Lilley Farm Welcomes Back Dressage4Kids' Summer Intensive Training Program

There's a particular kind of quiet that settles over the barn at 6:30am, right before a group of young riders shows up ready to muck stalls before they've even had breakfast. For the third year running, that quiet belongs to Lilley Farm, as we're honored to once again host the Dressage4Kids Summer Intensive Training Program, an 8-10 week deep dive into what it actually takes to become a serious dressage rider and horseman.

Who is Lendon Gray?

Lendon is a two-time Olympian (1980, 1988) best known for training Seldom Seen, a 14.2-hand pony nicknamed "Brillo," all the way to Grand Prix, proving that heart and training mattered more than size or price tag. Both Lendon and Brillo are now in the USDF Hall of Fame, and in 2024, U.S. Equestrian added its Lifetime Achievement Award to her long list of honors. But ask anyone in dressage what she's really known for, and the conversation turns toward what she's built for the next generation.

What is Dressage4Kids?

In 1999, Lendon founded Dressage4Kids (D4K) on a simple belief: dressage shouldn't just be for riders who can afford the fanciest horses. D4K has grown into a full ecosystem for young riders, including the Youth Dressage Festival, traveling TEAM clinics, a Horse Donation Program, and scholarships for everyone from a backyard-pony kid to a young rider hoping to compete in Europe.

Fun fact: D4K's Winter Intensive Training Program, sister to the one we're hosting this summer, was co-created by Lendon and Kim Van Kampen back in the Hampton Green Farm days. This partnership feels less like a rental agreement and more like a homecoming.

What actually happens

This isn't a casual riding camp. It's for young riders, from Training Level to Grand Prix, serious about improving every part of their horsemanship. Days start early with barn chores, since every rider fully cares for their own horse, then fill with lessons, theory lectures, fitness work, and hands-on horse management. It's the whole picture, not just time in the saddle.

Why we're proud to host it again

This is a highly selective program, and the fact that Lendon and D4K keep choosing our farm, formerly Hampton Green Farm and now Lilley Farm, says something about what we've built here in Fruitport. For 8-10 weeks this summer, our barn aisles will be full of young riders building a real foundation as horsemen and horsewomen, guided by one of the most respected teachers in the sport.

We'll be sharing updates throughout, so keep an eye out for early mornings, hard-earned lessons, and the growth that only happens when you show up for a horse every single day.