Debbie McDonald, who has been synonymous with U.S. dressage excellence during this century, is stepping down Aug. 1 from her post as the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s technical advisor in the discipline.
“After many discussions, it’s a difficult decision for me, but the right one, as I begin to slow down my teaching schedule to spend more time with my family, to step away from the technical advisor role in order to allow the program to find a successor that can ultimately help lead the program through Paris 2024 (Olympics) and Los Angeles 2028,” said Debbie, 68, explaining her decision.
Debbie on the kiss-and-cry platform with dressage sponsor Betsy Juliano and protege Adrienne Lyle. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
“It’s been an honor to work with the U.S. dressage program over the past 15-plus years, both as a coach and technical advisor. I wish nothing but success for the program and will still be involved with coaching on a limited basis. I look forward to seeing our athletes continue to succeed on the world stage.”
Debbie’s granddaughter, son and daughter-in-law live in Idaho, where she and her husband, Bob, have a house, though they spend the winter in Wellington, Fla., the center of dressage in the U.S. during the winter and early spring. Idaho is far from the dressage action, and Debbie has spent much of her time away from home or traveling.
USEF will appoint an interim chef d’equipe until a replacement for Debbie can be selected.
In 2003, Debbie was the first American to win the FEI World Cup Finals, riding Brentina, the horse with whom she won team silver at the 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games, as well as team bronze at the 2004 Olympics and the 2006 WEG. Together, Debbie and Brentina, who took double gold at the 1999 Pan American Games, were the sweethearts of U.S. dressage.
Debbie in her competition days with Brentina. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer).
Debbie became the U.S. dressage development coach in 2009 and assisted Robert Dover when he was technical advisor. She assumed that post after the 2016 Olympics.
During her run in the job, the U.S. won a team silver at the 2018 WEG with riders she coached, including her longtime protege Adrienne Lyle; Laura Graves and Kasey Perry-Glass, making up three-quarters of the squad that also included Steffen Peters.
Adrienne joined Steffen and Sabine Schut-Kerry to collect a historic team silver at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. But Debbie’s contract wasn’t renewed that year, after she was named in a lawsuit involving her husband.
He had been suspended by USEF when allegations dating back nearly a half-century were made to SafeSport. After arbitration, the case was closed and Bob was reinstated. The civil matter – for which the couple never had been served – was dismissed.
Debbie and Bob McDonald with Brentina on her retirement. (Photo © 2009 by Nancy Jaffer)
The team worked without a technical advisor after Debbie’s departure, while George Williams, U.S. Dressage Federation president, acted as chef d’equpe. Debbie was reappointed to the technical advisor position in February 2023.
Debbie with longtime friend and teammate Guenter Seidel at the FEI World Cup Finals this year. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
At Aachen in June, the U.S. team finished last of eight nations. Adrienne, who is pregnant, was not on the squad, which consisted of riders light on international experience.
Hallye Griffin, the USEF’s director of FEI sport, noted, “We respect Debbie’s decision to step down as technical advisor and are reviewing the potential of her working as a featured clinician for some of our programs and pathway events in the future.
“We are setting our sights forward to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and will begin our search for a technical advisor with a goal to fill the role by December 1, 2023, with commitment through the LA 2028 Games.”
U.S. Dressage thanked Debbie “for her continued support of the program over the past four years in the role of technical advisor and the achievements the program secured under her leadership, including an Olympic team silver in Tokyo; and a Pan American Games team silver in 2019 in Lima, Peru, as well as her dedication to the development program, where she served as U.S. Dressage Development Coach.
