Four months after the U.S. Equestrian Federation search committee chose Anne Gribbons to be the new face of U.S. dressage, she’s signed the contract to be the USEF Technical Advisor through 2012.

Gribbons was initially offered the position as technical advisor and chef d’equipe for the United States, but at the Fédération Equestre Internationale General Assembly in Copenhagen, Denmark, in November she was also named to the FEI Dressage Committee. She had also been named as president of the ground jury for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games subject to her decision to take the U.S. dressage job.

In order to remove any potential conflict of interest regarding her participation on the FEI Dressage Committee, Gribbons and the USEF agreed to assign the chef d’equipe position to the managing director of dressage. That position has been empty since Gil Merrick left the USEF in August, but according to a USEF press release, the position will be filled soon.

As technical advisor, Gribbons will oversee the training and preparation of U.S. riders and horses as they prepare for the WEG, Pan American Games and Olympic competition. She will advise the USEF Dressage High Performance Committee regarding the allocation of training grants and the selection of athletes for teams. Gribbons will also monitor the form and soundness of perspective horses and the form and riding skills of candidate riders in order to identify areas for improvement.

“The USEF is very fortunate to have Anne working for us in the capacity of Technical Advisor,” said James Wolf, USEF Executive Director of Sport Programs. “She is an outstanding horsewoman. Her experience as a rider, judge and coach make her uniquely suited for this position. I am certain that she will elevate the standards of our dressage program and be invaluable to the efforts of our dressage athletes as they prepare for, and compete in, international competition.”

“I am honored to have the confidence of the Elite Athletes and excited about the prospect of working with our talented riders and horses,” said Gribbons. “Our most important immediate mission is to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games, either at the World Equestrian Games or the Pan American Games. Our long-range goal is to be ready and able to medal in London in 2012. The United States is already a great dressage nation. We will strive to further develop our wonderful horses and riders and to tie our national and international programs together from ponies to High Performance in a way that will one day make us invincible.”