US Equestrian has announced updates to the 2019 Elite, Development Pre-Elite, and Development Potential Training Lists of the U.S. Eventing Pathway Program. Launched in early 2019, U.S. Eventing Performance Director Erik Duvander designed the U.S. Eventing Pathway Program to create a “culture of competitiveness” and provide a more clearly defined pathway for eventing athletes in the U.S. The following athletes have been approved by an Ad Hoc Group of the Eventing Sport Committee at the recommendation of Duvander, with input from his Performance Advisory Team.
Elite Training List
The Elite Program aims to support athlete and horse combinations demonstrating the ability to contribute to medal-winning potential at the World Championship level, measured against world-leading performances and looking to compete at the next Olympic or World Championship. The following combinations have been named to the Elite Training List:
Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and Z, Thomas Tierney, Simon Roosevelt, Suzanne Lacy, Caroline Moran, and Ann Jones’s 11-year-old Zangersheide gelding
Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and Tsetserleg, Christine Turner’s 12-year-old Trakehner gelding
Development Pre-Elite Training List
The Development Pre-Elite Program aims to identify and support athlete and horse combinations that have the perceived potential to meet Elite status within the next two to four years, with the target of competing on a championship team in the next four to six years. The following combinations have been named to the Development Pre-Elite Training List:
Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp (Ocala, Fla.) and Deniro Z, The Deniro Syndicate and Ocala Horse Properties’ 11-year-old KWPN gelding
Caroline Martin (Miami Beach, Fla.) and Islandwood Captain Jack, Caroline and Sherrie Martin’s 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding
Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and Long Island T, Long Island T Syndicate’s 13-year-old Oldenburg/Thoroughbred gelding, as well as On Cue, Christine Turner’s 13-year-old English Sport Horse mare
Doug Payne (Aiken, S.C.) and Starr Witness, Doug Payne, Laurie McRee, and Catherine Winter’s 8-year-old KWPN mare, as well as Vandiver, Debi Crowley, Jessica Payne, and Doug Payne’s 15-year-old Trakehner gelding
Tamie Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) and Mai Baum, Alexandra Ahearn, Ellen Ahearn, and Eric Markell’s 13-year-old German Sport Horse gelding
Lynn Symansky (Middleburg, Va.) and Under Suspection, Mary Ann Ghadban’s 15-year-old Holsteiner mare, as well as RF Cool Play, The Donner Syndicate LLC’s 11-year-old German Sport Horse gelding
Frankie Thieriot Stutes (Occidental, Calif.) and Chatwin, The Chatwin Group’s 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding
Development Potential Training List
The Development Potential Program aims to focus athletes on education aimed at equipping them with the necessary tools and skills to have the perceived talent to reach Elite status in the next four to eight years, with the goal of Pre-Elite targets by the age of 30. The following athletes have been named to the Developing Potential Training List:
Maya Black (Clinton, Wash.)
Jenny Caras (Cartersville, Ga.)
Katherine Coleman (New Orleans, La.)
Hallie Coon (Ocala, Fla.)
Sydney Elliott (Bossier City, La.)
Matthew Flynn (Reddick, Fla.)
Ariel Grald (Vass, N.C.)
Allie Knowles (Lexington, Ky.)
Alex O’Neal (Reddick, Fla.)
U.S. Equestrian announced the 2019 Emerging Athlete Eventing 18 and Eventing 25 Program participants in December 2018. Full criteria for the U.S. eventing training and pathway criteria can be found here.
Great Britain’s Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir found themselves in a familiar position today at the top of the leaderboard after dressage at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, scoring a 26.0. A year ago, Ingham and “Banzai” led the field heading into cross-country after Friday’s dressage, but they drew an earlier start this year, and Ingham’s got a few more challengers to come tomorrow.
In comparison to many of his other upper-level event horses, Commando 3, or “Connor” as he is known in the barn, is still a newer ride for Boyd Martin, but that hasn’t held the pair back.
Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.
Let the fun and games begin! This morning kicks off the official start of competition at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event (K3DE). The hefty four-star field is the first to set foot in the Rolex Stadium starting at 8:00 a.m. Last year we saw 49 four-star pairs in this division, but this year there are 63 pairs in the field.