In preparation for future success on the international stage, many of the top American dressage combinations have travelled overseas to hone their skills in Europe. Talented horse-and-rider pairs from throughout the U.S. will compete in many of the most prestigious European CDIs throughout the course of this summer.
"Dressage is a ‘Who Beats Whom, Where Sport’ and this fact makes it imperative that our American athletes at all levels compete against the best in the world on their home turf,” said U.S. Dressage Chef d’Equipe/ Technical Advisor Robert Dover. “Only by doing so may we consistently develop the depth of great combinations necessary to win at Olympic Games, FEI World Equestrian Games, and international championships at all FEI divisions."
Formidable U.S. combinations look to made a splash in The Netherlands and France on May 30-June 2. Shelly Francis (Loxahatchee, FL) headed to The Netherlands to compete in the Arnhem CDI3* with Patricia Stempel’s talented pair of geldings. In Grand Prix competition she rode the 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding Doktor, with whom she received a USEF Grant to compete in Europe, while she competed the nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding Danilo in Intermediaire I classes.
Caroline Roffman (Wellington, FL) also competeed last weekend at the Compeigne CDI3* in France. In Small Tour competition she rode her own 10-year-old Hanoverian mare, Her Highness O.
Next weekend, June 6-9, the focus of U.S. dressage will be on Tina Konyot at the Achleiten CDI3* in Austria. Konyot (Palm City, FL) will utilize the USEF Grant she received in April to compete her 2012 Olympic Games partner, the 15-year-old Danish Warmblood stallion Calecto V, in Grand Prix classes.
The next stop for the 2013 U.S. Dressage Team will be the prestigious CHIO Aachen, where top U.S. competitors will be go head-to-head with many of the best in the world in CDIO competition.
David Blake , Kathleen Raine, and Guenter Seidel will start their European tour, as part of the group of 10 that received USEF Grants, in Grand Prix competition at the Lingen CDI4* in Germany, July 11-14. Blake (Encinitas, CA) will ride Melanie Pai’s 13-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding Ikaros in Germany. Fellow Californian, Raine (Murrieta, CA) brings Jennifer Mason and David Wrightman’s 13-year-old Hanoverian mare Breanna to compete in Europe. Seidel (Cardiff, CA) will utilize his vast championship experience as he competes Coral Reef Ranch’s 13-year-old Westphalian mare Coral Reef Wylea at Lingen.
Fellow USEF Grant recipients Adrienne Lyle and Lisa Wilcox will travel to Europe to test themselves against the world’s best this fall. Lyle (Ketchum, ID) will bring her Olympic partner, Peggy Thomas’ 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding Wizard to Europe. While Wilcox returns to European competition with Horses Unlimited Inc’s promising 10-year-old Hanoverian stallion Pikko Del Cerro HU.
Also representing the U.S. in Europe over the summer are Katharine Bateson-Chandler, Susie Dutta, Jennifer Hoffman, and Tuny Page. Bateson-Chandler (Wellington, FL) will ride Jane Clark’s 8-year-old KWPN gelding Alcazar in Small Tour competition. Dutta (Wellington, FL) will compete Tim Dutta's 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding Currency DC and nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding Lumberjack. Hoffman, who is based in Austria, will continue to compete her three Small Tour horses throughout Europe. They include the 14-year-old Westphalian gelding Farinelli, 10-year-old Westphalian stallion Rubinio, and Maja Seifert’s 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding Ramon. Page (Wellington, FL) also brings two horses to Europe; her own 15-year-old Danish mare Alina and the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Woodstock.
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
American Armada Lands in Europe for Training and Show Experience
Ten U.S. Elite Grand Prix Riders Receive Training Grants to Compete in Europe
American Combinations Selected to Compete at 2013 CDIO Aachen