Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is excited to announce the 11th annual George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session, to be held at The Stadium at Equestrian Village, the home of the Global Dressage Festival, in Wellington, Fla., January 3-7, 2017. The training session is designed to identify and develop the next generation of top U.S. Equestrian Team talent through instruction in a variety of aspects of horsemastership. Past participants have gone on to represent the U.S. on recent Nations Cup teams, including Lillie Keenan, who produced a clear round in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Final in September to help the U.S. secure the Bronze medal; Ali Wolff, who placed second with the U.S. team at CSIO4* Coapexpan in April; and Tori Colvin and Kelli Cruciotti, who were on the Gold medal-winning Young Rider Team at CSIO Wellington in March.

The 2017 Training Session will feature intensive mounted sessions led by internationally acclaimed U.S. athletes, as well as daily instruction on all facets of horsemastership from experts in their respective fields. In the barn, Training Session Barn Manager Colleen Reed will guide the participants as they complete all of their own horse care throughout the Training Session. In the saddle, clinicians Anne Kursinski, Beezie Madden, and Laura Kraut will work with the participants in sessions focusing on flatwork, gymnastics, and courses, respectively. Similar to last year, the Program will conclude with a Nations Cup-style session on Saturday, January 7. Kraut, who also led the final session in 2016, said, “Teaching young riders to ride on a team is crucial for our future success in international competition. Last year, we introduced the Nations Cup format and I really felt it was a valuable addition to the Training Session. I am thrilled to return in 2017 as this program provides an incredible experience for our up-and-coming athletes.”

The USEF thanks the many clinicians and sponsors who make this event possible and Equestrian Sport Productions who generously hosts the Training Session.

The following twelve athletes will be invited to participate:

• The Young Rider and Junior Individual Gold medalists at the 2016 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North
• The Individual Gold medalist at the 2016 Neue Schule/USEF National Junior Jumper Championships
• The winner of the 2016 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – East
• The winner of the 2016 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – West
• Two riders from the 2016 USHJA Emerging Athletes Program National Training Session
• Five riders chosen from Wild Card Applications

Athletes interested in Wild Card Applications should contact Casey Easley, USEF Show Jumping Director of High Performance Programs, at ceasley@usef.org. Applications will be due Monday, November 21 by 5:00 p.m. ET.

The public is welcome to audit all mounted sessions at no charge.

From the USEF Communications Department

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the riders for the 10th annual George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session to be held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Fla., December 30, 2015 through January 2, 2016. The USEF Training Session, which is presented by the USHJA and sponsored by Adequan, Practical Horseman, Toklat, Ariat, and Equestrian Sport Productions, is designed to develop the next generation of U.S. Equestrian Team talent. Twelve athletes earned invitations to the 2016 Training Session through one of three avenues: performance in USEF marker competitions, selection at the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program National Training Session, or by selection from the pool of Wild Card applicants. The athletes are as follows:

Lucy Deslauriers (Young Rider Individual Gold at the 2015 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North and Individual Gold at the 2015 Neue Schule/USEF National Junior Jumper Championships)

Vivian Yowan (Junior Individual Gold at the 2015 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North)

Victoria Colvin (Winner of the 2015 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – East)

Ransome Rombauer (Winner of the 2015 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – West and Reserve Champion at the 2015 USHJA Emerging Athletes Program National Training Session)

Danielle Roskens (Champion at the 2015 USHJA Emerging Athletes Program National Training Session)

Kelli Cruciotti (Wild Card Applicant)

Ailish Cunniffe (Wild Card Applicant)

Mitch Endicott (Wild Card Applicant)

Daisy Farish (Wild Card Applicant)

Eve Jobs (Wild Card Applicant)

TJ O’Mara (Wild Card Applicant)

Katherine Strauss (Wild Card Applicant)

These up-and-coming athletes will receive intensive mounted and unmounted instruction from acclaimed U.S. equestrians and experts in their respective fields. Participants and horses will arrive on December 30 and settle into the venue, which is generously donated by Equestrian Sport Productions, before receiving equine care and management instruction from Training Session Barn Manager Colleen Reed, whose extensive knowledge has made her a favorite among past participants. Throughout the USEF Training Session, Reed will guide and support participants as they care for their horses from morning chores to night check without assistance from grooms or trainers. Along the way, participants will have access to Dr. Tim Ober, DVM, who has been the U.S. Show Jumping Team veterinarian at countless Nations Cup and Championship competitions. Dr. Ober will give the riders a behind-the-scenes look at how he evaluates jumpers and identifies areas of focus to help them achieve peak performance.

On December 31, Christine Traurig, the U.S. Dressage Young Horse Coach and an Olympic Bronze medalist, will work with the riders on the flat with an emphasis on the suppleness and connection required for jumping. The riders will then apply these skills over fences with U.S. Show Jumping Olympic Gold medalists Beezie Madden and Laura Kraut. On January 1, Madden will work with participants over gymnastics exercises designed to prepare the horses and riders for the following day’s courses. Kraut’s session on January 2 will focus on Nations Cup-style jumping, including how to execute in the ring and the teamwork required for success.

The USEFNetwork.com will host live streaming coverage from the USEF 2016 George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session and the public is welcome to audit all mounted sessions in person at no charge. A complete time schedule will be available in mid-December.

For more information about the 2016 George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session, please contact Casey Easley, USEF Show Jumping Director of High Performance Programs, at ceasley@usef.org.

From the USEF Communications Department