The U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation has announced that Kurt Martin is the recipient of the 2015 Amanda Warrington Grant. The Amanda Pirie Warrington Grant is awarded through the USET Foundation Amanda Pirie Warrington Fund. Earlier this year, Martin, of Middleburg, Va., and his talented mount Anna Bella took home the winning honors at the Fair Hill International CIC*** (Md).

The Amanda Pirie Warrington Fund was established by Amanda’s family in her memory with the purpose of helping provide financial assistance to an event rider who has been identified as a rider with great talent and ability to represent the United States in the future.

The recipient is a person that will benefit from the opportunity of continuing their training with top coaches and competing against the world’s best horse and rider combinations in eventing.

“I am really excited to receive this grant because it’s going to give me an opportunity to get my horses going better and me riding better, so that we can hopefully start off the season really well,” said Martin. “I am really thankful for the support, especially because I haven’t had much support in the past. Hopefully this will help me become more prepared for the next level of competition. “

As the recipient of the grant, Martin will receive up to $5,000 to help offset expenses associated with his training over the next year.

“This grant is very important for someone that is in the position that I am in,” said Martin. “I own my own horse that I campaign. To be able to focus on the best results and prepare for each competition is really helpful. I don’t know any other way to do that right now, so it’s a great opportunity to advance. Otherwise I wouldn’t have it, so it means a lot.”

Martin has worked hard building a partnership with the 8-year-old Holsteiner mare Anna Bella. After winning the Fair Hill International CIC*** in the spring, the pair also placed sixth in the Jersey Fresh CCI*** and Richland Park Horse Trials (N.Y.), as well as completed the Fair Hill International CCI***.

“I feel like this year, Anna Bella has settled in, and she trusts me,” said Martin. “There are three phases, and she can really change and do all three phases this year. I keep a consistent technique through all three phases, and I think she trusts me more because of that. She is wonderful.”

U.S. Eventing Chef d’Equipe David O’Conner has worked closely with Martin and recognizes his talent in the saddle.

“Kurt is certainly a star for the future, a very good rider,” he said. “He does this totally on his own, so this grant is going to make a difference in his life. There is no question that we always need to be looking at what is next, and that investment into the future is very important. I am a big believer in that. This type of recognition is great for somebody that needs to take the next step in their career.”