Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice (USEF Archives)

Lexington, Ky. – The USEF Eventing High Performance Winter/Spring Training Sessions with U.S. Eventing Team Coach David O'Connor gave athletes a solid foundation to begin the 2016 competition season. The training sessions took place in Aiken, S.C., Ocala, Fla., and Temecula, Calif., with the nation’s top eventing athletes and horses honing their dressage and jumping skills and showing much promise as the competition season gets into full gear.

“I think the training sessions went really well. I have seen improvements in the temperaments of the horses as they have competed throughout the spring season. Riders have been working on their various skills and I am quite pleased,” O’Connor said.

Athletes on the Eventing High Performance Winter/Spring Training Lists are displaying fine form and had positive experiences at the training sessions. Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) rode Thomas Tierney, Simon Roosevelt, and Caroline Moran’s Fernhill Cubalawn, Thomas Tierney and Ann Jones’ Fernhill Fugitive, David Garrett’s Indian Mill, HND Group’s Mighty Nice, and Ann Jones, Bridget Colman, Caroline Moran, and Thomas Tierney’s Mr. Candyman in the Aiken training sessions with O’Connor. “It’s been extremely beneficial to take part in the training sessions and I think we will all see the benefits throughout the spring,” Dutton said. Dutton recently finished fourth, fifth, and sixth with Mighty Nice, Fernhill Cubalawn, and Indian Mill, respectively, in The Fork CIC3* division.

Tamra Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) participated in the Temecula training sessions with West Coast Dempsey Syndicate’s Dempsey, Judith McSwain’s Fleeceworks Royal, The Twizted Systers, LLC.’s Twizted Syster, and Kevin Baumgardner’s Wembley. “I am really grateful we have these training sessions. It was great having David out in January and then again at the end of March to come and put eyes on my horses and give me pointers and tips,” Smith said. “All my horses were super at Galway Downs. I had two horses in the CIC3*, two in the CIC2*, and one in the Advanced, and all of them ended up in the top six.”

These training sessions would not have been possible without the generosity of the facility owners. The USEF would like to thank following facilities, owners, and their staff: George and Ethel Gibbes of Gibbes Farm in St. Matthews, S.C., Barry and Cyndy Olliff of Stable View in Aiken, S.C., Jacqueline Mars of Meredyth South in Ocala, Fla., and Alan and Kay Needle of Tucalota Creek Ranch in Temecula, Calif., and Lellie Ward of Paradise Farms in Aiken, S.C.

View the list of dates and locations.

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 provide such support to the athletes named to these grants. The USEF is especially grateful to individuals who give generously of their time and money to support the equestrian teams.