Dressage trainer Debbie McDonald, who was at the helm of the team that took silver at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, has been named the U.S. technical advisor for the discipline through the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The announcement comes 13 months after her technical advisor contract was not renewed by the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
She has operated as a private trainer in the interim, with a group of clients including her longtime associate Adrienne Lyle.
Adrienne, the USEF’s International Rider of the Year for 2022, now is the top-ranked U.S. dressage rider, 10th in the world standings.
Last year, there was no U.S. technical advisor for the world championships in Denmark, where the team finished sixth to qualify for Paris, but was out of the medals.
Debbie will be focusing on training support and collaborating with riders’ personal coaches over the next 18 months in the run-up to team selection for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“The team’s achievement in Tokyo was such an incredible moment for our program, and over the last year I’ve felt a fire and drive to want to get our athletes back on the podium in Paris,” said Debbie.
“I’m so passionate about the potential of our athletes and combinations, and it’s my intention to make sure we’re doing everything we can to produce the absolute best results possible in Paris. I’m very motivated and feel incredibly supported to help our athletes work towards that goal over the next year and half.”
In the technical advisor role, Debbie will work closely with USEF Managing Director of Dressage Hallye Griffin and High-Performance & Pathway Development Advisor George Williams on preparation, planning, and training, as well as providing on-the-ground training support through the Paris Games.
Debbie has been an integral piece of the program’s success over the last decade, with multiple podium finishes at the championship level, including the Olympic Games, the FEI World Championships and the Pan American Games.
She began working for USEF as the Dressage Development coach and continued to support pathway development through her appointment as technical advisor in 2019. An Olympian who earned team bronze at the Athens 2004 Games with her special mount, Brentina, she is a double gold medalist from the 1999 Pan American Games. In 2003, she was the first American rider to win the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final.
Debbie’s contract was not renewed in 2021 after a lawsuit was filed against her and her husband, Bob. He had been suspended by USEF when allegations dating back nearly a half-century were made to SafeSport. After SafeSport arbitration, the case was closed and Bob was reinstated. The civil matter–for which the couple never had been served–was dismissed.
When you think of family projects, perhaps painting the living room, cleaning the garage or planting a garden comes to mind. But for Natalee and Steve Herrig; their daughter, Hannah, and her husband, Zach Ketelboeter, the family project is being produced on a grander and altogether different scale.
It’s a state-of-the-art horse show facility, rising from an old cattle pasture similar to the properties you can still see on the drive of a half-hour or so from glamorous Sarasota on Florida’s west coast. The still-rural location offers a contrast to the busy tourist destination city with its famous Gulf beaches, high-end stores and wonderful restaurants, but it’s close enough to allow exhibitors access to those features.
When the family started its work, there was nothing on the property they had bought, just over the Sarasota County line in Manatee County. Hannah and Zach named it TerraNova after two of their horses, Terra and Nova, but the name was doubly appropriate because it means “new land” in Latin.
Eventually, the showgrounds will be surrounded by housing, estates particularly suitable for horse lovers who want to enjoy their animals in the country, while being close enough to Sarasota that it’s easy to hop over for shopping or dinner.
Steve, whose businesses include workers’ compensation insurance, handed the equestrian portion of the project over to Hannah, an eventer turned dressage rider who has a degree from the University of Florida in communications and leadership fulfillment. Her husband is experienced in construction and stable management.
Natalee is part of the effort as well, handling community outreach and charitable initiatives. Since TerraNova opened last year, it has hosted not only jumper shows, but dressage competitions and eventing as well.
Although the facility had no track record in eventing, it immediately received dates from the U.S. Equestrian Federation for those competitions, because it has not only a specialist operations team experienced in the discipline, but also demonstrated the ability to accomplish what the family set out to do.
The ambitious TerraNova endeavor continues its growth, with a permanent VIP pavilion, a new show office under construction and permanent stables for the horses shipping in to compete. The barns are state-of-the-art, with a high-ceilinged design that maximizes air circulation, as well as stall fans, LED lights and “mattresses” cushioning the stall floors to insure horses get a comfortable night’s rest.
I asked Steve how he feels now that his vision has gone from imagination to reality, and he swiftly but politely corrected me. Listen to what he and the rest of his family had to say in this video.
Florida isn’t always as balmy as it is portrayed in the commercials suggesting that you come on down. There was a recent cold snap in the Sarasota area (you can hear the wind blowing in the videos above and below) but the organizers were quick to move the VIP facility back toward the comfort zone with heaters whose flames danced as showgoers gathered around them.
Trainer Michele Grubb, who has been nominated for the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, has added TerraNova to her list of showing destinations.
“The footing is great, the management is great, the new barns are absolutely spectacular, the VIP is lovely. There’s nothing more you could ask here for the horses, exhibitors, the spectators. The only thing, it is very far from the hotels,” she said, noting that makes it difficult for people, including grooms,who are staying in motels closer to Sarasota if they need to be present at the showgrounds late at night or early in the morning. Cabins and other onsite accommodations are part of the venue’s plan, but there is no completion timeline for them as yet.
Irish rider Jonathan Corrigan, based in Wellington on the east coast of Florida, showed at TerraNova last year as well as in 2023, noting that it can hold its own among the many shows in the state.
“They were brave building this with everything else that’s going on,” he pointed out, while mentioning that Florida’s west coast has less in the way of showgrounds than the Ocala/Wellington axis.
“I know we’re planning on coming back a couple of times this year,” he said.
A Winter Equestrian Festival regular at Wellington, Jonathan commented that at TerraNova, “The classes are easier, a little bit softer, They’re still competitive enough, but there definitely is less pressure. If you want to come and bring an FEI horse or two and then bring a couple of young horses, it’s a great place to do it.”
When I wondered if he could evaluate TerraNova in relation to the lavish World Equestrian Center in Ocala, he pointed out, “WEC is pretty much finished and these guys are just getting started, so it would be hard to compare them just yet.”
Olga Zarlenga, who is going to be barn manager at TerraNova, was manager of the show jumping at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
She noted one important aspect of the new facility is that “They’re listening to the riders” about what they want,” which doesn’t always happen elsewhere.
As to its location, she said, “Everything starts from somewhere.” As an example, she mentioned that “Ocala was, okay, it’s horse country, but suddenly WEC was there and everybody wants to go there.”
The TerraNova show jumping competitions this winter, which include competitions rated 2 stars by the FEI (international equestrian federation), are being run by the Split Rock Tour. It was founded by Derek Braun, who put his riding career aside so he could focus on his efforts on advancing the sport with an updated perspective.
Split Rock’s event manager, Mike Belisle, was also involved in developing the TerraNova concept. He is delighted with the growth of the site and its shows. Hear what he had to say in the video below.
One innovation that gained instant popularity is Natalee’s project, Tiny Town. This miniature village complete with a child-sized veterinary clinic and market is a magnet for kids when they get tired of watching horses jump.
The vendor area is still a work in progress, with only a few tents selling vests and saddlery. There undoubtedly will be more vendors when there are more spectators.
Emilien Rieyre is based in Wellington with Voltaire Design, but wanted to come over and see what TerraNova was about. He had a conclusion about the venue that was similar to that of many other people I spoke with there.
“It’s really different but it’s beautiful,” he said.
Equestrian Land Conservation Resource is offering a program on equestrian trails at 10 a.m. EDT Wednesday Feb. 8. Among the panelits is ELCR Executive Director Holley Groshek, on why public equestrian trails are important to outdoor recreation, considerations for building and maintaining trails, safety measures when sharing the trail, working with equestrian groups in your area and more.
The audience for this presentation could include outdoor planning professionals, city managers, tourism and parks/recreation departments, as well as anyone in the general public interested in preserving outdoor access.
Susan Sisco, a wonderful trainer and an outstanding side-saddle rider, died today after a long struggle with ovarian cancer. She was 63.
Susan Sisco, a wonderful horsewoman who will be missed. (Photo courtesy of Tyler Graham)
In a poignant facebook post on January 14, she commented, “My mother always said getting older was a privilege denied to many. To all of my female friends from 60 years and up… most of us are going through a challenging phase of our lives. We’re at that age where we see wrinkles, gray hair, and extra pounds.
“We’ve run households, had careers, raised families, paid the bills, dealt with sickness, sadness, grief, and everything else life has assigned us. We are survivors… we are warriors in the quiet… we are Women…aged like a classic car or a fine wine. Even if our bodies are not what they once were, they carry our histories, our souls, our courage, and our strength. We should never feel bad about getting older. It’s a privilege that is denied to so many.
Enjoy every minute.”
Rider/trainer Patty Heuckeroth said on social media, “Sue was one of my very best friends for so many years. She was a great horsewoman, rider, trainer and all-around human being. The horse world lost one of their best.”
Shutterfly, the great mount of Germany’s Meredith Michaels Beerbaum, has passed away at age 30. It was a good, long life with many special moments, but that doesn’t ease the pain of losing him.
His rider posted a tribute to her amazing horse, a Hanoverian by Silvio I, who triumphed in the World Cup finals three times. Here is what Meredith had to say:
“It is with a very heavy heart that I am sad to announce that we lost Shutterfly this morning. He was a unique and irreplaceable part of our lives.
I was lucky enough to spot Shutterfly as an immature and gangly talent at age six during the show in Rastede. He came to my stable a few months later. I was fortunate enough to share the next 24 years of his life with him. We just recently celebrated his 30th birthday.
Shutterfly aka “Petey” started as a doubtful, unsure youngster and blossomed into one of the greatest horses to ever live. He won three World Cup Finals, two Top Ten Finals, the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen, amongst many other prestigious titles. He brought me to the top of the World Ranking list, as the only women ever, where I was able to enjoy #1 for 24 months.
Shutterfly won the Preis von Europa in Aachen against the best in the world at age 18, just before his retirement ceremony there in front of his adoring crowd.
We will miss the kind and sweet-hearted Petey, who stuck his nose in the baby carriage and softly nuzzled my daughter Brianne just days after she was born. I am sure that caress gave her the passionate love for horses she has today.
I will miss you my friend and I appreciate every moment I had with you. You were the greatest partner anyone could ever have. You will never be forgotten Petey. Rest in peace my love.”
Eventer Will Coleman may have missed out on the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s International Rider of the Year award, but he got recognition from the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation, earning the 2023 Whitney Stone Cup.
The Whitney Stone Cup is awarded annually by the Foundation to an active competitor whose consistent excellence in international competition and whose standard for sportsmanlike conduct and contributions as an ambassador for the sport and for the USET Foundation exemplify the Team’s highest ideals and traditions.
Riding Off the Record, Will was the highest-placed American at the 2022 world championships, finishing seventh, and is the top-rated U.S. rider on the FEI eventing world rankings, standing fifth.
“It’s a tremendous honor to receive the Whitney Stone Cup,” said the Virginian, a veteran of the 2012 Olympics and 2018 World Equestrian Games.
“The competitors that have received this award are and were some of the greatest horse people in the world — many of whom I’ve looked up to my entire life. Some of the people I most admire in our sport have won it, so to be that person and to be given this award is humbling. I’ve never thought of myself as being the type of person to receive this award, so it’s really gratifying.
“Success in eventing is often at the end of a very long and challenging road,” continued Will.
“For every great experience and achievement, there are many disappointing and formative moments. You go through these ups and downs many times and at many different levels throughout your career. It is thanks to the support from organizations like the USET Foundation, and from your owners and sponsors, that you can continue to climb the ladder and reach your fullest potential. Wherever you have success on an international level, the USET Foundation certainly helps you to get there.”
The Foundation this month also recognized others who have contributed to the sport. Margaret H. Duprey of Wellington, Florida, was presented wtih the R. Bruce Duchossois Distinguished Trustee Award.The award was created in 2015, paying tribute to its namesake’s leadership, generosity, and outstanding character.
“I’m deeply honored to receive this award in memory of Mr. Duchossois, who was such a well-respected horseperson,” said Margaret.
“This sport has brought me tremendous joy over the years and my hope, as a member of the USET Foundation’s Board of Trustees, is to give back just as much as I’ve received. I aim to support initiatives that ensure the success of our U.S. high performance athletes and teams at major international competitions.”
Margaret has served on the board for more than 15 years, playing an integral role in supporting and donating to several fundraising campaigns.
Most recently, she spearheaded the “Trustee and National Advisory Committee (NAC) Challenge,” that inspired USET Foundation Board of Trustees and NAC members to make contributions and pledge multi-year gift commitments. Thanks to her leadership, the Challenge exceeded its goal and raised more than $3 million for high performance programs.
“Margaret has long been instrumental in supporting high performance equestrian sport in the United States, and I’ve been humbled by her generosity over the years,” stated W. James McNerney, Chairman, President, and CEO, of the USET Foundation.
“Her consistent and active participation on the USET Foundation’s Board of Trustees demonstrates her unwavering commitment to ensuring prominence for our U.S. teams on the world stage.”
In addition to her work with the Foundation, Margaret and her husband, Robert (Bob), own and operate Cherry Knoll Farm Inc., which is home to high performance dressage and show jumping horses that represent the U.S. in international competition.
“Initially, I got involved with U.S. para dressage rider Rebecca Hart as part owner of Schroeter’s Romani, a mare that represented the U.S. at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in North Carolina,” explained Margaret.
“I loved and respected Rebecca’s passion, drive and desire to win on the international level. That was exciting and led me to get involved with others. Luckily, I had the opportunity to purchase the horse Cedric, which introduced me to (show jumper) Laura Kraut. This all led me to support the USET Foundation.”
Christian Simonson of Ventura, California, received the Foundation’s Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy, awarded to a junior or young rider in an Olympic discipline who exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship and horsemanship.
Christian, 20, who has amassed an impressive list of accolades as a young rider, joins an elite group of equestrians that have successfully represented the U.S. on an international level.
“I sincerely want to thank those around me including my trainer Adrienne Lyle (the USEF International Rider of the Year) and fellow rider Katie Duerrhammer,” said Christian.
“They are incredible role models that demonstrate what horsemanship truly means. Without them, this would not be possible. I plan to uphold the ideals of the USET Foundation and continue the journey of learning from both human and horse.”
Christian has been a winner already this winter, on Son of a Lady at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. Taking advantage of the USEF High Performance Pathway, Christian competed at the 2017 and 2018 North American Youth Championships (NAYC) earning the team gold medal and individual silver medal in the Junior division in 2017 and the team silver medal in the Young Rider division in 2018. Simonson was also awarded the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) bronze and silver medals in 2017.
In 2021, he won triple gold in the Young Rider division at NAYC riding Zeaball Diawind and he was also selected to represent the U.S. at the Future Champions Nations Cup in Hagen, Germany, where the team took home bronze. In the summer of 2022, Christian and Son of a Lady had a third-place podium finish in the Young Rider Freestyle at CHIO Aachen in Germany.
