Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Scott Hassler as the National Young Horse Dressage Coach, as part of the highly successful Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program. The establishment of this coaching position is an illustration of the Federation’s continuing initiatives to support and emphasize structured development of future FEI-level dressage horses and riders.

Hassler is the Training Director at the internationally renowned sport horse breeding and training center, Hilltop Farm, in Colora, Maryland, and has been a champion of young dressage horses in the United States, experiencing success both in and out of the competition ring. With an extensive background in developing horses from a young age to FEI levels, Mr. Hassler most recently was coach and trainer for Hilltop Farm’s Royal Prince. Ridden by Scott’s wife, Susanne, this Hanoverian stallion cantered into the history books by becoming the USEF/Markel Young Horse Dressage National Champion in 2004 and representing the U.S. at the FEI World Breeding Championships in Verden, Germany, where he finished fourth – the highest-placing U.S.-owned horse ever.

Hassler also conducted the 2004 USDF National Symposium with Christoph Hess and Steffen Peters, and in 2005 created the first event of its kind, the “Young Dressage Horse Trainers Symposium”, held at Hilltop Farm with Ulf Moeller and Ingo Pape. Hassler is also a member of the USEF Dressage Committee and Breeders’ Committee, chair of the USDF Sport Horse Committee, and member of the International Dressage Trainers Club and the Oldenburg NA/ISR Registry Executive Board.

“I am tremendously excited about this opportunity to share my experience in the pursuit of helping our riders produce and train horses that go on to compete at the highest levels of the sport for our country,” Hassler shared. “Proper development of our young dressage horses is a tremendous responsibility and I look forward to the challenge.”

As the National Young Horse Dressage Coach, Hassler will work to increase awareness and visibility of the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program and educate riders, trainers, and owners as to the importance of proper development of new equine athletes for High Performance. Mr. Hassler will be conducting USEF training sessions for young dressage horses in March, and will be coaching competitors for the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Selection Trials and National Championships. He will also serve as Chef d’Equipe for U.S. horses attending the FEI World Breeding Championships, and will work closely in cooperation with the U.S. Dressage Team Coach, Mr. Klaus Balkenhol.

For more information about the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program, please contact Jennifer Keeler, National Director of Dressage, [email protected] or (859) 225-2024.