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- U.S. developing rider coach Debbie McDonald and protégé Adrienne Lyle
- © Nancy Jaffer
Debbie McDonald's New Role
The good news for the future of America's international dressage teams is the appointment of Debbie McDonald as developing dressage coach.
The Idaho Olympic and World Equestrian Games medalist, who retired from competition in 2008, had been the developing dressage coach in 2007. Lack of funding scuttled the position after that until now, when new U.S. Technical Advisor Anne Gribbons asked Debbie to step back in.
Everyone always talks about the importance of the athletes' pipeline feeding into the top ranks, and that's where the developing program comes in. As Anne noted, when we look toward the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Kentucky, World Cup winner Steffen Peters and Ravel are the United States' only really experienced world-class combination that is on the level of the Netherlands' Edward Gal/Totillas, Anky van Grunsven/Salinero and Adelinde Cornelissen/Parzival, not to mention Germany's Isabell Werth/Satchmo or Great Britain's Laura Bechtolsheimer/Mistral Hojris.
There are some good contenders for the other team slots, but most lack mileage in a year when so many other countries have strong teams. The Dutch, Germans and British could account for the medals, while the Canadians (coached by Robert Dover, who was passed over for the equivalent U.S. position) may be a threat for a top placing outside the medals. If the United States doesn't qualify for the 2012 Olympics at WEG, it will have to qualify at the 2011 Pan American Games, where competition is at Prix St. Georges/Intermediaire I, the level where Debbie will be helping competitors.
While she is hopeful about what she can do, Debbie noted that the extent of the program is up to USEF funding.
"So much depends on what they think they can put back into it," she said. "I love to teach and I'd like to be a part of helping the U.S. go somewhere while giving back to the sport."
Based in California for the winter, Debbie also is busy training Adrienne Lyle, who is shooting for a WEG slot with Wizard and Felix. Both horses at one time were ridden by Debbie, but they are Adrienne's projects now, though if she goes to Europe in May to gain experience, Debbie will travel with her to help.
Debbie still rides a little bit, but never on her signature mount, Brentina, who retired last year. Brentina, still pampered, just gets turned out and spends time on the longe just for exercise. Two of Brentina's babies, by Damsey and Kingston, are being carried by surrogates who are expected to foal this spring. When the babies get older, Debbie looks forward to riding them.
"It would be like a full circle," she points out.
An Icon in Trouble
Will the U.S.'s best-known show-jumping grand prix be held this April in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium? There's a real question as to whether the $200,000 American Invitational can survive to have its 38th renewal.
Backers are being sought to bring in the $350,000 in contributions necessary to present the competition, the only American grand prix held in a National Football League stadium. Budweiser, the longtime title sponsor, bowed out after the 2009 Invitational when its parent company, Anheuser Busch, was bought by a European corporation.
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- American Invitational founder Gene Mische and his nephew, show manager Michael Morrissey
- © Nancy Jaffer
The situation is complicated by the fact that Gene Mische, the energetic founder and organizer of the Invitational, has been suffering from a long illness and isn't available to rally the troops.
He is in serious but stable condition under treatment in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. It would be a boost to his spirits if the Invitational can be presented yet again for the Gene Mische Perpetual Trophy.
A letter soliciting donations has gone out, detailing Gene's situation. It pleads, "Let's give Gene Mische the one lifetime achievement award powerful enough to send his spirit soaring and let him really know, once and for all, how much he matters to us, his friends."
Checks are being accepted by Stadium Jumping Inc., 1301 6th Avenue West, Suite 406, Bradenton, FL 34205.
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