United States Eventing Association

US Equestrian Announces Updates to Training Lists for U.S. Eventing Pathway Program

US Equestrian has announced updates to the Elite, Pre-Elite, and Development Training Lists of U.S. Performance Director Erik Duvander’s U.S. Eventing Pathway Program. Full details on the Pathway Program, including selection criteria for the training lists, are available on the USEF website.

“With just over eight months until the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, it is exciting to have many combinations that could up their game in the spring and show readiness to compete at the Olympic level,” Duvander said. “Tokyo will possibly be one of the most demanding Olympic Games of our time with a new format, logistical challenges, and maximal climate preparation needed for both horses and athletes, both prior to and during the event. Combinations must prove their mental, physical, and technical skills, as well as their ability to work as a team during this upcoming season."

“The increased number of combinations on the training lists shows the growing depth of talent within the country, which is critical as we look to build a strong program for the future. The key areas of focus for the High Performance program will be on competitive performance, horse health and the continued commitment to develop a culture of excellence. With limited resources spread over more combinations, we will be very disciplined in how we allocate grants and time to ensure the best possible impact on overall performance."

The following athletes have been approved for the Elite, Pre-Elite, and Development programs by an Ad Hoc Group of the Eventing Sport Committee at the recommendation of Duvander, with input from Duvander’s Performance Advisory Team of Bobby Costello, Derek di Grazia, Leslie Law, Karen O’Connor, and Ian Stark.

Elite Training List

The Elite Program supports athlete and horse combinations who demonstrate the ability to contribute to medal-winning potential at the World Championship level, with targets measured against world-leading performances and aiming to compete at the next Olympics or World Championship.

The following combinations have been named to the Elite Training List (in alphabetical order):

Pre-Elite Training List

The Pre-Elite Program aims to identify and support athlete and horse combinations with 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 years.

The following combinations have been named to the Pre-Elite Training List (in alphabetical order):

Development Training List

The Development Program aims to support athletes with the perceived talent and ability to reach Elite status in the next four to eight years by focusing on developing the skills needed to progress on the Pathway.

The following athletes have been named to the Development Training List (in alphabetical order):

Applications for the Eventing 25 program are due Friday, November 29, 2019. Program participants will be announced prior to the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, which will take place in Boston, Massachusetts on December 12-15, 2019. Click here for full details on how to apply.

Please note: The Performance Director may remove an athlete from the Elite and Pre-Elite programs in consultation with the Performance Advisory Team if the athlete fails to meet program criteria. Athletes/horses with a long-term injury will be removed from the training list in consultation with the Performance Advisory Team, Team Veterinarian, and/or Team Physician. Funding may be limited for combinations with short-term injuries. Inclusion or exclusion on a Training List does not imply or preclude an athlete from selection for a Games and Championships. This list will be reviewed in June 2020.

The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF sponsors and members.