US Equestrian Announces Athletes Selected for the 2018 Dressage European Young Rider Tour

Lexington, Ky. – May 4, 2018 – US Equestrian has announced the three athlete-and-horse combinations who will compete in the 2018 Dressage European Young Rider Tour. Combinations are required to earn at least two scores from the FEI Young Rider Team Test and two scores from the FEI Young Rider Individual Test in CDI-Y events between January 1, 2018 and April 30, 2018, to be considered for selection to the Tour. As a part of FEI CDI-Y events, at least two FEI Young Rider Freestyle test scores must also be earned. More information about qualification requirements can be found here.

Anna Weniger and Don Derrick
Anna Weniger and Don Derrick

The following athlete-and-horse combinations have been selected for the Tour (in alphabetical order):

Ben Ebeling (Moorpark, Calif.) and Behlinger, Amy Roberts Ebeling, Ann Romney, and Elizabeth Meyer’s 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding

Callie Jones (Henderson, Ky.) and Don Philippo, her 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding

Anna Weniger (Apex, N.C.) and Don Derrick, Dawn Weniger’s 14-year-old NRPS gelding

Ben Ebeling and Behlinger
Ben Ebeling and Behlinger

“The Tour is designed to introduce our Young Riders to competing internationally, both as individuals and as a team representing the U.S.,” said George Williams, U.S. Dressage Youth Coach and Chef d’Equipe. “It is important for our Young Riders’ development to have a chance to compete against their counterparts in Europe. The final leg, the Future Champions Hagen CDIO-Y, is especially exciting as our riders will be going head-to-head as a team against a number of the best of their division in the world.”

The Tour will send Ebeling, Jones, and Weniger to a series of competitions, with the highlight competition being the CDIO-Y Hagen from June 12-17. Additionally, Jones and Weniger will also compete at the CDI-Y Compiegne from May 17-20 and the CDI-Y Aachen from May 29-31.

Callie Jones and Don Philippo
Callie Jones and Don Philippo

“To represent the United States on the European Young Rider Tour is such an amazing opportunity,” Jones explained. “It’s been a dream of mine to show in Europe since I first started riding dressage. I am really looking forward to representing the United States with two other talented young riders. We are all from different areas of the country so it will be so cool getting to know them better while in Europe! Also, my trainer, Angela Jackson, is originally from Germany so I’m looking forward to competing at some of the venues that she has competed at in the past.”

“My mom purchased Don Derrick in Belgium as a 2-year-old, when I was only eight, and she made a joke that he would be my young riders horse one day,” fellow teammate Weniger said. “We didn’t know that 12 short years later, that would come true! Heading back to Europe with Derrick feels like coming full circle and fulfilling a lifelong dream for all of us. I am honored to be selected and I can’t wait to represent Team USA overseas!”

No Comments Yet

Comments are closed