Lexington, Kentucky – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is now accepting applications for the “Verden Experience.” In 2013, USEF began providing the opportunity for a small group of riders, trainers, breeders and owners of Dressage Young Horses to participate in a trip to the FEI World Breeding Championships for Dressage Young Horses. The 2014 Championship will take place in Verden, Germany, on August 6-10, 2014. The “Verden Experience” will be led by USEF Young Horse Coach Scott Hassler and will include tickets to the Dressage events as well as meetings with European young horse dressage experts. Participants will be responsible for their own travel to the Championships as well as meals and hotel. USEF will assist with obtaining hotel rooms.

The “Verden Experience” application is open to anyone who has participated in the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage National Championships as a rider, trainer, owner or breeder. Spaces in the selected group will be reserved for, but not limited to, the winners of each age division (Four-, Five- and Six-Year-Old divisions) of the previous year’s National Championship. This means that the 2014 trip will have spaces reserved for those who won their age divisions in the 2013 Championships. Priority will also be given to those individuals who have been a rider, trainer, owner or breeder of U.S.-bred horses.

Online applications are due December 1, 2013 and can be found here: https://www.usef.org/_IFrames/breedsDisciplines/discipline/alldressage/dressageBreedingChampionshipsYoungHorse.aspx.

Any questions regarding this opportunity should be directed to Hallye Griffin at (859) 225-6918 or hgriffin@usef.org.