Eventing Elite Program

Vision for Elite Program

The vision of the Eventing Elite Program is to identify and support combinations with demonstrated medal winning potential at the next World Championships or Olympic Games, and provide them with the best possible preparation to represent the U.S.

Criteria for Elite Program

Combinations will automatically be enrolled in the Elite Program upon achievement of one or more of the following qualification criteria:

1. Achievement of a Competition Result, as defined below:

• Top 5 Placing OR finishing on a score ≤ 33 at one of the following events:
  • Badminton Horse Trials CCI5*-L
  • Burghley Horse Trials CCI5*-L
• Top 3 Placing OR finishing on a score ≤ 33 at one of the following events:
  • Kentucky CCI5*-L
  • Maryland 5 Star - CCI5*-L
  • Pau CCI5*-L
  • Luhmuhlen CCI5*-L
• 1^st Place Finish on a score ≤ 30 at a CCI4*-L.
• Individual Medal at an Olympic Games or World Championships.
• Contributing score to a Team Medal at an Olympic Games or World Championships.

2. Achieving an EquiRating’s ELO Score of 710 or higher. Scores will be evaluated following the Kentucky CCI5*-L and the Maryland CCI5*-L, respectively. One-time automatic enrollment to the Elite Program per combination.

The criteria is as outlined in the Eventing Elite Program Task Force (EEPTF) recommendations. View the approved recommendations, here. 

Criteria for Membership Retention to the Program

Retention in the Elite Program is automatic for one calendar year from the achievement of the qualification criteria*. The Athlete must remain in good standing with US Equestrian. Elite Program Membership will expire if the Athlete does not retain the ride on the Horse.

Following the one-year automatic enrollment, the combination must meet one or more of the following criteria to maintain Elite Program Membership:

1. Achievement of a Competition Result, as defined below, within 12 months of the initial membership to the Elite Program:

• Top 5 Placing OR finishing on a score ≤ 33 at one of the following events:
  • Badminton Horse Trials CCI5*-L
  • Burghley Horse Trials CCI5*-L
• Top 3 Placing OR finishing on a score ≤ 33 at one of the following events:
  • Kentucky CCI5*-L
  • Maryland 5 Star - CCI5*-L
  • Pau CCI5*-L
  • Luhmuhlen CCI5*-L
• 1^st Place Finish on a score ≤ 30 at a CCI4*-L.
• Individual Medal at an Olympic Games or World Championships.
• Contributing score to a Team Medal at an Olympic Games or World Championships.

2. Maintaining or improving the combination’s EquiRating’s ELO Score, to be evaluated twice a year following the Kentucky CCI5*-L and the Maryland CCI5*-L, respectively.

3. Achieving an EquiRating’s Power Average at the CCI5*-L of a 36 or below, to be evaluated twice a year following the Kentucky CCI5*-L and the Maryland CCI5*-L, respectively.

4. Receiving a bye to any of the above criteria, granted by the Selection Committee and Technical Advisor, and approved by the Eventing Pathway working group. Examples include:

• World Championship, Olympic or Pan American Game Long List preparation, resulting in missing an event that would have produced a Competition Result or positively impacted ELO Score.
• Force Majeure.

2023 Elite Program Members

• Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan, owned by Annie Eldridge
• Boyd Martin and Fedarman B, owned by the Annie Goodwin Syndicate
• Doug Payne and Quantum Leap, owned by Doug & Jess Payne
• Jennie Brannigan Saville and FE Lifestyle, owned by Nina Gardner
• Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus, owned by Jaqueline Mars
• Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C, owned by Deborah Palmer and Ocala Horse Properties, LLC.
• Phillip Dutton and Z, owned by Thomas Tierney, Ann Jones, Caroline Moran, David Vos, Evie Dutton, Patricia Vos, and Suzanne Lacy
• Tamie Smith and Mai Baum, owned by Alexandra Ahearn, Ellen Ahearn, and Eric Markell
• Tamie Smith and Danito, owned by Ruth Bley
• Tamie Smith and Solaguayre California, owned by Julianne & David Guarigila
• Will Coleman and Off The Record, owned by the Off The Record Syndicate

Press Releases:

• US Equestrian Announces 2023 Eventing Pathway Pre-Elite and Development Program Members
• US Equestrian Announces 2023 Eventing Pathway Elite Program Members
• US Equestrian Announces the Appointment of Robert Costello as Eventing Technical Advisor and Chef d’Equipe

Eventing Pre-Elite Program

Criteria for Pre-Elite Program

Athlete/horse combinations must meet TWO of the following criteria:

1. Finish on a score ≤ 40 at a CCI5*-L (including World Championships and Olympic Games)
2. Finish on a score ≤ 36 at a CCI4*-L
3. Finish on a score ≤ 33 at a CCI4*-S
4. EquiRatings HPR Score:
   1. HPR Score ≥ 86 at a CCI5*-L (including World Championships and Olympic Games)
   2. HPR Score ≥ 89 at a CCI4*-L
   3. HPR Score ≥ 91 at a CCI4*-S

EquiRatings HPR (High Performance Rating): The HPR accounts for course difficulty, scoring conditions, and the quality of opposition

Criteria for Membership Retention to the Program

Retention in the Pre-Elite Program is automatic for one calendar year from the achievement of the qualification criteria. The Athlete must remain in good standing with US Equestrian. Pre-Elite Program Membership will expire if the Athlete does not retain the ride on the Horse.

2023 Pre-Elite Program Members

• Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF, owned by Christine, Thomas, and Tommie Turner
• Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver, owned by The Monster Partnership
• Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS, owned by Hyperion Stud, LLC.
• Will Coleman and Dondante, owned by Team Rebecca, LLC.

Archived High Performance Training Lists

 USEF Eventing Technical Advisor and Chef d’Equipe Robert Costello

Hometown: Southern Pines, NC

Birthdate: July 26,1965

Role: USEF Eventing Technical Advisor and Chef d’Equipe

Sport/Discipline: Equestrian/Eventing

Robert “Bobby” Costello grew up in Hamilton, Massachusetts showing ponies, fox hunting with the Myopia Hounds and getting his first taste of Eventing. He attended the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) and graduated with a degree in Communications with a minor in Piano Performance. Robert was a member of the US Eventing squad for many years, finishing 8^th at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. In 2003 he was a member of the Pan American Games gold-medal winning team, and successfully competed at many of the biggest 5* events in the world. Owner and operator of ROC Equestrian, LLC Robert has lived, trained and coached from his base in Southern Pines, NC for over 30 years.

Robert has been a volunteer in the sport of Eventing for decades, chairing the working groups for both Active Athletes and High Performance. He also served as Chair of the Selectors Working Group from 2013 through 2021. In 2022 Robert was chosen to fill role of Interim Chef d’Equipe, leading the team to a silver medal at the Eventing World Championships in Pratoni, Italy. At the close of 2022, Robert was hired to stay on as Technical Advisor and Chef d’Equipe for the USEF Land Rover Eventing Team with all eyes on the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile and the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.