The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) regretfully announced the cancelation of the 2016 U.S. Dressage Championships for Grand Prix and Intermediaire I level riders.
Slated to run 12 - 16 October in Paso Robles, Calif., the USEF High Performance Dressage Committee made the difficult decision to cancel the event following a series of challenges and logistical hurdles. Paso Robles was already the second appointed venue to host the 2016 Nationals after Epona Farms in Thousand Oaks, CA, withdrew. In the U.S.A. the National Championships are called "Festival of Champions."
In 2016, U.S. dressage marked numerous international successes including winning the team bronze medal at the Rio Olympic Games and clinching the inaugural FEI Nations Cup™ Dressage series title.
"Athlete-and-horse combinations involved in these achievements will be enjoying some much deserved down time this fall," the USEF stated after not being able to host a national championship at top level for the first time since the inception of the Nationals in 1991.
"As a result, there would not be an adequate number of qualified combinations to make a championship level competition (...). Additionally, a change in venue earlier this summer resulted in a significant increase in financial obligations for the USEF that had not originally been budget for."
Bids are currently being accepted through September 15, 2016 for the 2017-2019 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions, which will encompass the USEF Grand Prix, Intermediaire I, and Brentina Cup Dressage National Championships.
Photo © Sue Stickle
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