Wellington, Fla. – June 8, 2021 – This week in Wellington, the horse-and-rider combinations selected for the U.S. Dressage Team Olympic shortlist will perform before the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) team selectors in hopes of representing the U.S. in the Tokyo Olympics in August. The 14 shortlisted pairs will compete in both a Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special test at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) to showcase their skill and endurance in the Florida heat before the committee decision makers.
The setting of the observation event, the PBIEC’s International Stadium in Wellington, Florida, will be an apt test for competitors looking to travel to Tokyo, where the weather at the time of the Games is expected to be similar to that of South Florida, with temperatures in the low 90s with high humidity. Selectors for the final team will take into consideration the pairs’ performances and scores in the last two years, other international experience they have under their belts and how they may handle travel across the globe combined with potentially challenging weather conditions.
With the mandatory observation event taking place at the venue typically reserved for the Winter Equestrian Festival’s hunter and jumper competitors, many of the riders will be unfamiliar with the large stadium setting.
On Tuesday morning, all horses passed the jog inspection with flying colors, and will now gear up to perform their Grand Prix tests on Wednesday, June 9, at 8 p.m. Following a day off from competition and a session of media interviews on Thursday, riders will return with their mounts to ride their Grand Prix Special Test to music on Friday night under the stadium lights.
The riders who will be vying for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Dressage Team will be:
Susan Dutta (Wellington, Fla.) and her own and Tim Dutta’s Don Design DC, a 2010 Hanoverian gelding, and her own and Tim Dutta’s Figeac DC, a 2009 Oldenburg gelding
Ben Ebeling (Moorpark, Calif.) and Illuster Van De Kampert, a 2008 Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Sasha Cutter for Nuvolari Holdings and Amy Roberts Ebeling
Jessica Howington (Wellington, Fla.) and Cavalia, her own 2007 KWPN mare
Charlotte Jorst (Reno, Nev.) and Kastel’s Nintendo, a 2003 Warmblood stallion owned by Kastel Denmark
Olivia LaGoy-Weltz (Haymarket, Va.) and Rassing’s Lonoir, her own and Mary Anne McPhail’s 2004 Danish Warmblood gelding
Adrienne Lyle (Wellington, Fla.) and Salvino, a 2007 Hanoverian stallion owned by Betsy Juliano LLC, and Harmony’s Duval, a 2008 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Duval Partners LLC
Steffen Peters (San Diego, Calif.) and Suppenkasper, a 2008 KWPN gelding owned by Four Winds Farm and Akiko Yamazaki
Jennifer Schrader-Williams (Olympia, Wash.) and Millione a 2003 Danish Warmblood gelding owned by Millione Partners, LLC
Sabine Schut-Kery (Napa, Calif.) and Sanceo, a 2006 Hanoverian stallion owned by Alice Womble
Alice Tarjan (Oldwick, N.J.) and Candescent, her own 2010 Hanoverian mare
Nick Wagman (San Diego, Calif.) and Don John, a 2008 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Beverly Gepfer, and Ferano, a 2010 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Elizabeth Keadle
The event will not be open to free spectators, but hospitality tickets are available to be purchased in advance of the event. For questions about ticket sales, contact Kay Lamour at klamour@equestriansport.com. Live streaming of the event will be available to watch through the USEF Network.
