Four United States dressage riders have been awarded USEF Dressage European Competition and Training Grants to travel to Europe as they prepare for the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany. These grants have been made possible through funding from the United States Olympic Committee.

The four riders and their horses are as follows:

• Leslie Morse of Beverly Hills, California, and Kingston (Dutch Warmblood stallion, owned by Leslie Morse)
• Steffan Peters of San Diego, California, and Floriano (1990 Westphalian gelding; owned by Laurie and Steven Browning)
• Guenter Seidel of Del Mar, California, and Aragon (1992 Bavarian Warmblood gelding, owned by Dick and Jane Brown)
• George Williams of Delaware, Ohio, and Rocher (1991 Westphalian mare; owned by Charles and JoAnn Smith)

Debbie McDonald and Brentina were selected to receive one of the USEF grants. However, Debbie declined the grant as she felt that shipping Brentina to Europe at this time was not the best way to prepare her for the 2006 World Equestrian Games.

Morse, Peters, Seidel and Williams are currently all in Europe training with Klaus Balkenhol. They will constitute the American team that will compete at the CDIO Aachen August 23-28, 2005. All four riders brought their second Grand Prix horse (Tip Top, Lombardi, Metropolitan and Marnix) to Europe as well on private funding.

Prior to the CDIO Aachen, the American riders will do one schooling show at Hof Kasselmann in Hagen in preparation for the big Aachen event.

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