U.S. Equestrian Federation Publishes Olympic Team Selection Procedures

Dressage

U.S.A.

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has posted the final dressage athlete selection procedures for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Steffen Peters currently leads the "Qualifying Period Ranking" for U.S. Olympic Short List consideration going into 2024.

Ranking Based on CDI Scores

USEF works with a Ranking list based on the average score that U.S. riders obtained at U.S. and foreign CDI 3*/4*/5*/CDI-W or CDIO events beginning 11 September 2023 and ending 6 May 2024.

According to Dressage-News, "fifteen CDIs that can be used by riders seeking qualifying scores remain on the U.S. competition calendar: 10 in Florida, 4 in California and 1 in Texas."

USEF added, "It is anticipated that athlete/horse combinations must complete the FEI Grand Prix test and the FEI Grand Prix Special test in combination." Grand Prix Kur scores are not considered.

Short List

Based on the average scores, and other factors at the discretion of USEF, a short list of up to eight combinations will be drafted. Athletes may be named to the Short List with more than one horse.

"The Ranking is anticipated to be one of several factors considered in the selection of the Short List," USEF stated leaving open other considerations for nomination that factual scores, such as horse health, team conduct, etc.

The Short Listed combinations will have to compete in "Observation Events" between 13 May and 7 July 2024 and may include events in Europe and/or events within the United States.

Dressage-news speaks of the CDIO Rotterdam as an observation event, but we don't see this posted in the official document.

The Ranking So Far

At the moment, Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper lead the ranking with one Grand Prix score, 74.804%.

Sarah Tubman and First Apple stand in second place with an average score of 73.469%. 2023 Pan American Games bronze medal winner Anna Marek and Fire Fly stand in third place with 71.040% 2012 Olympian Jan Ebeling stands fourth on Jubi's Tenacity with 70.866%.

Three riders are nominated to the team and one-travelling reserve.

Of the 2021 Tokyo team, Steffen Peters holds the strangest cards. Sabine Schut-Kery's Sanceo has been retired, and the health status of Adrienne Lyle's Salvino is still up in the air. The pair last competed in January 2023 and was withdrawn from 2023 World Cup Finals' contention for fitness issues.

With a big group of newly acquired Grand Prix horses having arrived in the U.S.A., the race for the U.S. olympic short list is still wide open. The 2024 Global Dressage Festival in the next few months will be the principal battle ground for spots on the short list.