2015 CDIO5*/CDI3*/CDI-U25 Rotterdam

Photo Credit: SusanJStickle.com

CDIO5*/CDI3*/CDI-U25 ROTTERDAM

Rotterdam, The Netherlands

June 18-21, 2015

The following combinations (in alphabetical order) will represent the U.S. in Rotterdam:

CDIO5*

Photo Credit: SusanJStickle.com

Shelly Francis

Born: December 16, 1958 Residence: Loxahatchee, Fla. Doktor – 2003 Oldenburg gelding owned by Patricia Stempel Shelly Francis grew up in Bar Harbor, Maine, where her family still owns a 30-acre farm. Over the last twenty years, she has quietly been achieving strong results in Prix St. Georges and Grand Prix competition.

In 1996, Francis was second alternate for the U.S. Olympic team with Pikant. In 1997, the pair won the USDF Grand Prix Champion Horse of the Year, and went on to compete at the 1998 FEI World Equestrian Games in Rome.

In 2012, Francis and Doktor were on the winning U.S. Nations Cup team at the WEF Wellington Dressage Nations Cup CDIO3* presented by Stillpoint Farm in April.

Francis kicked off 2013 with second-place finishes in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle with Doktor at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W. The pair was then on

4 2015 CDIO5*/CDI3*/CDI-U25 Rotterdam

the winning Nations Cup team at the Wellington Nations Cup CDIO3* presented by Stillpoint Farm, where they finished second in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle, and were third in the Grand Prix Special.

Over the summer, Francis traveled to Europe. At CDIO5* Aachen, she and Doktor helped the U.S. team to a thirdplace finish. The pair then went to CDI4* Lingen and were second in the Grand Prix. At CDIO3* Hickstead, Francis and Doktor again helped the U.S. team to a solid Nations Cup finish, with the team earning second-place honors.

Returning to the U.S., Francis ended the 2013 season at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp. She was fourth in both The Dutta Corp./USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship and The Dutta Corp./USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship with Doktor and Danilo, respectively.

Francis started 2014 at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). She and Doktor finished second in the Grand Prix Special and third in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle, helping the USA II team to fourth place in the Wellington Nations Cup CDIO3* sponsored by Stillpoint Farm during week seven.

CDIO5* With Doktor, Francis headed to the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp, where the pair finished seventh in The Dutta Corp/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship. For their efforts, they were named to the Short List for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Dressage Team and traveled to compete in Europe over the summer. At CDI4* FritzensSchindlhof, Francis and Doktor were fifth in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special. The pair was seventh in the CDIO5* Aachen Grand Prix Freestyle.

Francis began the 2015 season on the Florida circuit, scoring top placings on the leaderboard. During week three of the AGDF in the CDI-W, Francis and Doktor finished third and second and third in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle, respectively. In the CDI4* during week seven of the AGDF, they were second in both the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special. At the Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W Francis was third in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestlye with Doktor.

2015 CDIO5*/CDI3*/CDI-U25 Rotterdam

5

CDIO5*

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Charlotte Jorst

Charlotte Jorst Born: October 28, 1964 Residence: Reno, Nev.

Kastel’s Nintendo – 2003 Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by Kastel Denmark Danish-born Charlotte Jorst began taking riding lessons at the age of 35 which is highly unusual for a rider of her level. With a talented string of horses, she has been collecting solid placings. In 2013, Jorst and Kastel’s Vitalis won the Markel/USEF Western Selection Trials, placed 13th for the USA at the FEI World Breeding Championships for Dressage Young Horses at Verden, and won the 2013 Markel/ USEF Developing Horse National Championship presented

by HorseShow.com. With Kastel’s Adventure, Jorst also won the 2013 Developing Prix St. Georges Reserve National Championship title.

Jorst began 2014 at the Capistrano Dressage International CDI-W and was fifth in the Grand Prix Special with Kastel’s Nintendo. She was second in the Prix St. Georges

6 2015 CDIO5*/CDI3*/CDI-U25 Rotterdam

with Kastel’s Vitalis and third in the Grand Prix Special with Kastel’s Nintendo at Festival of the Horse CDI3*. Jorst scored wins in each class she entered at Paragon Dressage CDI3*, finishing atop the leaderboard in the Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I Freestyle with Kastel’s Vitalis and in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle with Kastel’s Nintendo.

She then competed in the 2014 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp. with Kastel’s Nintendo in the Grand Prix division and Kastel’s Vitalis in the Intermediaire I division.

Jorst started 2015 on the Florida circuit, finishing second in the Grand Prix Special and third in the Grand Prix with Kastel’s Nintendo in the CDI3* during week five of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). During week 10 the pair was fifth in the CDI-W Grand Prix Special. That same week Jorst and Kastel’s Adventure won the CDI1* Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I. Returning to the West Coast, the pair was third in the Prix St. Georges and won the Intermediaire I and at the Festival of the Horse CDI3*.

With Kastel’s Nintendo, Jorst won the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special at the Del Mar National CDI-W. Heading to Europe, Jorst was fifth in the CDI3* Grand

CDIO5* Prix with Kastel’s Nintendo and fifth in the CDI2* Prix St. Georges with Kastel’s Adventure at Compiègne.

With the support of her husband of 25 years, Henrik, and their daughters Camilla and Christine, Jorst balances riding time with family and her latest business, Kastel Denmark, which offers cool and stylish activewear.

2015 CDIO5*/CDI3*/CDI-U25 Rotterdam

7

CDIO5*

Photo Credit: SusanJStickle.com

Arlene Page

Born: July 4, 1956 Residence: Wellington, Fla. Woodstock – 2003 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Arlene Page Arlene “Tuny” Page has had numerous wins in the FEI Grand Prix arena. In 2006, Page and Wild One were the highest ranked U.S. pair at the FEI World Cup Final in Amsterdam, and in 2008, she represented the U.S. at CHIO Aachen.

Page imported Alina from Denmark in 2008. Since then, the mare graduated from the Small Tour and has made a name for herself. At the 2011 ISH Champions Cup CDI3* in March, Page and Alina took top honors in the Grand Prix and put in an impressive effort to take the win in their first outing in a CDI Grand Prix Freestyle.

At the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions, Tuny and Alina were sixth in the Grand Prix National Championship.

8 2015 CDIO5*/CDI3*/CDI-U25 Rotterdam

In 2012, Page had a competitive year with Wild One up and down the East Coast. The pair was fourth in the Grand Prix Special at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W. Page began 2013 collecting National Grand Prix wins with her new mount Woodstock during three different weeks of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF).

With Alina, she spent the summer in Europe and helped the U.S. team to a second-place finish in the Nations Cup at CDIO3* Hickstead.

In 2014, Page had more top performances in Europe.

At CDI3* Zandhoven, Page was second in the Grand Prix Special with Woodstock.

Page is off to a solid start in 2015, finishing fourth with Woodstock in the CDI-W Grand Prix Special during week five of the AGDF. Two weeks later the pair had a repeat performance in the CDI3*. During the final week of the AGDF in the CDI3*, Page was third in the Grand Prix and fourth in the Grand Prix Freestyle with Woodstock.

Page is the owner of Stillpoint Farm in Wellington, Florida. She is married to David Page and has a daughter, Charlotte.

CDIO5*

Photo Credit: SusanJStickle.com

Kathleen Raine Born: July 19, 1965 Residence: Murrieta, Calif.

Breanna – 2000 Hanoverian mare owned by Jennifer Mason, David Wightman, and Kathleen Raine Kathleen Raine has been a central figure in competitive dressage in the United States for nearly two decades. She has competed in the sport’s most prestigious events and won numerous championships at all levels.

Raine began her riding career in her local Pony Club in the eventing discipline, earning the elite A-level rating. She discovered dressage when, in an effort to improve her scores in three-day eventing, she became a working student for Olympian Hilda Gurney.

Raine and her horse, Avontuur, were members of the U.S. Dressage Team in 1994, which won a Bronze medal at the FEI Word Equestrian Games in The Hague, The Netherlands. That same year, Raine and Avontuur were U.S.

League Final Reserve Champions. They also competed in the 1994 FEI World Cup Finals, placing fifth.

In 1995, Raine and Avontuur competed in Europe, winning a Bronze medal at Rotterdam and finishing first in the Grand Prix Freestyle at CDI Donaueschingen.

In addition, the pair was named as an alternate to the 1996 U.S. Dressage Team for the Olympic Games held in Atlanta, Ga. Raine was also named, along with her talented mare Fidelia, an alternate for the 2000 Olympic Games held in Sydney, Australia.

With Breanna, Raine won the FEI Six-Year-Old Division Championship for the West Coast at the 2006 Markel/ USEF Young Horse Dressage Trials.

Raine started off 2012 by winning the Grand Prix and finishing second in the Grand Prix Special at the Mid-Winter Dressage Fair CDI-W. Raine and Breanna once again had a strong performance at The Dressage Affaire CDI3*, finishing third in the Grand Prix Special. The pair also placed third in the Grand Prix Special at the Del Mar National CDI3*. In June, Breanna and Raine traveled to the 2012 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions and Selection Trials for the U.S. Dressage Team.

2015 CDIO5*/CDI3*/CDI-U25 Rotterdam

9

Chef d’Equipe

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Christine Traurig

Christine Traurig Born: March 13, 1959 Residence: Carlsbad, Calif.

Christine Traurig is one of the most esteemed and sought after trainers and clinicians in the United States. Born and raised on her parents’ farm near Verden, Germany, she began riding before she could walk. Her first formal instruction came when she was 12-years-old and attended the National Riding School at Hoya with the legendary trainer Otto Meyer. Traurig worked with her father’s young horses, riding the sale horses at the Hanoverian Elite Auction. It was here that she met the director of the auction and his wife, Hans Joachim and Helga Koehler, who both had a great impact on Traurig’s future and success in dressage. The German National Trainer, Holger Schmezer, watched Traurig ride at the auctions and offered her a working student position at his farm in Verden. Traurig worked and rode sale horses for Schmezer until the fall of 1982 when she moved to the United States.

10 2015 CDIO5*/CDI3*/CDI-U25 Rotterdam

In 1999, she returned to Germany and began training with Johann Hinnemann, where she spent six years under his guiding eye. During her time with Hinnemann she competed at three consecutive Bundeschampionat in Warendorf on Limited Edition. With long-time partner Etienne, Traurig was selected to represent the U.S. at the Sydney Olympic Games, earning a personal best, and helping the United States to a third consecutive Bronze medal. Additionally, Traurig was named the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Female Equestrian Athlete of the Year in 2000.

In 2005 Traurig moved back to California and to Albert Court where she operates Christine Traurig Dressage Stable. Along with her love for dressage and horses, Traurig is dedicated to her children, Natasha and Lucas.

CDI3*

Photo Credit: SusanJStickle.com

Shelly Francis

Born: December 16, 1958 Residence: Loxahatchee, Fla. Danilo – 2004 Hanoverian gelding owned by Patricia Stempel Shelly Francis grew up in Bar Harbor, Maine, where her family still owns a 30-acre farm. Over the last twenty years, she has quietly been achieving strong results in Prix St. Georges and Grand Prix competition.

In 1996, Francis was second alternate for the U.S. Olympic team with Pikant. In 1997, the pair won the USDF Grand Prix Champion Horse of the Year, and went on to compete at the 1998 FEI World Equestrian Games in Rome.

In 2012, Francis and Doktor were on the winning U.S. Nations Cup team at the WEF Wellington Dressage Nations Cup CDIO3* presented by Stillpoint Farm in April.

Francis kicked off 2013 with wins in the Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I at the CDI1* at the International Horse Sport Champions Cup. She partnered with Danilo again to

win the CDI3* Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I at the Wellington 5*, presented by Diamante Farms. Francis and Doktor were on the winning Nations Cup team at the Wellington Nations Cup CDIO3* presented by Stillpoint Farm, where they finished second in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle, and were third in the Grand Prix Special.

Over the summer, Francis traveled to Europe. At CDIO5* Aachen, she and Doktor helped the U.S. team to a thirdplace finish. At CDIO3* Hickstead, Francis and Doktor again helped the U.S. team to a solid Nations Cup finish, with the team earning second-place honors. At the competition, she rode Danilo to third place in the CDI3* Intermediaire I. Returning to the U.S., Francis ended the 2013 season at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp. She was fourth in both The Dutta Corp./USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship and The Dutta Corp./USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship with Doktor and Danilo, respectively.

Francis started 2014 at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). She and Doktor finished second in the Grand Prix Special and third in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle, helping the USA II team to fourth place in 2015 CDIO5*/CDI3*/CDI-U25 Rotterdam

11

CDI3* the Wellington Nations Cup CDIO3* sponsored by Stillpoint Farm during week seven. During week 10, Francis rode Danilo to a second-place finish in the Grand Prix Special CDI-W. With Doktor, Francis headed to the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp, where the pair finished seventh in The Dutta Corp/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship. For their efforts, they were named to the Short List for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Dressage Team and traveled to compete in Europe over the summer.

Francis began the 2015 season on the Florida circuit, scoring top placings on the leaderboard. During week five of the AGDF in the CDI3*, she and Danilo were third in the Grand Prix Special. At the Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W Francis was third in the Grand Prix Special with Danilo.

12 2015 CDIO5*/CDI3*/CDI-U25 Rotterdam

CDI3* In 2012, the pair earned the National Champion title in the USEF Brentina Cup “Young Adult” National Championship.

Hafner has trained Lombardo LHF up to Grand Prix from a four-year-old and has earned his USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals.

2013 saw continued success with a second-place finish in the Grand Prix and a win in the Grand Prix Special at the Golden State Dressage Festival CDI3*. At the Paragon Dressage Show CDI3*, they were third and first in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle, respectively. The pair had great performances at the GAIG/USDF Region 7 Championships and placed second in the Open Grand Prix Region 7 Championship.

In 2014, Hafner began a successful year at the Mid-Winter Dressage Fair CDI-W with a third-place finish in the Grand Prix and a win in the Grand Prix Freestyle, and a pair of wins two months later at the Golden State Dressage Festival CDI3*. That summer, the pair traveled to Europe and gave great performances at the CDIO5* Rotterdam and CDIO3* Photo Credit:

Brian Hafner

Hickstead.

2015 has been successful for Hafner and Lombardo LHF as they scored wins at the Golden State Dressage Festival CDI3* in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle.

Born: August 3, 1988 Residence: Penngrove, Calif.

Lombardo LHF – 1999 Hanoverian gelding owned

by Brian Hafner and Rebecca Hafner Brian Hafner has been a competitive dressage rider from a very young age. Originally from Minnesota, he relocated to San Diego in 2006 with his horse Lombardo and dreams to compete at the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC). In 2009 that dream became a reality when he represented Region 7 at the NAJYRC with Lombardo LHF and won the Young Rider Team Gold medal. The pair went on to win the Young Rider Freestyle Silver and Individual Bronze medals.

In 2010, Hafner had several top placings in Small Tour classes. He ended his season with Reserve Champion titles in the GAIG/USDF Open Intermediaire I & II Region 7 Championships.

2015 CDIO5*/CDI3*/CDI-U25 Rotterdam

13

CDI3*

Photo Credit: SusanJStickle.com

Arlene Page

Born: July 4, 1956 Residence: Wellington, Fla. Alina - 1998 Danish Warmblood mare owned by Arlene Page Arlene “Tuny� Page has had numerous wins in the FEI Grand Prix arena. In 2006, Page and Wild One were the highest ranked U.S. pair at the FEI World Cup Final in Amsterdam, and in 2008, she represented the U.S. at CHIO Aachen.

Page imported Alina from Denmark in 2008. Since then, the mare graduated from the Small Tour and has made a name for herself. At the 2011 ISH Champions Cup CDI3* in March, Page and Alina took top honors in the Grand Prix and put in an impressive effort to take the win in their first outing in a CDI Grand Prix Freestyle. At the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions, Tuny and Alina were sixth in the Grand Prix National Championship.

In 2012, Page had a competitive year with Wild One up and down the East Coast. The pair was fourth in the Grand

14 2015 CDIO5*/CDI3*/CDI-U25 Rotterdam

Prix Special at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W. Page spent the summer in Europe with Alina, she spent the summer in Europe. The pair was third in the Grand Prix and fifth in the Grand Prix Freestyle at the CDI4*Lingen, and helped the U.S. team to a second-place finish in the Nations Cup at CDIO3* Hickstead.

In 2014, Page and Alina had more performances in Europe, placing fourth in the Grand Prix Special and fifth in the Grand Prix at CDI4* Hagen. At CDI3* Zandhoven, Page won the Grand Prix Freestyle and was second in the Grand Prix with Alina.

Page is off to a solid start in 2015, finishing fourth with Woodstock in the CDI-W Grand Prix Special during week seven of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF).

Two weeks later the pair had a repeat performance in the CDI3*, and Page was fifth in the CDI4* Grand Prix Special with Alina. During the final week of the AGDF in the CDI3*, Page was third in the Grand Prix Special and fourth in the Grand Prix Special with Alina, and third in the Grand Prix and fourth in the Grand Prix Freestyle with Woodstock.

Page is the owner of Stillpoint Farm in Wellington, Florida.

She is married to David Page and has a daughter, Charlotte.

CDI-U25

Photo Credit: SusanJStickle.com

Chase Hickok

Born: March 25, 1990 Residence: Wellington, Fla. Sagacious HF – 1999 KWPN gelding owned by Hyperion Farm, Inc. Chase Hickok began riding at a young age, originally riding hunters and eventing before switching her focus to dressage. At the 2010 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC) Hickok rode Palermo on the Region 1 Young Rider Team. The pair then headed to the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions and was fourth in the Young Rider National Championship.

Hickok had a stellar year in 2011, beginning with wins in

won the Young Rider Freestyle Silver and Individual Bronze medals. They followed this performance up by winning all the CDIY classes at Centerline Events at HITS-on-the-Hudson. At the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions she and Palermo were fourth once again in the USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship.

Taking a break from competition to finish school, Hickok returned in 2014 and won National Intermediaire II classes with new mount Sagacious HF during weeks three and four of the Equestrian Sport Productions Summer Dressage Show series.

Hickok has had her biggest year to date in 2015, winning at every turn. With Sagacious HF, she won the CDI-U25 Intermediaire II and Grand Prix classes during five different weeks of competition at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival.

the FEI Young Rider Team and Individual Tests with Palermo at the ESDCTA Memorial Weekend Dressage Show CDIY. The pair had repeat performances at the Mystic Valley Hunt Club Dressage Show and Centerline Events at Westbrook Hunt Club. At the NAJYRC Hickok and Palermo 2015 CDIO5*/CDI3*/CDI-U25 Rotterdam

15

CDI-U25

Photo Credit: SusanJStickle.com

Genay Vaughn

Born: April 10, 1994 Residence: Elk Grove, Calif.

Donarweiss GGF – 2001 Hanoverian stallion owned by Starr Vaughn Equestrian, Inc. Genay Vaughn began riding at the age of four and has found much success as a junior and young rider. In 2009, she competed at her first Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC), riding Waranja on the Region 7 Junior Team. At the 2010 NAJYRC, Vaughn and Waranja helped the Region 7 Junior Team earn the Team Silver medal. The pair then finished third in the Junior National Championship at the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions.

Vaughn had a solid season in 2012, beginning with onetwo finishes in the FEI Young Rider Team and Individual Tests with Donarweiss GGF and Waranja and a win in the FEI Young Rider Freestyle with Waranja at the Golden State Dressage Festival CDIY. At the Woodside Spring Dressage

16 2015 CDIO5*/CDI3*/CDI-U25 Rotterdam

Show CDIY she and Donarweiss GGF were second in the FEI Young Rider Team and Individual Tests. The pair then headed to the USEF Dressage Festival of Champions and were third in the USEF Young Rider National Championship. At the NAJYRC Vaughn and Donarweiss GGF were the anchor for the Region 7 Young Rider Team, helping them claim the Team Silver medal. She then added the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals presented by Dressage Today 14-18 division title to her impressive resume.

In 2013 Vaughn and Donarweiss GGF graduated from the Young Rider ranks and had top placings at the U25 level. At the Golden State Dressage Festival CDI-U25 the pair won the Intermediaire II and Grand Prix. They won the Intermediaire II and were second in the Grand Prix at the Golden State Dressage Classic CDI-U25. Vaughn and Donarweiss GGF won the GAIG/USDF JR/YR Intermediaire II Region 7 Championship. They then headed to the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp., and were the Reserve Champions in the USEF Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ Dressage National Championship presented

by Dressage Today.

She began 2014 with wins in two National Grand Prix classes with Donarweiss GGF at the Golden State Dressage

CDI-U25 Festival. At the GAIG/USDF Region 7 Championships the pair won the JR/YR Grand Prix Championship.

In 2015 Vaughn again began the season with two National Young Rider Grand Prix wins with Donarweiss GGF at the Golden State Dressage Premiere. At the Festival of the Horse CDI-U25 they won the Intermediaire II and Grand Prix. The pair had a repeat performance in the Golden State Dressage Festival CDI-U25 division.

2015 CDIO5*/CDI3*/CDI-U25 Rotterdam

17

Chef d’Equipe Her prowess has earned her a first among American dressage riders–the title of World Cup Champion in 2003–an honor she shares with Brentina. In June of that year, Debbie was an integral part of the U.S. team finishing second at CDIO Aachen, where she also placed third individually. At the 2005 FEI World Cup Final in Las Vegas, Debbie and Brentina had one of their most memorable moments, placing third overall on home turf, receiving a standing ovation from a packed house. In 2005, Brentina was named the inaugural 2005 Farnam®/ Platform™ • USEF Horse of the Year.

Brentina was retired in an emotional ceremony in April 2009, during the 2009 FEI World Cup Final in Las Vegas.

Debbie’s accomplishments are many, including wins at both the 2005 and 2004 U.S. Grand Prix Freestyle Championship/U.S. League Finals, 2003 Bayer Festival of Champions, U.S. Equestrian Team Grand Prix Championship, a Team Silver medal at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Spain, and both Individual and Team Gold medals Photo Credit: USEF Archives

Debbie McDonald Born: August 27, 1954 Residence: Hailey, Idaho

Debbie McDonald was an integral part of the U.S. Olympic Team in Dressage at the 2004 Athens Olympics, helping to bring home a Team Bronze medal. Debbie again proved her mettle with legendary partner Brentina with Team Bronze at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany. In 2008, Debbie and Brentina returned to the Olympic stage for a final time in Hong Kong.

Debbie and Brentina have one of the most successful and legendary horse-rider relationships in their sport. Their performances together are so incredible that they often move the audience to tears.

Debbie comes by dressage naturally, though it wasn’t how she started her riding career. She’s a former hunter/jumper rider who switched to dressage after a riding accident, a misfortune that turned out to be a blessing for the United States.

18 2015 CDIO5*/CDI3*/CDI-U25 Rotterdam

at the 1999 Pan American Games. She was named Equestrian of the Year by the American Horse Shows Association (now the USEF) in 1999, as well as the 1999 United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Female Equestrian Athlete of the Year.

Debbie and her husband Bob make their home in Idaho and Wellington.