U.S. Dressage Team Short List for Paris 2024 Olympic Games Announced, One Surprise Omission

Dressage

U.S.A

US Equestrian has announced seven athletes and eight horses, which have been selected to the U.S. Dressage Team Olympic Short List for continued observation ahead of team selection for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games later this summer.

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. In its selection criteria USEF stated that "up to eight combinations" would be short listed. It has selected eight combinations, but only seven riders as Adrienne Lyle has been named with two horses.

Seven Riders Short Listed

The U.S. Olympic Short List includes

Steffen Peters (San Diego, Calif.) and Suppenkasper, a 2008 KWPN gelding (Spielberg x Krack C) owned by Four Winds Farm and Akiko Yamazaki
Adrienne Lyle (Wellington, Fla.) and Helix, a 2012 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Apache x Jazz) owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center; and Lars van de Hoenderheide, a 2011 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Negro x Layout) owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center
Endel Ots (Wellington, Fla.) and Bohemian, a 2010 Westphalian gelding (Bordeaux x Samarant) owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center
Anna Buffini (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) and Fiontini, her own 2010 Danish Warmblood mare (Fassbinder x Romanov)
Anna Marek (Dunnellon, Fla.) and Fire Fly, a 2010 KWPN gelding (Briar Junior out of Arieka) owned by Janet Simile
Katherine Bateson-Chandler (Wellington, Fla.) and Haute Couture, a 2012 Dutch Warmblood mare (Connaisseur x Krack C) owned by Jennifer Huber and Katherine Bateson-Chandler
Marcus Orlob (Loxahatchee, Fla.) and Jane, a 2014 Dutch Warmblood mare (Desperado x Metall) owned by Alice Tarjan

Tubman Out

Sarah Tubman on First Apple, who ranked eighth on the "Qualifying Period Ranking" and who was the seventh best scoring rider, has not been selected.

"I got a call yesterday and they said my trend in scores was not good enough," Tubman told Eurodressage. When asked if she still plans to travel to Europe to compete on her own account, Sarah added, "I’m not sure right now. I’m in shock so trying to figure stuff out."

Sarah Tubman's scoring average on First Apple was 70.817%, but at their last show they posted 65.167% in the Grand Prix (which became a drop score for the ranking). German born American Marcus Orlob, who has been short listed, has a scoring average of 70.761% aboard Alice Tarjan's Jane.

Euro Tour

The short list was announced shortly after the final Qualifying Period Ranking was published online.

The short listed riders will travel to Europe to continue competing and showing a "State of Preparedness". The riders need to submit a competition plan which much include a minimum of two CDIs between May 8, 2024 – June 25, 2024, and must include at least one of the following observation Events:

Le Mans CDI4* (FRA); May 30 – June 2, 2024 Or
Hagen CDI3* (GER); June 6-9, 2024 Or
Rotterdam CDIO5*-NC (NED); June 20-23, 2024

In the CDIO5* team competition, the combinations will be led by Chef d’Equipe Christine Traurig. Final team selection will be announced by June 25, 2024. All nominations to the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team are subject to approval by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

It might be possible that U.S. riders will be requested to compete in Aachen.