Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot at Aachen. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Hot off the presses, EN! The USEF Eventing High Performance Committee has announced the horses and riders on the High Performance Spring Training Lists for 2017. As we discussed in our coverage of the USEA Convention, the format of the lists is changing for 2017. Here’s a detailed explanation from the USEF:
“As the programs continue to evolve following the post Rio Olympic Games review, the USEF is working to develop more detailed criteria that allows athletes, owners, and trainers to better understand what is required to be named to these lists.
“Selectors evaluated several factors to determine athletes and horses for each set of lists: current form, consistent and quality results in past competitions, potential to make a valuable contribution in a team setting, as well as suitability and age of the horse for the identified championship (where applicable).
“The athletes will work with Technical Advisor David O’Connor to set goals and determine schedules for the horses on which they were named. Athletes will receive a specified amount of funding per horse to be designated directly towards coach and/or performance support as agreed to by O’Connor and the athlete.”
This current training list is split into an Elite List and Developing List. The USEF is defining the categories as follows:
- The Elite List is designated as athlete/horse combinations with the potential to compete at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games based on current form.
- The Developing List is designated as athlete/horse combinations or athletes with perceived championship potential in the next four years or beyond.
The USEF also clarified that horses and riders do not need to be on a training list in order to be considered for selection for a Games or Championships. The training lists will be reviewed in June 2017.
Without further ado, congratulations to the following horses and riders!
ELITE LIST
Hannah Sue Burnett (The Plains, Va.) with Jacqueline Mars’ Harbour Pilot, a 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding
Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) with Caroline Moran, Simon Roosevelt, and Thomas Tierney’s Fernhill Cubalawn, a 2004 Holsteiner gelding, and the HND Group’s Mighty Nice, a 2004 Irish Sport Horse gelding
Lauren Kieffer (Middleburg, Va.) with Team Rebecca, LLC’s Veronica, a 2005 Dutch Warmblood mare, and Marie Le Menestrel’s Meadowbrook’s Scarlett, a 2007 Thoroughbred Cross mare
Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) with the Blackfoot Mystery Syndicate’s Blackfoot Mystery, a 2004 Thoroughbred gelding, and Gloria Callen’s Welcome Shadow, a 2005 Thoroughbred Cross mare
DEVELOPING LIST
Matt Brown (Cochranville, Pa.) with Blossom Creek Foundation’s Super Socks BCF, a 2006 Irish Sport Horse gelding
Will Coleman (Charlottesville, Va.) with The Conair Syndicate’s Soupcon de Brunet, a 2006 Anglo-Arabian gelding, and Tight Lines, a 2007 French Thoroughbred gelding
Phillip Dutton with Thomas Tierney, Simon Roosevelt, Suzanne Lacy, Ann Jones, and Caroline Moran’s Z, a 2008 Zangersheide gelding
Lillian Heard (Hamilton, Va.) with her own LCC Barnaby, a 2006 Irish Sport Horse gelding
Lauren Kieffer with Debbie Adams and Jacqueline Mars’ D.A. Duras, a 2008 Dutch Warmblood gelding
Marilyn Little (Frederick, Md.) with Jacqueline Mars, Robin Parsky, and Phoebe and Michael Manders’ RF Scandalous, a 2005 Oldenburg mare
Meghan O’Donoghue (Carbondale, Ill.) with Chase and Darcie Shipka’s Palm Crescent, a 2006 Thoroughbred gelding
Doug Payne (Aiken, S.C.) with his own and Debi Crowley and Jessica Payne’s Vandiver, a 2004 Trakehner gelding
Tamie Smith (Temecula, Calif.) with Alexandra and Ellen Ahearn and Eric Markell’s Mai Baum, a 2006 German Sport Horse gelding
Lynn Symansky (Middleburg, Va.) with The Donner Syndicate, LLC’s Donner, a 2003 Thoroughbred gelding
