USEF Eventing Team Coach David O’Connor with riders at one of the spring training sessions. (USEF Archives)

Lexington, KY – The USEF High Performance Eventing Spring Training Sessions have come to a close and are being regarded as highly successful. USEF Eventing Team Coach David O’Connor worked with the nation’s top horses and riders in Aiken, SC, Ocala, FL, Gilroy, CA, Temecula, CA, and Berkshire, UK on their dressage and jumping skills throughout the training sessions, noting marked improvement.

“This year created a great place to start our program from and I was happy with the enthusiasm from the riders,” O’Connor said. “The talent level is very strong. We started and are continuing to work on the basics and everyone has shown great improvement over the spring time. I am very happy with how open the riders have been during the training sessions. The Eventing 25 Program has also been very successful and bodes well for the future of our sport.”

Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) rode Bruce Duchossois’ Mighty Nice and Team Rebecca, LLC’s Fernhill Eagle in the East Coast training sessions. “The training sessions with David O’Connor are in full swing and I feel have been very helpful to all the riders,” remarked Dutton. “David has made each session very much suited to each horse and rider’s needs. Each lesson has been a very positive experience.”

Kristi Nunnink (Auburn, CA) participated in the West Coast training sessions on her own R-Star. “I have enjoyed the training session quite a bit. I think David is a fabulous coach and feel that his coaching style suits both my horse and me,” commented Nunnink. “It has been a privilege to be on the training list and hopefully Rolex will go very well.”

These training sessions would not have been possible without the generosity of the facility owners. The USEF would like to thank following facilities, owners, and their staff: Dayna Lynd-Pugh of Flying Tail Farms at Red Fox Farm in Gilroy, CA, Headley Stud in Berkshire, UK, Jacqueline Mars of Meredyth South in Ocala, FL, Shelley Spielman of Stable View Farm in Aiken, SC, Alan and Kay Needle of Tucalota Creek Ranch in Temecula, CA, and Robert Kellerhouse of Galway Downs in Temecula, CA.

Click here to see the High Performance Training Lists and Training Session Schedule.

Follow the 2013 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team here.

Please contact Joanie Morris, USEF Managing Director of Eventing, for more information at jmorris@usef.org.