USEF News

Eleven Athletes Selected to U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team

The 2018 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team won gold medals in both three-gaited and five-gaited competition.

Eleven athletes from eight states will represent the U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team at the 2022 Saddle Seat World Cup in Harrodsburg, Ky., from July 25-30. Coaches Katie Case (Simpsonville, Ky.) and Pam Roush (Lutz, Fla.) will lead the U.S. team against several teams from abroad.

The following athletes have been selected for the 2022 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team (in alphabetical order):

Three-Gaited: Ella Hampton (Sheridan, Ind.), Bostyn Leffler (Zionsville, Ind.), Alayna Locascio (Dayton, Ohio), Jessica Manzo (Lexington, Ky.), Sophie Ouellette (Springvale, Mass.), and Sophie Yih (Alamo, Calif.).

Five-Gaited: Haley Berget (Oconomowoc, Wis.), Nicole Leone (Kingston, N.H.), Mae Luce (Spring Grove, Ill.), Mia Provenzano (Elmhurst, Ill.), and Lauren Treiber (Hartland, Wis.).

These 11 athletes were selected for the 2022 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team following a series of selection trials at William Woods University in 2019. They are some of the top-scoring saddle seat equitation riders in the country. The 2020 team unfortunately was unable to showcase their abilities when the World Cup was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but US Equestrian is pleased to extend the opportunity for these elite riders and coaches to represent the U.S. at the 2022 Saddle Seat World Cup. If an athlete is unable to compete, the next highestscoring athlete from the 2019 Selection Trials held at William Woods University would be selected as an alternate.

The Saddle Seat World Cup is a biennial international competition. It originated in the early 1980s as an informal exchange of saddle seat riders between the United States and South Africa. Teams from as many as seven nations now compete for the coveted World Cup titles, riding unfamiliar horses as a true test of their equitation and horsemanship skills. The U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team is supported by a grant from the USA Equestrian Trust.

Additional contribution opportunities can be found at usef.org/donate. Select “U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup” in the dropdown menu.

For additional information or questions regarding the Saddle Seat World Cup, please contact Emily McSweeney, National Breeds & Disciplines Special Projects Manager, at emcsweeney@usef.org.

USEF Unveils New Five-Point Plan for USA Endurance Program

One aim of the plan is to help more riders get on the path to potentially compete on the U.S. Endurance Team, as Charly Dugan and her Arabian Southern Justice did in the Netherlands in 2021.

Since 2020, the USEF Endurance Sport Committee has worked on building an accessible, sustainable endurance program to bridge the gap between grassroots endurance rides to the FEI level. The committee’s new five-point plan, known as Endurance for Tomorrow, establishes the following five programs: •New national endurance zones •Annual Zone Qualification Championships •A biennial Zone Team Challenge •A USEF Endurance National Championship •USEF year-end and career awards, achievement programs, and revised ranking programs.

The goal of the USA Endurance program is to develop opportunities for participation at all levels of the sport, increase the number of events across zones, and collaborate with grassroots organizations and individuals. The program aims to promote a cooperative working relationship between US Equestrian and other national, regional, and breed organizations that have developed and supported American endurance riding for decades.

New USA Endurance Zones and Zone Championships

The proposed new national endurance zones consist of a northern and southern region within each of the four time zones in the continental U.S. Zone team events will provide more accessible opportunities for endurance athletes to have team experience. These events will create more opportunities to enjoy the sport and facilitate more riders entering the pathway toward potential future U.S. Endurance Team selection. Annual Zone Qualification Championships will be a points-based program in which riders can earn points for US Equestrian year-end awards and potential long-listing for team selection.

Zone Team Challenge and USEF Endurance National Championship

The Zone Team Challenge is proposed as a biennial event with divisions for Seniors and Young Riders/Junior Riders at the 160 km and 120 km distances, respectively. Athletes will have the opportunity to represent their Zone on a team with three to five riders.

The newly revised USEF Endurance National Championship will welcome competitors who qualify at a Zone Qualifying Championship or complete an FEI-recognized ride at the same or greater distance. Both of these proposed championships will also include team competition opportunities at shorter distances to promote inclusivity and grassroots participation.

New Year-End and Achievement Awards

A series of new achievement awards will recognize athletes and horses for their accomplishments in the preceding season and over their careers. The proposed awards include •Career Horse Mileage Recognition •Career Rider Mileage Recognition •Career Horse/Rider

Combination Recognition •International Achievement Recognition •Top Three National-Ranked Senior Riders •Top Three National-Ranked Junior Riders •Endurance Horse of the Year Award •Endurance Rider of the Year Award •Endurance Best Condition Season Award •Endurance Iron Horse Award •Top Five Endurance Lite Riders •Top Five National Riders

For more information on US Equestrian Endurance Programs, visit usef.org/compete/ disciplines/endurance or contact US Equestrian Director of Endurance Susan Edwards at sedwards@usef.org.

NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team Names Short List for 2022 FEI Jumping World Championships

The NetJets U.S. Jumping Team announced 10 athletes were short-listed for the 2022 FEI Jumping Championships, which take place in Herning, Denmark, Aug. 6-14. The five-member team was expected to be named in July. The short-listed athletes are •Kent Farrington (Wellington, Fla.) and Gazelle, a 2006 Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Kent Farrington and Robin Parsky; Landon, a 2013

Zangersheide gelding owned by Haity McNerney; and Orafina, a 2012 KWPN mare owned by Kent Farrington LLC •Bliss Heers (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Antidote de Mars, a 2010 Selle Français stallion owned by Bridgeside Farm LLC •Lillie Keenan (New York, N.Y.) and Agana Van Het Gerendal Z, a 2011

Zangersheide stallion owned by Chansonette Farm LLC; and Argan de Beliard, a 2010 Selle Français gelding owned by Chansonette Farm LLC •Laura Kraut (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) and Baloutinue, a 2010 Hanoverian gelding owned by St. Bride’s Farm; and Confu, a 2007 Holsteiner gelding owned by St. Bride’s Farm •Brian Moggre (Flower Mound, Texas) and Balou du Reventon, a 2006

Oldenburg stallion owned by Ann Thompson; and MTM Vivre le Reve, a 2009 Westphalian gelding owned by Major Wager LLC •Chloe Reid (Wellington, Fla.) and Souper Shuttle, a 2011 Hanoverian mare, owned by Live Oak Plantation LLC •Spencer Smith (Wellington, Fla.) and Quibelle, 2009 Hanoverian mare owned by Gotham Enterprizes LLC •Jessica Springsteen (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Don Juan van de Donkhoeve, a 2009 Belgian Warmblood stallion owned by Stone Hill Farm; and RMF Zecilie, a 2007 Holsteiner mare owned by Rushy Marsh Farm LLC •Adrienne Sternlicht (Greenwich, Conn.) and Bennys Legacy, a 2008 Oldenburg gelding owned by Starlight Farms LLC; and Cristalline, a 2008 Bavarian

Warmblood mare owned by Starlight Farms LLC •McLain Ward (Brewster, N.Y.) and Contagious, a 2009 Deutches Sportpferd gelding owned by Beechwood Stables, LLC; and Kasper Van Het Hellehof, a 2010 Belgian Warmblood stallion owned by The Kasper Group LLC

Athletes and horses were to compete in designated CSIO observation events, including the Nations Cup of Rome CSIO5*, Aachen CHIO, and Knokke CSIO5*, and will be led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland.

NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland

Lisa Hellmer Joins U.S. Para Dressage program

US Equestrian has welcomed Lisa Hellmer as the U.S. Para Dressage Program’s new Para Dressage Development Coach. The U.S. Para Dressage Program and Adequan® U.S. Para Dressage Team have experienced tremendous success and growth over the past four years. Hellmer will assist Chef d’Equipe and Technical Advisor Michel Assouline and Discipline Director Laureen Johnson with further implementing the development pathway and supporting new programs for athletes. She will also liaise with the Para Dressage Centers of Excellence with COE Coordinator Laura Roberts.

Hellmer will work closely with Assouline, Johnson, and Roberts while implementing a developing program that can assist and advise athletes on setting and monitoring key performance indicators and tracking competition target goals. Hellmer also will provide guidance and structure to COEs, including scheduling visits, coordinating targeted symposiums and educational opportunities, and supporting training and coaching at COEs. Hellmer also will conduct observation sessions with athletes and their home coaches and review progress of new athlete-and-horse combinations.

Hellmer, who operates LCH Equestrian out of Ocala, Fla., earned her United States Dressage Federation bronze and silver medals. She is a Silver USEF Para Dressage Coach and a United States Pony Clubs Traditional B graduate from Old North Bride Pony Club in Massachusetts. Hellmer has worked with many top trainers from around the world and regularly hosts clinics and educational opportunities at her Ocala farm.

Bradish, Katydid Duchess Clinch Combined Driving National Championship

Taylor Bradish driving Katydid Duchess in the marathon en route to their third consecutive USEF Combined Driving National Championship for Advanced Single Horses.

Taylor Bradish (Windsor, S.C.) and Katydid Duchess earned their third consecutive title in the 2022 USEF Combined Driving National Championship for Advanced Single Horses with a final score of 138.85. The championship was held as part of the Katydid CDE at the Tryon International Equestrian Center.

The Reserve National Champion title went to Raymond Helmuth (Cambridge, Iowa) with Kendro, a 2015 Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by Helmuth Equine. The pair finished on a score of 143.18.

Bradish and “Duchess,” Jennifer Matheson’s 2009 Welsh pony cross mare, previously won in 2021 when the championship was held at the Garden State CDE and in 2020 at Live Oak International.

“I really enjoy the pressure and learning how to compete through it,” Bradish said. “I knew it was going to be a tough weekend; there were so many nice horses and drivers there to challenge us.”

Bradish added that this year’s win was especially sweet thanks to the shared history between the event and her horse.

“Duchess was bred and owned by Katrina Becker and Jennifer Matheson on Katydid Farm, where the show originally ran,” said Bradish. “This made it very special for her owners and I to win here.”