U.S Equestrian Federation Updates Dressage Squads for 2026

Dressage

U.S.A.

The United States equestrian federation has announced the updated dressage squads leading up the new 2026 competition year.

In the U.S.A. the squads are part of the "U.S. Dressage Pathway Programs" and they are not called A/B/C squads but have different names, such as Elite, Pre-Elite, Development, Emerging Young Horse, and Youth athlete.

These program lists are established based on competition results within the past 12 months and are supported by Christine Traurig (Technical Advisor, Chef d’Equipe, Development and Young Horse Coach), Olivia LaGoy Weltz and Guenter Seidel (Assistant Pathway Coaches) and George Williams (Pathway Advisor and Youth Coach).

In 2025, the USEF Dressage program has to date, hosted six training/evaluation sessions for program members along with home visits, and seven USEF Training Series opportunities open to all FEI levels.

Working Towards L.A. 2028

“We have worked very collaboratively with the athletes in our programs to identify objective performance targets, which continue to drive our training and competition preparation, while also focusing on individual goals for combinations to push for improvement and depth across our entire pathway,” said Traurig.

“While some of the targets may seem bold, our coaching staff and the athletes agree we must hold ourselves to a realistic but high standard to ensure we meet the quality of performance on the field of play which will help us build momentum and success over the next three years. We always have a podium finish at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games as our north star and feel confident we are moving the needle in the right direction to produce consistency and success on the road to LA.”

Grand Prix Goals

As part of the program’s outlined goals for 2026, targets have been set which include a top finish in the FEI Nations Cup Wellington CDIO3*, securing placings inside of the top ten at the World Cup Final in Ft. Worth Texas, as well as finishing inside the top six teams at the 2026 World Championships in Aachen.

Expectations for program participants competing at the Grand Prix level include displaying ability to score at least 71% or above for the Pre-Elite program, while focusing on those combinations with the ability to score above 74% progressing towards joining the Elite program.

Looking towards 2027 and 2028, the program has identified performance targets including podium finishes at the 2027 Pan American Games, as well as the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Updated Squads

The new squads include several interesting updates compared to May 2025. Olympian Adrienne Lyle is no longer listed in the elite or pre-elite (Grand Prix A and B-squad), nor with Paris rider Helix, whom she last showed at the 2025 World Cup Finals, nor with Lars van de Hoenderheide, who has been rehabbing from an injury. Endel Ots and Bohemian, who have not competed since the CDIO Aachen in July 2024, are still on the list, hinting at a potential come-back to the arena.

Elite

Pre-Elite

Anna Marek - Fayvel
Marcus Orlob - Jane
Endel Ots - Bohemian
Christian Simonson - Indian Rock

Development

Katherine Bateson-Chandler - Haute Couture,
Laura Brandt - Ikon,
Katie Duerrhammer - Rosebank VH
Benjamin Ebeling - Bellena
Christopher Hickey - Saskatoon OMF
Quinn Iverson - Gremlin
Tina Konyot - Grover,
Kelly Layne - Living Diamond
Adrienne Lyle - Hussmans Topgun
Anna Marek - Fire Fly
Sarah Mason-Beaty - Kanjer TC
Marcus Orlob - JJ Glory Day
Kasey Perry-Glass - Heartbeat W.P.
Rebecca Rigdon - MSJ for VIPS
Genay Vaughn - Gino
Jennifer Williams - Joppe K
Andrea Woodard - Roberto de Fontaine and Roxette

Emerging Young Horse

Hope Cooper - O Romeo S
Laura DeCesari - VP Ice Man
Charell Garcia - MW Virtuous and Verrazzano MW
Justin Giles - Templeton’s Milano
Mary Lauritsen - Oliver R Tambo SV
Adrienne Lyle - Zaunkonig
Rebecca Rigdon - Stay Cool
Caroline Roffman - Onassis
Alice Tarjan - Orado
Petra Warlimont - Deambulo PWD

Emerging Athlete

Josh Albrecht - Goldenboy Vinckenburgh
Alicia Berger - Aqua Marin
Grace Christianson - FHF Roulee
Cheyenne Duncan -Skikkild’s De’Nozzo
Eila Fisk - Quaresma
Abby Fodor - Dazzle
Gianna Foley - Happy Khan
Sophia Forsyth - Dimagico
Kat Fuqua - Dreamgirl
Caroline Garren - Quantaris
Lexie Kment - Gatino van Hof Olympia
Olivia Martz - Rihanna Ymas
Gwenyth Miller - Rubinette N
Allison Nemeth - Leviathan
Erin Nichols - Elian Royale and Kind Pleasure
Christian Simonson - Fleau de Baian
Haley Smith - Great Lady TC
Claire Tucker - Finnur
Virginia Woodcock - Mollegardens Sans-Souci
Maverick Wright - Maple Lane Kero