PrintThe Dressage Foundation has selected four young riders for their 2010 Advanced Young Rider Olympic Dream Program, an annual trip to Europe for an intensive 10-day dressage experience. Ann Guptill, Conn., and Annie Morris, N.Y., will lead the program.
Mimi Stanley, N.D., Brian Hafner, Calif., Christine Stephenson, Calif., and Kristen Schwaegerle, N.H., will make the ninth annual TDF trip to Europe. The selection committee based their decision on candidates’ essays, competition scores, recommendations and signs of commitment to the sport of dressage.
John Boomer, past President and CEO of TDF said, “The committee was very impressed with the quality and quantity of this year’s candidates, and they have selected a wonderful group of young riders.”
On June 28, the group will travel to Frankfurt, Germany. The tentative plan, subject to the schedules of German trainers, is to visit former U.S. team coach, Klaus Balkenhol, Spanish team coach, Jean Bemelmans and German Olympians, Ingrid Klimke and Hubertus Schmidt. The group will also visit Schafhof, the home of German Olympian, Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff and her trainer Klaus Martin Rath, along with his son, Matthias Rath, who was a reserve rider for the German Olympic team in 2008. The group will return stateside on July 8.
