Eventing Elite Program
Vision for Elite Program
The vision of the Eventing Elite Program is to identify and support combinations with demonstrated medal winning potential at the next World Championships or Olympic Games, and provide them with the best possible preparation to represent the U.S.
2024 Elite Program Members
The following athlete-and-horse combinations, listed in alphabetical order, have been named to the Eventing Elite Program List for 2024.
- Will Coleman (Ocala, Fla.) and Off The Record, a 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by the Off The Record Syndicate
- Liz Halliday (Lexington, Ky.) and Miks Master C, a 2012 Swedish Warmblood gelding owned by Ocala Horse Properties, LLC and Deborah Palmer
- Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and Luke 140, a 2011 Holsteiner gelding owned by the Luke 140 Syndicate, and Commando 3, a 2013 Holsteiner gelding owned by Yankee Creek Ranch
- Tamie Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) and Mai Baum, a 2006 German Sport Horse gelding owned by Alexandra Ahearn, Ellen Ahearn, and Eric Markell
Eventing Pre-Elite Program
2024 Pre-Elite Program Members
The following athlete-and-horse combinations, listed in alphabetical order, have been named to the Eventing Pre-Elite Program List for 2024.
- James Alliston (San Ramon, Calif.) and Karma, a 2014 Oldenburg mare owned by Alliston Equestrian and Ric Plummer
- Will Coleman (Ocala, Fla.) and Chin Tonic HS, a 2012 Holsteiner gelding owned by Hyperion Stud, LLC
- Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and Fedarman B, a 2010 KWPN gelding owned by the Annie Goodwin Syndicate
- Caroline Pamukcu* (Springtown, Pa.) and HSH Blake, a 2015 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Caroline Pamukcu, Sherrie Martin, Mollie Hoff, and Deniz Pamukcu
- Doug Payne (Rougemont, N.C.) and Quantum Leap, a 2011 Rheinlander gelding owned by Doug and Jessica Payne
Press Releases
Archived High Performance Training Lists
USEF Eventing Technical Advisor and Chef d’Equipe Robert Costello
Hometown: Southern Pines, NC
Birthdate: July 26,1965
Role: USEF Eventing Technical Advisor and Chef d’Equipe
Sport/Discipline: Equestrian/Eventing
Robert “Bobby” Costello grew up in Hamilton, Massachusetts showing ponies, fox hunting with the Myopia Hounds and getting his first taste of Eventing. He attended the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) and graduated with a degree in Communications with a minor in Piano Performance. Robert was a member of the US Eventing squad for many years, finishing 8th at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. In 2003 he was a member of the Pan American Games gold-medal winning team, and successfully competed at many of the biggest 5* events in the world. Owner and operator of ROC Equestrian, LLC Robert has lived, trained and coached from his base in Southern Pines, NC for over 30 years.
Robert has been a volunteer in the sport of Eventing for decades, chairing the working groups for both Active Athletes and High Performance. He also served as Chair of the Selectors Working Group from 2013 through 2021. In 2022 Robert was chosen to fill role of Interim Chef d’Equipe, leading the team to a silver medal at the Eventing World Championships in Pratoni, Italy. At the close of 2022, Robert was hired to stay on as Technical Advisor and Chef d’Equipe for the USEF Land Rover Eventing Team with all eyes on the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile and the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.