Three familiar faces and two newcomers have been announced as the riders selected to the U.S. Dressage European Young Rider Tour and U.S. Dressage European U25 Tour.
Three American young riders and three Under 25 Grand Prix riders will compete in Europe this spring to gain experience and exposure.
Old and New
The names hold little surprise with three of them being return riders on the programme: Young Rider Erin Nichols was part of the 2022 group and this year will also compete in the U25 division; Simonson has been to Europe in 2021 and 2022; while U25 rider Ben Ebeling, who has German-American dual citizenship, first rode in Europe on the programme in 2018 and returned in 2019, 2021, and 2022.
The new comers are young rider Kat Fuqua and U25 rider Callie O'Connell, who has been training with German Christoph Koschel like Ebeling.
Compete at the CDIO-YR Hagen
Selected for the U.S. Dressage European Young Rider Tour:
- Kat Fuqua (Atlanta, Ga.) and Dreamgirl, her own 2008 Dutch Warmblood mare
- Erin Nichols (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and Handsome Rob AR, a 2012 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Diane Nichols
- Christian Simonson (Ventura, Calif.) and Son of a Lady, a 2011 Danish Warmblood gelding owned by Christina Morgan and Clifton Simonson
The combinations on the U.S. Dressage European Young Rider Tour will compete at CDIO-Y Hagen from June 13-18 in Germany. The athletes will be led by USEF Dressage Youth Coach George Williams.
Competitions to be Decided
The following athlete-and-horse combinations have been selected for the U.S. Dressage European U25 Tour and are listed in alphabetical order:
- Ben Ebeling (Wellington, Fla.) and Status Royal OLD, a 2010 Oldenburg gelding owned by Ann Romney
- Erin Nichols (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and Elian Royale, a 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Premiere Sport Horses
- Callie O’Connell (Wilmington, Mass.) and Eaton H, a 2009 KWPN gelding owned by Ruling Cortes LLC
The combinations on the U.S. Dressage European U25 Tour will compete as individuals in agreed upon European CDIU25 competitions.
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Riders Named to 2022 U.S. Young Rider European Tour and CDIO Compiegne
U.S. Young Riders Complete Successful 2019 Euro Tour, Cherish "Amazing Learning Experience"
Three U.S. Young Riders Selected for Euro Tour and 2019 CDIO-Y Hagen
American Young Riders Euro Tour Wraps Up at 2018 CDIO-PJYR Hagen
Three U.S. Young Riders Soak Up Experience on 2018 Discover Dressage Emerging Athlete Euro Tour