athlete who brings Dressage BC, HCBC, Equestrian Canada, and/or equestrian sport in general into disrepute for any reason.
In the case of an athlete/horse combination who does not maintain the performance criteria and/or program requirements, the Working Group will contact the athlete to advise them of the issue(s) and give the athlete a period of time to allow the athlete to remedy the issue(s). If the athlete does not remedy the issue in the time period the Working Group provides, the athlete will no longer be eligible for program funding and the Working Group will rescind any awarded but unfulfilled funding.
Appeals
The Dressage BC High Performance Working Group, in its sole discretion, administers the High Performance Program Fund and athletes do not have the right to appeal the program requirements, performance criteria, or the Working Group’s decisions regarding or implementation of the requirements and criteria as set out on this website.
How To Apply
The application package will be available on November 1st, 2025 (TENTATIVE).
The application period is open from November 1st to November 30th, 2025 (TENTATIVE).
Donate to the Fund
Support the Dressage BC High Performance Program Fund
Dressage BC is partnering with the BC Amateur Sport Fund and Sport BC to raise funds for the Dressage BC High Performance Program Fund. When you donate to the BC Amateur Sport Fund, your donation will be directly allocated to this initiative.
The BC Amateur Sport Fund is the BC chapter of the Canadian Council of Provincial & Territorial Sport Federations, a Registered Canadian Amateur Athletics Association with charitable status.
Thank you for your support.
Ways to Donate
All donors are advised to obtain their own independent financial and/or tax advice.
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The BC Amateur Sport Fund retains 5% of the value of all donations to help pay for things such as credit card transaction fees, bank charges, and other overhead costs. Any surplus earned by the Fund in a given period may be retained or distributed to approved projects as determined by the Provincial Adjudication Committee.
The Fund accepts donations by:
Credit card: if you wish to donate by credit card, you may do so via the Fund’s online donation platform. Please remember to check the box that says “Yes” in the tax receipt statement section so that you indicate to the Fund that it is your preference that your gift is used to support our High Performance Program project.
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You’ll have the option of covering the 5% retained by the Fund – your donation is grossed-up by 5%, and you’ll actually donate 105% of the amount you initially intended and you’ll get a tax receipt for the full amount.
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Cheque: if you wish to donate by cheque, please make your cheque payable to “BC Amateur Sport Fund” and mail it to the Fund’s office, along with a completed donor declaration form. Please note the Fund cannot accept cheques made payable to Dressage BC.
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Cash: Cash donations may be accepted by the Fund Manager with prior arrangement, and must include a fully completed donor declaration form. To make a cash donation, please contact the Fund in advance (bcasf@sportbc.com). Please do not send cash via mail or courier.
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Securities in-kind: if you wish to donate publicly-traded securities (which may be more tax-advantageous to you than a donation made for the same amount via cash, cheque, or credit card), please contact the Fund (bcasf@sportbc.com) to make arrangements. ​
Charitable Tax Receipts for Donations
Your donation of $20 or more will qualify for and receive a charitable tax receipt from the BC Amateur Sport Fund. An electronic receipt will be sent to the email address you provide on your donor declaration form.
One-time donations made online will receive a charitable tax receipt within a few minutes of the transaction.
Donors that make recurring monthly gifts receive a charitable tax receipt in January for the total amount donated in the previous year.
Donations made by cash, cheque, or securities donations in-kind will receive a tax receipt once the transaction has been processed by the Fund.
Donor Recognition
All donors who check the box on our donor form that says “Please share my information with Dressage BC so they can acknowledge my gift” will have their names listed on our donor recognition page.
If you wish to make your donation anonymously, please leave this box unchecked.
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