Tag Archives: USET Foundation

Classic Company, Community/Charity, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Supporting the USET Foundation at the Aiken Summer Classic

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The Classic Company is proud to announce that it will be promoting the United States Equestrian Team Foundation (USET) and the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games at the Aiken Summer Classic, June 16-20 and June 23-27, 2021. “All of the entry fees from the Low Hunters and Training Jumpers, our largest classes, will be donated to the USET Foundation, which provides funding for the Olympic and Paralympic teams as well as United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Developing and High Performance Programs,” said Bob Bell, President of the Classic Company. “We are proud of our Olympic and Paralympic Teams and wish them great success as they represent the United States in Tokyo this summer.”

“Given the added layer of complexity and logistics due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rescheduling of Tokyo 2020, this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games will be the costliest Games in the history of the United States Equestrian Team,” said Bonnie Jenkins, Executive Director, USET. “At the same time, as the philanthropic partner to the USEF, we cannot lose sight of the USEF Development and Pathway Programs that are priming our country’s elite, young athletes to successfully represent the United States on the greatest international stages in the future.

“We are extremely grateful to Bob Bell and his team at the Aiken Summer Classics for their support of the USET Foundation,” Jenkins continued. “It’s wonderful to have a competition organizer acknowledging the commitment required to sustain a safe and successful experience for our athletes and horses in Tokyo, as well as finding creative ways to support our athletes more broadly.”

If exhibitors want to make an individual donation to support the U.S. Teams and the USET Foundation, they will receive an attractive blue armband with the USET logo designating the individual as a USET supporter. Riders are encouraged to proudly wear the armband in the ring while competing. Click here to donate today.

ClassicCompany.com
GulfCoastClassicCompany.com
Phone/Fax: (843) 768-5503
Post Office Box 1311, Johns Island, SC 29457

Community/Charity, Equestrian Assistance, Fundraisers, Olympic Games

US Equestrian & USET Foundation Join Giving Games Fundraising Effort Aimed to Support US Athletes

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Lexington, KY – US Equestrian and the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation have announced their joint participation in a collaborative and creative fundraising campaign launched by Olympic & Paralympic National Governing Bodies (NGB) titled the Giving Games. The Giving Games’ ultimate goal is to support and sustain U.S. athletes ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games, which have been postponed to the summer of 2021.

U.S. athletes rely heavily on their NGB organizations to financially assist with training and preparation needs, and many athletes are facing financial hardships and challenging obstacles due to the significant number of domestic and international competition cancellations so far this year. Joining 20 other NGBs within the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic movement, US Equestrian and USET Foundation will partake in the multi-week fundraiser beginning Friday, July 24, and running through August 9, 2020, the original window of this summer’s now postponed Games.

The philanthropic effort is multi-faceted with varying donation opportunities, including pooled funds and direct giving opportunities to the USET Foundation. All funds raised will be received via direct donation or equally divided among participating organizations in order to support their athletes’ needs as they prepare for an additional year of training as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic postponement.

Fans and supporters of U.S. equestrian high performance athletes, US Equestrian, and USET Foundation can contribute to the Giving Games in the following ways beginning Friday, July 24:

  • Donate directly to the USET Foundation to help support our equestrian athletes. Every dollar raised up to $50,000 will be matched by a generous supporter of the Foundation, doubling the amount that our equestrians will receive in their quest for the podium in 2021. In addition, donors will have a chance to be entered into the “Medal of Giving” awards, recognizing the top three cumulative donors based on donations received by August 9, 2020.
  • Donate to the Giving Games pooled funds by participating in Giving Game promotions and events which will be launched throughout the promotion period and divided equally amongst participating NGBs.
  • Text ‘GIVINGGAMES’ to 243725.

The Giving Games effort has partnered with notable brands, corporations, and businesses including BuzzFeed and Omaze to create unique and exciting ways for fans and supporters to continue contributing to the Giving Games effort, which will be announced in the coming week.

To learn more about the Giving Games, please visit giving-games.com.

Learn more at www.uset.org.

Contact: Jennifer Wood
jennifer@jumpmediallc.com

Awards, Eventing/H.T., USET Foundation

USET Foundation Awards Mia Farley with Amanda Pirie Warrington Grant

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Mia Farley and BGS Firecracker (Photo courtesy of Taylor Pence/US Equestrian)

Gladstone, NJ – The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation has awarded the 2020 Amanda Pirie Warrington Grant to Mia Farley, a current member of the United States Equestrian Federation (US Equestrian) Emerging Athlete Eventing 25 Program.

As the recipient of the grant, Farley, who trains with the O’Connor Event Team, will receive up to $5,000 to help offset expenses associated with her training over the next year. Note: the grant is valid for this year or next, if necessary, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“It is an honor [to receive this grant],” said Farley, of San Clemente, Calif. “The fact that they recognized me and what [I accomplished] last year is huge. This is a big deal for me and really special. I have talked to a couple people [about how to use it], and the most beneficial thing would be to possibly go overseas and get some experience and see how it all works.”

Farley received this select distinction following a solid 2019 competition season. In her first year competing at CCI3-S, CCI3*-L, CCI4*-S, and CCI4-L level events, she placed in the top 15 in eight of the 12 FEI competitions entered. Most notably, she placed second in The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International Three-Day Event CCI4*-L with BGS Firecracker, the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare she owns with Paddy Byrne.

In their debut CCI4*-L, they finished on their dressage score of 38.30. Earlier in the year, they jumped double clear, picking up only 4.4. time penalties to place fifth in the Jersey Fresh International CCI3*-S. US Equestrian named Farley to the Emerging Athlete Eventing 18 Program in 2014. She advanced to the Emerging Athlete Eventing Athlete 25 Program in 2019. In addition, she was part of the bronze medal-winning Area VI team at the 2016 FEI North American Youth Championships.

The USET Foundation Amanda Pirie Warrington Fund allocates the Amanda Pirie Warrington Grant annually. Pirie’s family established the fund in her memory for the purpose of providing financial assistance to an eventing athlete identified with great talent and ability to represent the United States in the future. It is intended for a recipient that will benefit most from the opportunity to continue their training with top coaches and to compete against the world’s best in eventing, one of three Olympic equestrian disciplines.

Thanks to the Amanda Pirie Warrington Grant, Farley can continue to focus on her training and prepare for competitions, helping to reach her goal of representing the United States on the international stage.

For more information on the USET Foundation, visit www.uset.org.

Equestrian Assistance, Jump Media, Olympic Games, USET Foundation

A Message from the USET Foundation

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Gladstone, NJ – As the world navigates through these uncertain times, the USET Foundation continues to focus on its mission and the support of our athletes as they move forward in preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Now, more than ever, they need our support and we will continue doing the important work of fundraising to help our U.S. teams achieve their goals and dreams.

Per the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee: “Despite the ever-changing nature of coronavirus, its global impact, and the hypothetical scenarios that have entered the conversation, the USOPC has not been given any information to suggest that the Tokyo 2020 Games will not go ahead as scheduled and as planned. We, like the athletes who are training to compete at their very best in Tokyo, are focused on being prepared to support our Olympic and Paralympic teams in Japan. It remains our great hope that Team USA athletes – having dedicated an incalculable amount of time and effort in hopes of representing the United States in the Olympic and Paralympic Games – will have the opportunity to live out their athletic dreams in Tokyo.”

As our athletes continue to prepare this spring and heading into the summer, their entire support network surrounding them remains engaged. We are resolute in continuing to do our part to support US Equestrian’s high performance sport and hope that you will join the team in “Raising the Bar” for our U.S. athletes.

USET Foundation has taken measures to address the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the team working in Gladstone. Aiming toward our fundraising goals, we remain open and are available by phone and e-mail. We encourage our friends and supporters to stay informed through the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

We hope that you will join us in our support of America’s teams, not only in this championship year, but going forward, as we plan for future games and build the pipeline of young athletes moving up in equestrian sport. Our athletes are determined to make their mark on history, and we are committed to supporting them throughout their journeys by providing the necessary resources for their success.

Learn more at www.uset.org.

Contact: Emily Randolph
emily@jumpmediallc.com
www.jumpmediallc.com

Awards, Community/Charity, Eventing/H.T., Show Jumping

Brian Moggre, Boyd Martin, and Abigail Wexner Awarded USET Foundation’s Highest Honors

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(left to right) Leah Rogers Meirfeld of Hermès, Brian Moggre, USET Foundation Vice President William Weeks, and USET Foundation Chairman, President, and CEO James McNerney. Photo by Jump Media.

Wellington, FL – The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation presented the organization’s three most prestigious awards to Brian Moggre, Boyd Martin, and Abigail Wexner on January 17 at the “Take Me to Tokyo” gala in Wellington, FL.

Brian Moggre Named Recipient of Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy

Brian Moggre, 19, of Flower Mound, TX, was awarded the 2020 Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy, presented annually to a junior/young rider in one of the Olympic disciplines who demonstrates the team’s values of sportsmanship and horsemanship.

Riders who are awarded the Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy are identified as athletes with great potential, and the list of winners who have received the award is a “who’s who” of the U.S. Equestrian Team in the Olympic disciplines – to which Moggre now adds his name.

“I am awestruck to be receiving this award,” said Moggre, who has made a name for himself as a rising show jumping star to watch after winning the both the 2019 $100,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Ocala CSI3*-W at Live Oak International and the $225,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Lexington CSI4*-W at only 18 years of age.

“It takes a huge team to make all of this happen, and that’s really what I’m thankful for,” continued Moggre after having accepted the award. “I’m so thankful to Gianna Aycock, Mike McCormick, and Tracy Fenney and my current team of Emily Smith and Ken Smith as well as my parents and Lesley Leeman, who takes care of my horses.

“I’m very honored to now have my name on a trophy with the best riders in the entire world, and it means so much to me.”

Patrick Guerrand-Hermès established the Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Memorial Award in 1983 in memory of his son, Lionel, who was tragically killed in an automobile accident in 1981 at the age of 18. Lionel trained with the United States Equestrian Team and was talented enough to be considered an Olympic hopeful. Included on the list of past winners inscribed on the perpetual trophy are such notable names as Greg Best, Chris Kappler, McLain Ward, and Buck Davidson, among many others.

Boyd Martin Wins Whitney Stone Cup

The 2020 Whitney Stone Cup was awarded to Olympic eventer Boyd Martin, identifying him as an active competitor who displays consistent excellence in international competition, as well as exemplifying high standards of sportsmanlike conduct, while serving as an ambassador for the United States and equestrian sport.

“It’s an absolute privilege and honor to receive the Whitney Stone Cup this year,” said Martin, who operates his training business, Windurra LLC, out of Cochranville, PA alongside his wife Silva, a grand prix dressage rider. “Winning this award is one of my proudest achievements. To be recognized alongside some of the past winners is truly a humbling feeling. The USET Foundation has given me every chance and every opportunity to allow me to be the best I can be and to achieve all the success I had in 2019.”

Martin is one of today’s leading event riders, having enjoyed success at the highest level of the sport and every major eventing competition in the world. He has consistently been ranked top 10 in the world since leaving Australia in 2007 and has competed on every U.S. Championship team since changing his citizenship in 2010.

Martin has represented the U.S. at two Olympic Games, three FEI World Equestrian Games, and two Pan American Games.

He has twice been the highest-placed U.S. rider at the FEI World Equestrian Games and led the U.S. to team gold at both Pan American Games appearances.

At the 2019 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, Martin finished second with Tsetserleg, owned by Christine Turner, to win the USEF CCI5*-L National Championship. This result landed Martin and Tsetserleg on the Pan American Games team for Lima, where the team had to win gold or silver to qualify the U.S. for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Martin delivered under pressure to win individual gold – the first individual medal of his career – and secure team gold and Tokyo qualification.

“I really feel like I’m starting to hit top gear coming into 2020, and I’m so proud to be an American, representing the stars and stripes,” said Martin. “I can’t wait to get out there and see what this year brings.”

Abigail Wexner Awarded R. Bruce Duchossois Distinguished Trustee Award

The USET Foundation presented Abigail Wexner with the 2020 R. Bruce Duchossois Distinguished Trustee Award, recognizing her distinguished service to the USET Foundation Board of Trustees.

Wexner has been a member of the board for 12 years, and she has been one of the lead donors to the Campaign for Achieving Competitive Excellence, the Campaign for Continuing Our Competitive Excellence, and she is now chairing, along with Jim McNerney and Jacqueline B. Mars, the Raising the Bar Campaign. As part of the campaign, Wexner has established the Wexner Olympic Endowment as a source of support for U.S. athletes and teams in Olympic years.

Wexner is a long-time horse owner and has been partnered with top jumper rider Beezie Madden for more than 15 years. Madden has ridden Wexner’s horses on numerous Nations Cup teams, along with the 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympic Games and the 2006, 2010, and 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games. This partnership has produced for the United States two gold, three silver, and three bronze medals in Olympic and World Championships, two World Cup Finals victories, and been a part of 18 winning Nations Cup teams.

A true ambassador of the sport, Wexner’s distinguished service through excellence in leadership, philanthropy, and character has positively impacted the Foundation’s mission of supporting athletes, promoting international excellence, and building for the future.

A true ambassador of the sport, Wexner’s distinguished service through excellence in leadership, philanthropy, and character has positively impacted the Foundation’s mission of supporting athletes, promoting international excellence, and building for the future.

The R. Bruce Duchossois Distinguished Trustee Award was established in 2015 in recognition and honor of Bruce Duchossois’s leadership, generosity, and outstanding character. Duchossois’s life was celebrated that year as the first recipient of the prestigious award, and now the legacy he created lives on in others through the award with the annual presentation to a USET Foundation Trustee who exemplifies the qualities he embodied.

The presentation of the USET Foundation’s three distinguished awards and this year’s Take Me to Tokyo gala, hosted by honorary chairmen Lou and Joan Jacobs and chairs Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa, were made possible thanks to the USET Foundation’s generous donors and sponsors, including MARS Equestrian and the Take Me to Tokyo cocktail hour sponsor, NetJets.

The USET Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports the competition, training, coaching, travel, and educational needs of America’s elite and developing international, high performance horses and athletes in partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation. To learn more and to support the Raising the Bar campaign, please visit www.uset.org.

Community/Charity

Take Me to Tokyo Gala Raises $1.5M to Publicly Launch “Raising the Bar” Campaign

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Patti Scialfa and Bruce Springsteen. Photo by Jump Media.

Wellington, FL – The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation publicly launched its $40 million “Raising the Bar” campaign on Friday, January 17, at the organization’s Take Me to Tokyo gala at Deeridge Farm in Wellington, FL.

With more than 500 guests in attendance, the gala event, featuring chairs Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa and hosted by honorary chairmen Lou and Joan Jacobs, raised more than $1.5 million to support U.S. equestrian athletes and the U.S. Equestrian Teams headed to the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Those funds help put the USET Foundation one step closer to the non-profit’s $40 million “Raising the Bar” campaign goal, and, thanks to the generous support of committed donors, it was announced on Friday night that that goal is now less than $9 million away.

Since 2017, the “Raising the Bar” campaign has privately raised more than $31 million that will allow the USET Foundation to ensure that U.S. equestrian athletes and teams have the financial resources needed to be competitive around the world.

“The USET is the not-for-profit entity that funds our teams in all international disciplines – the engine that enables our teams to represent us around the world,” said USET Foundation President James McNerney in Friday evening’s opening remarks. “The funds support our High Performance programs, including our senior teams – for their travel, logistics, coaches, veterinarians.

“We also support developing teams and our emerging level athletes – the [USEF] Talent Search, for example, and the North American Youth Championships,” continued McNerney. “As you can imagine, this is an ambitious agenda, and it requires hard work and significant funding. It takes a committed community to keep us at the top of the sport and ensure we have a pipeline of talent to stay there.”

Each and every campaign donor is critical to the campaign’s success. Included among the lead donors, whose gifts have and will continue to make a lasting impact, are:

  • Abigail Wexner who funded the Wexner Olympic Endowment
  • Fritz and Claudine Kundrun who funded the Development Dressage Program
  • Jane Forbes Clark for the establishment of the Clark Endowment Fund
  • Jacqueline B. Mars for the establishment of the Giltedge Endowment
  • Paul and Wendy Raether for the Raether Show Jumping Endowment

Springsteen and Scialfa were also among those instrumental in making a lasting impact in the success of the Take Me to Tokyo gala, thanks to their live auction donations of a Springsteen-signed Harley Davidson motorcycle and a signed FENDER guitar. Springsteen took the stage to help auction off the items, and, with Springsteen inciting higher bids by offering to start singing if the value reached a certain point, the two items raised more than $300,000 – enough for Springsteen to take over the stage and bring the full-house crowd to its feet and onto the dance floor.

Now, following the event and the “Raising the Bar” campaign’s public kick-off, the USET Foundation looks to others to help reach the final fundraising goal.

“In this public phase, we will need everyone’s help to reach our $40 million goal this year,” said McNerney. “We have a big year ahead with the [FEI] World Cup Finals in [the United States], and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo. The money raised through this campaign will help fund development through senior programs, not only this year, but also into the next quadrennial.”

The USET Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports the competition, training, coaching, travel, and educational needs of America’s elite and developing international, high performance horses and athletes in partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation. To learn more and to support the Raising the Bar campaign, please visit www.uset.org.

Community/Charity

Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa Named Chairs of USET Foundation Take Me to Tokyo Gala

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Photo courtesy of the USET Foundation.

Wellington, FL – Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa will join honorary chairmen Lou and Joan Jacobs as chairs of the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation’s Take Me to Tokyo gala, to be held on Friday, January 17, in Wellington, FL.

The gala, hosted by the Jacobs at their Deeridge Farm beginning at 6 p.m., will raise critical funds to support the U.S. Equestrian Teams headed to the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games.

“Helping this country’s equestrian athletes and supporting the U.S. Equestrian Teams has become a family affair for us,” said Scialfa, whose daughter, Jessica Springsteen, is successfully competing at the highest levels of equestrian sport and who has represented the U.S. on Nations Cup teams internationally.

The Springsteens were an integral part of the success of the USET Foundation’s 2016 Rockin’ Rio gala, which raised in excess of a $1 million, and the family hopes to help set new records again this year.

“Patti and I have been involved with the horse world for more than 20 years since Jess started riding when she was five years old,” said Bruce Springsteen. “Our lives have been deeply enriched by our involvement in the riding world. I’ve gotten to watch my daughter grow up into a young woman of character and excellence. I’ve gotten to watch the best in the world compete year after year, and I know what that takes.”

The gala evening will commence at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour and a super silent auction, generously sponsored by NetJets, and dinner beginning at 7 p.m. followed by a live auction sure to be the most exciting one ever! The Boss will be auctioning off a signed Harley Davidson motorcycle and a signed Fender guitar to benefit the Team.

If you are interested in joining the Springsteens and the Jacobs in supporting the USET Foundation and the country’s equestrian athletes, please don’t wait as it is almost sold out. Tickets and tables may be purchased for Take Me to Tokyo here.

The event will also include the presentation of the USET Foundation’s most prestigious annual awards, including the R. Bruce Duchossois Distinguished Trustee Award; the Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy, given to a young rider who exemplifies both horsemanship and sportsmanship; and the Whitney Stone Cup, awarded to an active competitor who displays consistent excellence in competition and high standards of sportsmanlike conduct.

For more information on the USET Foundation and Take Me to Tokyo, please visit www.uset.org.

Community/Charity, Driving, Equestrian Assistance

Misdee and James Miller, Steve Wilson, Laura Lee Brown Continue USET Foundation Gift-Matching Initiative

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Dr. Jennifer Thompson is one driving athlete who has seen the benefits of the Developing Athlete Program. Photo by Pics of You.

Gladstone, NJ – Misdee and James Miller, Steve Wilson, and Laura Lee Brown initiated the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation Driving Challenge in 2017 with a goal of raising $1,200,000 for the U.S. Equestrian High Performance Driving program, and today, the loyal supporters and active drivers remain committed to closing in on that goal.

Through the Driving Challenge, multi-year gift commitments of $20,000 or more are matched dollar for dollar, up to $500,000, by the Millers, Wilson, and Brown, who encourage fellow drivers, owners, and enthusiasts to help create a legacy for the High Performance Driving program by rising to the Driving Challenge.

“We created the Challenge because driving, historically, is such a small discipline, and it hasn’t been able to be very well-funded,” said Misdee Miller. “Early on, we recognized that we not only needed to raise funds for our athletes traveling abroad, but most importantly, fund programs and drivers at home.”

The Driving Challenge created a source of funding that can be drawn upon each year and has provided increased support for the Developing Athlete Program (DAP), which has been instrumental in the careers of up-and-coming drivers. A large percentage of the funds are allocated to hiring coaches running educational clinics across the country. There are also plans to develop an international working student program so that drivers can gain valuable first-hand experience competing in Europe.

“So far, the program has thrived and blossomed and has helped a lot of drivers,” continued Misdee Miller. “We’ve taken them from Preliminary all the way to becoming national champions. That’s the best way to recognize if a program has been successful or not.”

Dr. Jennifer Thompson is one such athlete who has seen the benefits of the program first-hand, after coming up through ranks from the Preliminary level all the way to being named the 2019 USEF Advanced Single Horse Combined Driving National Champion.

“I look back to where my horse and I were and to where we are now, and I just think, ‘Wow, we’ve come a long way!’ I have to attribute the vast majority of my success to the opportunities I’ve gotten through the DAP,” said Thompson, who works as a full-time equine veterinarian in Wisconsin. “I’m so thankful to those who have contributed to this program because it has helped me get to where I am today.”

Nifty Hamilton, who was the highest placed U.S. Combined Driver at 2018 FEI World Driving Championships for Singles, also credits the program with her success.

“The High Performance Program has been the cornerstone to my development as a driver and the training of [my horse] Makari Design up through the levels,” said Hamilton. “The quality and variety of the clinicians, in both training and lectures, that the USEF has offered, continue to move me forward toward my goals.”

“We’re really hoping we can get people excited about funding new drivers,” concluded Misdee Miller. “It’s training and developing and supporting drivers on their pathways from the grassroots all the way to ‘pre-podium.’ If we realize our goals, we would raise over a million dollars for driving. That would be quite historic.”

Learn more about being a part of history and making a donation to the Driving Challenge by contacting Bonnie B. Jenkins at bjenkins@uset.org or by phone at 908-234-1251.

For more information on the USET Foundation, visit www.uset.org.

Dressage, Equestrian Assistance, Jump Media

USET Foundation Announces Leadership Gift for U.S. Equestrian Dressage Development Program

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Photo by Cealy Tetley.

Lexington, Ky. – The U.S. Equestrian High Performance Dressage Development Program will continue to provide strategic guidance and resources to dressage athletes, thanks to the generous support of Fritz and Claudine Kundrun through the U.S. Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation.

Newly named the Kundrun Dressage Development Program, the U.S. Equestrian initiative was created to provide support to selected athletes with the perceived ability to make it to the podium or to contribute to program scores.

“This program allows us to provide more support to those athletes that are identified as potential future team athletes and horses,” said Hallye Griffin, U.S. Equestrian’s Managing Director of Dressage. “We’re setting our eyes on Los Angeles 2028, with it being a home Olympics that year. This program should be producing horses and athletes for those Games, as well as Games and World Championships preceding them.”

The Kundruns have been long-time supporters of U.S. dressage programs and have owned top horses for the U.S., including Flim Flam, who partnered with Sue Blinks to win a team bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and a team silver medal at the 2002 World Equestrian Games, and Rosevelt, Ali Brock’s mount who helped clinch a team bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“My wife and I have a passion for dressage,” said Fritz Kundrun, who is supporting the Dressage Development Program through the USET Foundation, the non-profit organization that works to provide the necessary resources to make equestrian competitive excellence possible, both now and in the future. “Hopefully, we can make a difference for the next Olympics and World Championships. We are in this for the love of the sport and for the love of the animals.”

The Kundrun Dressage Development Program is overseen by the U.S. Equestrian Development Coach, Charlotte Bredahl, with the assistance of the U.S. Equestrian Dressage Youth and Young Horse Coaches, as well as the U.S. Equestrian Dressage Technical Advisor.

“With this gift from the Kundruns, the program will expand, and we will be able to give even more support to upcoming athlete and horse combinations and offer more educational opportunities and grants,” said Bredahl. “Our goal is to find and help develop the next generation of top international and Olympic combinations.”

Athletes are selected for membership to the program through Evaluation Sessions held throughout the year. Once named to the program, competition and training targets are agreed upon with each athlete. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are monitored by the Development Coach and used to measure progress.

Athletes in the program will have access to grants for national and international events, and there will be an emphasis on the U25 divisions.

“The Kundruns have been instrumental in supporting our programs for many years. Their commitment and contribution will open doors for more combinations and provide access to crucial developmental opportunities that will strengthen our program for the future,” said U.S. Dressage Team Technical Advisor Debbie McDonald, who served as the Development Coach for 10 years.

Applications are now open for the 2020 Kundrun Dressage Development Program evaluation sessions and can be found online here.

Learn more about the Kundrun Dressage Development Program by visiting www.usef.org/compete/disciplines/dressage/development-program.

For more information on the USET Foundation, visit www.uset.org.

Community/Charity, Publications/Media, Washington Int'l Horse Show

Top Stars to Sign USET Foundation’s “Riding for the Team” Book at WIHS

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Olympic show jumper Margie Engle on her pony at five years old.

Gladstone, NJ – The U.S. Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation announces a unique opportunity for fans of equestrian sport with a book signing for the coffee table-style book, Riding for the Team, at the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) on Saturday, October 26, at 6:15 p.m.

The 302-page hardback volume contains memories, images, and stories from 47 top riders and drivers in all eight international equestrian disciplines who competed and won medals for the U.S. over the last 30 years, including show jumping stars like McLain Ward, Beezie Madden, Laura Kraut, Margie Engle, and more.

Copies of Riding for the Team will be available for purchase at WIHS at the US Equestrian booth on the concourse of the Capital One Arena and will be sold in line during the autograph signing. Some of the riders featured in the book will join fans next to the Land Rover booth on the concourse on Saturday night of WIHS to sign copies of the book.

In the book, McLain Ward recounts just what went through his mind at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games as he walked into the ring knowing that the U.S. team’s medal depended on his performance. “[I] took a moment to tell myself, ‘Okay, it’s a little bit disappointing. But now there’s a job to be done, and I have to focus on the things I can control and let the bigger outcome sort itself out.’” Ward gives readers of the book an insightful glimpse into the mental aspect of the sport.

Renowned equestrian journalist Nancy Jaffer compiled and edited the first-person accounts from the athletes for Riding for the Team. Along with stories of athletes at major games competition, the book features fantastic photographs, including behind-the-scenes moments and images of top riders in their younger years, such as Margie Engle’s pony ride as a five-year-old and Phillip Dutton in his Australian Pony Club days.

“The compelling stories collected in this volume, as told by the athletes who have become part of equestrian history, demonstrate how to make dreams reality, while acknowledging sacrifice as the other side of achievement,” Jaffer writes in the opening introduction. “Those who compete at the highest level share several characteristics in addition to the love and appreciation of the horse. All have demonstrated singular focus to achieve excellence, putting aside other pursuits as they strive to represent their country.”

The book is a sequel to Riding for America, published in 1990 and also compiled by Jaffer. Riding for America highlighted key figures on the American equestrian scene from 1976 to 1990. It followed the tradition of the 1976 volume, The USET Book of Riding: The First Quarter Century of the USET, which was produced by the late USET chairman emeritus and Olympic show jumping gold medalist, Bill Steinkraus.

Published by Trafalgar Square Books, Riding for the Team is available for pre-order on the USET Foundation website. A rare opportunity to learn more about the stars of American equestrian sport, the book also makes an excellent gift and is sure to be a treasured addition to any horseman’s library.

Proceeds benefit the USET Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that helps provide funding for the High Performance competition, training, coaching, travel, and educational needs of America’s elite and developing athletes and horses in partnership with the national federation, US Equestrian.

For more information on the USET Foundation, visit www.uset.org.