Oct. 22, 2025
Hannah Bressler Jaques with Jim and Geñay Vaughn with Gino are receiving the $25,000 Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize for coaching and training of proven horse and rider combinations with the ability to excel at elite, international dressage.
Hannah, based in Wellington, Florida intends to apply the grant to work the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Jim with Olympian Allison Brock and Antonio Jose Diaz Porras, according to The Dressage Foundation that announced the awards.
Receiving the Carol Lavell Prize “is an incredible honor and a pivotal opportunity for Jim and me. I love this horse so much and have brought him along from a challenging youngster to a true partner and competitor. I’m excited for the guidance to help us reach the highest level while keeping Jim happy and staying true to his playful nature.
“I’m deeply grateful for The Dressage Foundation’s belief in our potential and for the recognition of Jim’s exceptional talent as an international caliber horse. This grant makes it possible for us to deepen our partnership and continue developing toward the elite level.”
Geñay of Elk Grove, California rode her mother’s Gino in the World Cup Final in Basel, Switzerland in April and is ranked seventh for the $250,000 U.S. Open that will have its finale in Thermal, California in mid-November.
She plans to use the grant to work with Kathleen Raine in California and Wolfram Wittig in Germany aiming for the 2026 World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas in April and the U.S. team for the World Championships in Aachen, Germany next August.
Genay said, “I would like to extend my deepest thanks to The Dressage Foundation for your generous support and unwavering belief in riders across the United States. Your commitment to advancing the sport of dressage and empowering athletes plays a vital role in our development and success.
“The opportunities made possible through your grants and funding are truly transformative. Your support helps bridge the gap between ambition and achievement, allowing us to take critical steps forward in our careers that might not otherwise be possible.”
The Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize Fund has awarded 26 grants totaling $650,000 in support of U.S. high-performance teams since its founding in 2009.
