United States Eventing Association

U.S. Olympic Team Selection Process and Procedures

As we sit anxiously on the edge of our seats *wait patiently* to hear the announcement of which riders will represent Team USA at this summer’s Olympic Games, let’s catch up on the who, what, when and how of this High Performance selection:

Who is eligible to be selected for the U.S. Eventing Team?

• Riders must be born on or before December 31, 1998 (18 years of age)
• Horses must be born on or before December 31, 2008 (8 years of age)
• The horse must have had at least one U.S. owner by January 15, 2016
• An application had to be submitted and a $70 fee paid to the USEF by February 19, 2016
• Horses and riders had to qualify for the Olympics by earning 1 qualifying result at a CCI4* -OR- 1 qualifying result in a CCI 3* AND 1 qualifying result in a CIC 3* between January 1, 2015 and June 19, 2016. A qualifying result is a score of less than 75 in dressage, clear on the cross-country with no more than 90 seconds of time (or 120 seconds at a 4*) and no more than 16 penalties in the show jumping.
• The horse and rider must also have completed at least one of the 22 selection trials designated by the USEF in 2015 or 2016 at the CCI3* or CCI4* level.

What factors do the Selectors look for when choosing the team?

• The 2016 USEF Eventing Selectors are: Robert Costello (chairman), Phyllis Dawson, Derek di Grazia, Deborah Furnas and Marcia Kulak.
• The Selectors base their choices upon the following factors:
  • The overall performance and soundness of the athlete/horse combination in the designated selection trials with emphasis on dressage scores, current fitness, cross-country and show jumping performance (jumping without faults and/or incurring time penalties, boldness, rideability, and speed.)
  • Preference may be given to rider/horse combinations who have demonstrated ability to succeed in multiple international eventing competitions.
  • Rider’s fitness
  • The rider/horse combination’s will to win and the suitability of the combination to win an individual medal or contribute to a team medal at the event.
  • Willingness of the rider to work within the confines of the 2016 Olympic Games/USOC accreditation allocation and restrictions.

When will the U.S. Eventing Team be named?

• Out of the pool of qualified horses the Selectors will ask a group to participate in the veterinary evaluations with Team Veterinarian, Dr. Susan Johns, in Virginia on June 18 and 19.
• By no later than June 20, the Selectors in consultation with the Chef d’Equipe and Team Veterinarian, will name the four horse/rider combinations to the Team as well as name the traveling reserve and up to 12 reserve combinations. Some of the reserves may be direct replacement horses for riders already named to the team.
• The 4 team members and reserves will make up the FEI nominated entry to be submitted by June 20.
• From June 20, Chef d’Equipe (David O’Connor) must approve the training, competition and coaching schedules of the Team riders through the conclusion of the Olympics.
• By July 1 the final entries are due to the FEI and the Team and traveling reserve can only be replaced as outlined in Section III of the USEF Olympic Selection Procedures.
• The Team and reserve combinations will participate in the mandatory final preparation event at Great Meadow CIC3* on July 8-10 in The Plains, Va.
• Prior to the start of the Olympic Games on August 5, the five horses and riders (four Team members and one reserve) will fly out of Miami, Fla. directly to Brazil.
• The declaration of starters is due on August 5 and substitutions may be made up until two hours before the start of dressage.

Want more Olympics? Check out our Olympic Coverage so far: 2016 Rio Olympics