Children's Dressage Group Founder Joining Dressage At Devon​

DEVON, PA — The founder of a children's dressage group is joining Dressage at Devon.

Lendon Gray, winning dressage rider and founder of Dressage4Kids, is joining the 2019 Dressage Explorers program taking place Sunday, Sept. 29 at Dressage at Devon.

"We are thrilled to welcome Lendon Gray, winning dressage rider and founder of Dressage4Kids, (www.dressage4kids.com), to the 2019 Dressage Explorers program taking place Sunday, September 29, 2019 at Dressage at Devon," announced Sally Hibbert, chair of the Dressage Explorers program. "We started this program in 2015 and each year it has grown dramatically. Lendon will add so much to this year’s program, bringing not only her equestrian experience but her commitment to the future of the sport."

Gray rode her first horse with her mother before she could walk. She grew up riding western, hunt seat, bareback, playing gymkhana games, driving and generally enjoying horses.

Pony Club played the central role in her life from age 7, competing successfully to the National level, winning Champion and Reserve at both US and Canadian Pony Club Rallies.

Her diversified equestrian career continued and it was when Gray started to specialize in Dressage at age 27 that Seldom Seen, the first of her famous Dressage "ponies," came into her life.

At just 14.2 ½ hands Seldom Seen was a national champion at 3rd and 4th level, Prix St. Georges, Intermediare I and II, and Grand Prix.

Although Gray rode warmbloods on two Olympic teams (1980, 1988), the World Championships, and the World Cup, her ponies held a special place in her heart.

They proved to the world that bigger isn’t necessarily better.

From her early years competing in Pony Club to her famous work with Seldom Seen and other ponies, Gray developed a reputation for "taking unremarkable horses and making them good."

This belief in created talent and the power of dedication has inspired many of Gray's activities over the years. Determined to give others the opportunity to learn and improve, including children, she has been extremely involved with organizations such as USET, USEF, USDF, US Pony Club.

Founded by Gray, Dressage4Kids (D4K) is a 501c3 organization, offering scholarships and programs for every sort of dressage rider. Some prizes are geared towards riders travelling to Europe, others towards the small child with a backyard pony just wanting to be able to afford lessons.

They all speak to Gray dedication to "leveling the playing field" of dressage.

Gray will provide expert analysis from the stands for dressage students and pros on Sunday afternoon, following the Dressage Explorers program which includes the popular Make n’ Take Stick horse competition in the Dixon Oval.

The 2019 Dressage at Devon will take place Sept. 24 through Sept. 29 at the Devon Horse Show Grounds in Devon.

For reserved seating, visit the Dressage at Devon website here.