History of the Philip Parkes Memorial Coaching Scholarship:

Philip Parkes was a professional dressage rider and EC licensed coach based out of Rockwood, Ontario until his unexpected death in 2023. Not only did Philip have a superb connection with horses that helped him to become an accomplished rider but, with a focus on continuing education and skill development, he became a valued and respected coach to many aspiring and established riders. Philip took great satisfaction from his role as a coach and he firmly believed that by providing good coaching, he could affect and inspire more dressage riders than by simply being a good rider himself.

Developing dressage instructors and coaches requires a significant time and financial commitment. In Canada, at the national and provincial levels there are currently several avenues to instructor and coach designations and certifications. The goal of the Philip Parkes Memorial Coaching Scholarship is to help bridge the financial gap faced by aspiring and/or established dressage coaches who are interested in advancing their coaching certifications. We hope to support individuals who have a focus on dressage so that they can further help others learn about dressage and improve their skills and their horses in the same way that Philip valued.

The Philip Parkes Memorial Coaching Scholarship offers grants to assist coaches in pursuing their Competition Coach Specialist - Dressage (CCS) Certification through the National Coaching Certificate (NCCP). The scholarship fund provides $1,000 towards CCS. Established in 2024, the Philip Parkes Memorial Coaching Scholarship aims to support present and future dressage coaches in acquiring high-quality education through the EC NCCP program. This initiative seeks to enhance the expertise and skills of dressage coaches, thereby contributing to the development and advancement of the sport.

Applications will only be accepted through this form. The following application form and all required attachments must be received by Equestrian Canada on or before December 31st to be considered for the Philip Parkes Memorial Scolarship. Attachments must be in Word, Excel, or PDF format.

We encourage you to review this application and gather all materials prior to starting the online application process. 

Please check that all attachments are complete before submitting. Please contact Sophie Balogh at sbalogh@equestrian.ca if you have questions or need assistance.