The U.S. Equestrian Federation has announced three combinations and one reserve for the U.S. Dressage Young Rider European Tour to begin next month.
The athletes will compete as individuals at the Compiegne CDIY (France) on May 27-30, and as a team at the CDIO-Y Hagen (Germany) from June 8-13. U.S. Dressage Youth Coach George Williams will serve as chef d’equipe for the Young Rider European tour.
The tour provides a link to the Discover Dressage USEF/U.S. Dressage Federation Emerging Athlete Program, and an opportunity for the athletes to gain experience in a team competition format abroad.
“I am thrilled that our athletes can once again be back in the international arena and compete against their fellow Young Riders in Europe. The Future Champions in Hagen, Germany, is an important competition and the closest thing we have to a world championship for youth,” Williams said. “It is a tremendous opportunity for these three talented athletes to not only gain the invaluable experience of being on a team representing the U.S. in the CDIOY, but also to be able to ride down the centerline competing against some of the best Young Riders in the world.”
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US Equestrian will work closely with the USOPC and the individual European countries to ensure compliance with COVID procedures for the safety and welfare of the traveling athletes and support teams.
The selected combinations, in alphabetical order, are:
- Melanie Doughty (Cocoa Beach, Florida) and Fascinata, her own 13-year-old Rhienlander mare
- Katherine Mathews (San Marcos, Califorina) and Soliëre, a 17-year-old Hanoverian stallion owned by Peridot Equestrian LLC
- Christian Simonson (Ventura, California) and Zeaball Diawind, a 9-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding owned by Christina Morgan
Direct Reserve: Christian Simonson and Hemmingway, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Christina Morgan
