Hometown: Williston, Fla. Birthday: 10/23/1995 Sport/Disciplines: Endurance

Kelsey Russell has competed in endurance riding on the international stage since her youth. In 2011, she won individual and team gold at the North American Youth Championships riding My Wild Irish Gold. She partnered with Gold Raven later that year for the FEI Endurance World Championship for Juniors and Young Riders in Abu Dhabi where they finished sixth. She returned to the same championship two years later in Tarbes, France, this time finishing fifth with My Wild Irish Gold. The pair represented the U.S. on the senior team for the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy before earning a final NAYC double-gold result in 2015. In 2018, Russell was selected for the FEI World Equestrian Games team in Tryon, N.C., riding Fireman Gold.

Russell has ridden Juno Im Gold, Valerie Kanavy’s 2015 Half-Arabian gelding, throughout his FEI endurance career beginning in 2021, and the pair have successfully completed every FEI ride they’ve contested. In December of 2023, they made their debut at the CEI3* 160 km level. In March of 2024, they finished second out of a field of 11 in the CDI3* at Fun in the Sun Pioneer Rides in Florida.

Russell and Juno Im Gold were named to the U.S. team for the 2024 FEI Endurance World Championship for Seniors.