Seidel and Lagoy-Weltz Appointed U.S. Dressage Assistant Pathway Coaches

Dressage

U.S.A.

U.S. Equestrian has added Olympian Guenter Seidel and Grand Prix rider Olivia Lagoy-Weltz to the U.S. Dressage Program coaching staff and pathway programs, strengthening access to resources and supporting additional opportunities for program participants.

USEF Dressage Assistant Pathway Coaches

Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and Guenter Seidel will join the program as USEF Dressage Assistant Pathway Coaches, working alongside Technical Advisor & Chef d’Equipe Christine Traurig and George Williams, USEF Dressage High Performance & Pathway Development Advisor and Youth Coach.

“I am extremely excited to work with these two longtime colleagues of mine who I have known and respected for many years. Both Olivia and Guenter will bring such skill and experience to the athletes in our programs,” said Traurig. “I feel very supported by their appointment to these positions, and I think they will be a tremendous addition for George and myself as we continue to build and strengthen the talent within our programs.”

More Access to Coaching

The USEF Dressage Pathway Program is generously supported by the USET Foundation, USEF sponsors, and members, made possible in part thanks to a lead gift by Akiko Yamazaki and Four Winds Farm.

As part of the program’s continued commitment to sustained success, the priority of adding depth and creating a diverse and comprehensive coaching staff has been paramount, alongside maximizing resources across all levels of the U.S. Dressage Pathway Programs.

Short Term Targets

LaGoy-Weltz and Seidel will collaborate with Technical Advisor & Chef d’Equipe, Christine Traurig, and USEF Dressage Program staff to create and implement educational, training, and competition-focused initiatives to prepare combinations for continued successful advancement through the U.S. Dressage Pathway.

LaGoy-Weltz will attend the 2025 North American Youth Championships to support Williams and the U25 combinations, while Seidel will focus on the development level combinations at the 2025 USEF Festival of Champions. Both coaches are scheduled to lead training sessions around the country this fall.

Long-Term Goals

The expanded coaching staff will also work to assess athlete and horse combinations and provide structured and accessible training guidance, as well as identify and communicate areas of performance and home program improvement with participants and their respective coaches and teams.

Together, the coaches and program staff, will continue to develop and review sustainable performance-driven strategies aiming to foster long-term success and deliver podium results, both in the preparation for, and on home soil at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Experience

German born Guenter Seidel is a three-time U.S. Olympian having competed at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympics, winning team bronze three times on three different horses (Graf George, Foltaire, Aragon). He also won team silver at the 2002 World Equestrian Games (Nikolas) and team bronze at the 2006 World Equestrian Games (Aragon). He got team silver at the 1995 Pan American Games. His last major championship was the 2016 World Cup Finals (Zero Gravity). Seidel is currently competing internationally with Louise Leatherdale's horses Jack and Equirelle.

Olivia LaGoy-Weltz made her name as an international Grand Prix rider with Rassing's Lonoir. She actively competed on the high performance circuit from 2015 - 2022. She was travelling alternate for the 2015 Pan American Games. She pursued a team spot for the 2016 Olympics and 2018 WEG but didn't make the cut. She represented the U.S.A in the FEI Nations Cup in Rotterdam and Aachen in both 2017 and 2018. She qualified for the 2020 and 2021 World Cup Finals, but had the tough luck that both events were cancelled due to corona. In 2021 she was the non-travelling team alternate for the Olympics in Tokyo. After the retirement of Lonoir, Lagoy returned to the CDI scene in 2024 with Fade to Black.

Both "bring extensive international competition and coaching experience to the program, having represented the United States in team competition throughout their careers," USEF stated. "Their knowledge and proven ability to develop combinations will be instrumental in supporting emerging talent and building toward success on the world stage at all levels."