![Endel Ots and Lucky Strike](http://www.usefnetwork.com/images/articles/8061/endelotsluckystrike15d109621-susanjsticklecom.jpg)
Endel Ots and Lucky Strike
The United States will be represented by Endel Ots as he competes Max Ots’ five-year-old Hanoverian gelding Lucky Strike (Lord Laurie x Heidi/His Highness) and Gary Vander Ploeg and his own six-year-old Oldenburg gelding Samhitas (Sir Donnerhall I x Heidebluete/Abanos). Ots is an accomplished rider and trainer who has won numerous national awards with his young horses, including Reserve Champion in the 2012 USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix National Championship and Champion in the 2014 Markel/USEF Developing Grand Prix Horse National Championship.
The young horses will be masterfully guided through the competition in Germany by a rider who has had exceptional results with them. Lucky Strike and Ots had much success in 2014 culminating in an overall fourth place finish in the Markel/USEF Young Horse Four-Year-Old National Championship. Now competing as a five-year-old, Lucky Strike has earned numerous top placings including winning both the both the preliminary and final FEI five-year-old tests at the CDIYH Adequan Global Dressage Festival with impressive scores of 8.140 and 8.700, respectively. Competing this morning in the preliminary test, the pair scored 8.600 to tie for 15th and move forward to tomorrow’s Small Final.
Samhitas is a new mount for Ots as they have just begun their partnership this year. Yet, they have made quite an impression in the U.S. dressage world. They won the FEI six-year-old young horse final test at week ten of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival with a score of 8.120. Heading to the CDIYH Houston Dressage Society Spring Classic I, Ots and Samhitas claimed top honors in the FEI six-year-old young horse preliminary and final tests with scores of 8.080 and 8.560, respectively. The pair will contest the Preliminary test tomorrow with the top 12 qualifying for the Final on Sunday.
Complete start lists and results
The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members. Without the support of these organizations and individuals, it would not be possible to support our athletes. The USEF is especially grateful to individuals who give generously of their time and money to support the equestrian teams.