The woman who led the U.S. Olympic dressage team for the Paris Games last summer will continue in that role through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Christine Traurig will be chef d’equipe while overseeing the Elite/Pre-Elite and Development programs for the U.S. Equestrian Federation. As a rider in 2000, she was the heroine of the team, securing a bronze for the squad at the Sydney Olympics with a great test under pressure.
Former U.S. Dressage Federation President George Williams will work with Traurig as the federation’s Dressage Program Pathway Development Advisor. Both will continue to support the Emerging Young Horse and Emerging Athlete programs respectively. At the beginning of next year, USEF will name additional coaches to support the programs.
Christine Traurig with Olympic veteran Steffen Peters and George Williams.
“I am excited about the next several years leading up to LA. The updated requirements for the Pathway Programs are in line with and support our goals on the road to the Olympics. There is no lack of talent in riders and horses in our country. It’s about bringing out the best in them. We have a plan, and our eyes are very much on the ball,” said Christine.
Next year will mark the start of USEF’s Dressage Training Series, which previously included Program Pathway clinics, and will consist of USEF funded clinics open to all FEI levels, except for two clinics restricted to youth participants only. These clinics will be taught under the guidance of USEF coaching staff and the coaches support network members. A preliminary calendar of these opportunities, as well as additional training options and evaluations for program members, is available on the USEF website, www.usef.org.
George will lead quarterly meetings throughout 2025 to increase collaboration among USEF coaching staff and personal coaches within the U.S. to provide more comprehensive support for program combinations.
Changes were made as of Dec. 1 to the USEF Dressage Program Pathway criteria across all programs. The idea is to strengthen transparency and accountability across the pathway through stronger focus on current competition results, USEF anticipates new program membership lists will be published no later than May 12, 2025, following the U.S. winter CDI season.
“This updated criterion improves upon the existing foundation of the USEF Dressage Program Pathway. I look forward to working with our coaching staff and support network to foster talent through our pathway programs and continue to grow and strengthen USA Dressage,” said Laura Roberts, the federation’s managing director of dressage.