USA Under-25 Dressage Riders Invited to CHIO Aachen

14 years ago StraightArrow Comments Off on USA Under-25 Dressage Riders Invited to CHIO Aachen
Caroline Roffman on Beemer, a horse she recently started competing and has tentative plans to take to the Under-25 competitiomn at Aachen. © 2011 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com.

LEXINGTON, Kentucky, Feb. 11–The United States has been invited for the first time to send four riders to compete as individuals or a team to the Under-25 dressage competition at the World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen, Germany, July 8-17.

Caroline Roffman of Wellington, Florida, who was named the FEI Rising Star for 2010, received an invitation directly from the Aachen organizers to compete as an individual starter.

Caroline’s participation was approved by the Dressage High Performance Committee. The USEF Dressage High Performance Committee will publish minimum qualifying criteria for riders to apply to compete.

“I have always dreamed of riding internationally as well as riding at Aachen,” said Caroline, 22.

She described the program created by Frank Kemperman, Chairman of CHIO Aachen,  as “wonderful” and will allow her and other riders to get a taste of international competition at the Grand Prix level.

“I am both honored and astounded to be able to participate in this event” she said. “I hope that this becomes a tradition for other US young Grand Prix riders and helps to pave our way to large tour success down the road.”

The World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen is to horse sports what Wimbledon is to tennis or the Masters to golf, an international competition of dressage, driving, eventing, jumping and vaulting that attracts the world’s top competitors and 350,000 spectators from around the globe.