The U.S. Equestrian Federation has announced the combinations selected to compete in the 2024 USEF Futures Team Challenge at the Carolina International CCI and Horse Trials, from March 14-17 in Raeford, North Carolina. The Challenge is designed to replicate the experience of competing within a team environment and thus is a training opportunity embedded within an existing competition at the CCI3* and CCI4* levels.
The 2024 USEF Futures Team Challenge is administered by USEF to complement the Eventing Pathway Programs. Selection to a team under this Challenge does not represent selection to a recognized U.S. team. Selected combinations will attend the pre-competition training taking place two days before the start of competition. Two teams of four combinations led by Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor Bobby Costello and Emerging and Development Coach Leslie Law will contest the unofficial, simulated team competition.
The following combinations have been named to Team Bobby and are listed in alphabetical order:
Christina Henriksen (Keswick, Virginia) and Cisco’s Calor Z, her own 9-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Carrera VDL x Zamira)
Andrew McConnon (Vass, North Carolina) and FVF Top Gun, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (C. Quito x Vignette) owned by FVF Top Gun LLC
Caroline Pamukcu (Springtown, Pennsylvania) and She’s the One, a 9-year-old Anglo-European mare (Jaguar Mail x One to Watch) owned by Sherrie Martin, Mollie Hoff, Caroline Pamukcu, and Andy Hoff
Direct Reserve: HSH Blake, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tolan R x Doughiska Lass) owned by Caroline Pamukcu, Sherrie Martin, Mollie Hoff, and Deniz Pamukcu
Sharon White (Summit Point, West Virginia) and Claus 63, her own 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Catoo x Tina II)
The following combinations have been named to Team Leslie and are listed in alphabetical order:
Jenny Caras (Buckhead, Georgia) and Sommersby, a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Sergeant Pepper x d’Mademoiselle) owned by Jenny Caras and Jerry Hollis
Emily Hamel (Aiken, South Carolina) and Corvett, a 17-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Corrido x Tina XII) owned by Black Flag Option, LLC
Lauren Lambert (Flower Mound, Texas) and Biscotti, her own 12-year-old RPSI gelding (Benidetto x Hey Nurse)
Cassie Sanger (Wilmington, Delaware) and Fernhill Zoro, her own 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Verdi x Oronia Z)
The following combinations have been named as alternates and are listed in alphabetical order:
Lea Adams-Blackmore (Norwich, Vermont) and Frostbite, her own 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Zirocco Blue VDL x Zanna)
Alexandra Knowles (Lexington, Kentucky) and Morswood, a 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Ricardo Z x Princess in Arms) owned by Katherine O’Brien
Find out more information on the USEF Futures Team Challenge here.
Competition Information
The dressage phase for the CCI4*-S and CCI3*-S will take place Thursday, March 14, followed by the jumping phase on Friday, March 15. The CCI4*-S and CCI3*-S divisions conclude Saturday, March 16, with the cross-country phase.
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It's time to get down to business at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. Across both the CCI4*-S and CCI5*-L divisions riders have echoed two of the same sentiments: this won't be a dressage competition and Derek di Grazia's courses might look easier than they ride this year.
With the Paris Olympics on the horizon this summer, riders from the top eventing nations are gunning for a coveted team spot, and British team selection is particularly tough due to a plethora of talent. Tom McEwen came to the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event to prove he’s on form with James and Joe Lambert and Deirdre Johnston’s JL Dublin, and he’s out in front after two days of dressage.
Derek di Grazia’s name is legend at the Kentucky Horse Park as the designer of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country course for over a decade, in addition to countless other influential tracks around the world. Now with the inclusion of the Cosequin CCI4*-S division, which runs alongside the famed five-star, riders at both the four- and five-star levels get to experience one of the iconic di Grazia Kentucky tracks while competing in the bluegrass. The USEA caught up with riders of both levels to get their feedback on this year’s courses.
Two riders will share the top spot on the leaderboard in the Cosequin CCI4*-S at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event upon the conclusion of dressage on Friday. Early in the morning, Great Britain’s Lucienne Bellissimo found herself launching up the scoreboard after a beautiful test with Dyri earned them a score of 26.0. While no other pair could top their performance, one team did match it perfectly near the end of the day– Liz Halliday (USA) and her 2023 Pan American Games silver medal mount Miks Master C.