The U.S. Equestrian Federation Dressage Sport Committee has approved requirements for the Elite Program in 2017. In addition, they finalized plans for a revamped Development Program and selected the USEF Dressage Development Coach, Debbie McDonald, pending contract negotiations.

After a short hiatus in 2016, McDonald is returning to help the Development Program grow and move athlete/horse combinations along the dressage pipeline.

The newly-launched Elite Program is established to provide support and resources to athlete/horse combinations that have proven they are internationally competitive. The USEF dressage technical advisor and managing director oversee the program with oversight provided by the program selectors and the Dressage Sport Committee. Combinations qualify for the program based on scores received at CDI***/CDIO*** or above competitions in the last 12 months.

The athletes will work with Robert Dover, the technical advisor, to set goals and determine schedules. Athletes will receive training grants and other support to assist them in reaching their agreed-upon targets. They will also have access to educational opportunities and logistical support. Being or not being part of the program has no impact on selection for Games and Championships.

“In the last four years, our goal was to create a very strong machine that would produce an Olympic medal for our dressage team, and the next four years will be spent continuing on that momentum and increasing the number of top combinations in the United States,” Dover said.

The following athlete/horse combinations meet the criteria for Elite Program membership (listed in alphabetical order):

Allison Brock (Wellington, Fla.) with Claudine and Fritz Kundrun’s Rosevelt, a 15-year-old Hanoverian stallion

Laura Graves (Geneva, Fla.) with her own Verdades, a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding

Kasey Perry-Glass (Orangevale, Calif.) with Diane Perry’s Goerklintgaards Dublet, a 14-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding

Steffen Peters (San Diego, Calif.) with Four Winds Farm’s Rosamunde, a 10-year-old Rheinlander mare

The Dressage Sport Committee also finalized plans for the Development Program. Through this revamped program, athletes with perceived ability to make the podium or contribute to podium scores within the following two quadrennials will receive strategic guidance and resources.

“This revitalized program is going to give more individualized support to athletes, as well as their trainers and owners,” said McDonald. “Through this program, we will not only be able to target our funding and educational resources into identified combinations, but we will be able to continue to provide educational opportunities on a broad level. I’m very excited to be working again with [USEF] and this unique opportunity that the Development Program is going to provide to our up-and-coming athletes.”

For more information, please contact Hallye Griffin, Managing Director of Dressage, at (859) 225-6949 or hgriffin@usef.org.