The USEF Dressage Pathway Program 2026 has announced major updates to its structure, athlete lists, and performance strategy as the U.S. Dressage team prepares for the 2026 FEI Dressage World Championship and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The updated program lists include athletes in the Pre-Elite, Development, Emerging Young Horse, and Youth categories, selected based on their competition results from the past 12 months. These lists are supported by Christine Traurig, USEF Dressage Technical Advisor & Chef d’Equipe, along with Assistant Pathway Coaches Olivia LaGoy Weltz and Guenter Seidel, and George Williams, USEF High Performance Pathway Advisor and Youth Coach.

USEF Dressage Pathway Program 2026: High Standards & Clear Goals

Christine Traurig emphasized that the program has set bold yet achievable performance targets to help athletes push boundaries and maintain consistency. “We must hold ourselves to a high standard to achieve success on the world stage,” she said. “Our ultimate goal remains a podium finish at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.”

For the 2026 season, USEF Dressage has defined several performance benchmarks, including:

• Top finish at the FEI Dressage Nations Cup Wellington CDIO3*
• Top 10 placings at the FEI Dressage World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas
• Finishing among the top six teams at the 2026 FEI Dressage World Championships

The program also aims to deepen the pipeline of established Grand Prix combinations by leveraging more international Nations Cup opportunities.

Performance Expectations for Each Level

• Pre-Elite Program: Riders should demonstrate consistent scores of 71% or above, with those exceeding 74% moving toward the Elite Program.
• Development Program: Grand Prix combinations will gain European experience through FEI Nations Cup and CDI events, targeting top-five team finishes.
• Emerging and Youth Programs: Key events include the U25 & Young Rider European Tours, U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions, FEI World Breeding Championships, and FEI North American Youth Championships.

Long-Term Vision: 2027 Pan Am Games & LA 2028 Olympics

Looking ahead, USEF Dressage has identified podium finishes at the 2027 Pan American Games and Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games abot as central goals. These milestones will guide training, competition selection, and athlete development across the next three years.

Program Activities and Opportunities

In 2025, the program hosted:

• Six training and evaluation sessions for members
• Home visits to support tailored development
• Seven USEF Training Series sessions open to all FEI levels

These opportunities will expand in 2026, with a full calendar of events available on the USEF website by December 15, 2025. Applications will be accessible through the USEF Athlete Dashboard.

Learn More: USEF Dressage Pathway Program 2026

Athletes and owners can find detailed program goals in open forums or contact the USEF Dressage Department at dressage@usef.org for more information.

The USEF Dressage Pathway Programs are supported by Akiko Yamazaki and Four Winds Farm, whose contributions are vital for developing U.S. dressage talent. Additional support comes from the USET Foundation, USOPC, and USEF sponsors and members.