Lexington, KY – May 14, 2015 – Olympic medalist Debbie McDonald is

brimming with natural talent and a passion for horses.  As a child she made

her debut in the show jumping ring, but moved to the sport of dressage, where

she rose to the top as a World Cup Finals Champion and Olympic medalist

hrough her partnership with the brilliant mare, Brentina.

Now the international rider, known as the “First Lady of American Dressage,”

will use that same talent and passion on behalf of working equines as Brooke USA’s

newest Ambassador.

Debbie McDonald and Brentina

Brooke USA supports the overseas work of the Brooke, the world’s

largest international equine welfare organization.  Their mission is to

improve the welfare of working horses, donkeys and mules in the world’s

poorest communities.

Through direct veterinary intervention and scientific research, and

by working with owners, communities and governments, the Brooke

has been providing long-term, proven, sustainable solutions to many

of the welfare problems facing working animals for 81 years. Last year

alone the Brooke reached nearly 1.5 million equines, benefitting 6 million

people in countries where many people earn less than a dollar a day.

Captivated by the ability to bring permanent change to the lives of working animals and their owners in developing countries, McDonald didn’t hesitate to come alongside Brooke USA.

“When I saw Brooke USA’s photos, read the material and learned about their

mission, it didn’t take me five seconds to realize that when you don’t know what’s

going on you never realize how sad something can be,” McDonald expressed.

“I certainly would do anything in my power to help this amazing organization.”

When she was only 14 years old, McDonald saw the mistreatment of

horses firsthand. It was personal: it was her own pony, Flanigan. It seemed

like any other day going to the barn, but when she walked through the threshold

she was met by a man she did not know in his stall beating him. When she went

running for help, she met young trainer and future husband, Bob McDonald. With

his help, she moved her pony to his hunter/jumper facility, promising to never

compromise her pony’s mental or physical health.

Her passion for the treatment of horses is still apparent in her teaching and

her demeanor today. When she saw the comparison between the before and

after photos of the Brooke’s programs in 11 countries, tears came to her eyes,

and she knew she wanted to make a difference.

“I’m hoping that I can draw more awareness about Brooke USA and what they

are doing for the welfare of these animals,” McDonald explained. “These days I

travel a lot and continue to coach and teach clinics. I think that if it is done the

right way, I can open people’s eyes in the sport and show them the everyday trials

of these working animals-donkeys, mules and horses.”

Thousands of horses, donkeys and mules work in brick kilns across Central Asia. In India alone, 50,000 brick kilns produce 140 billion bricks annually. The Brooke works in several hundred kilns to improve the lives of the animals who toil in these harsh environments alongside their poor owners.

Cindy Rullman, Fundraising Development Director for Brooke USA stated,

“It is certainly a privilege for us to welcome Debbie as one of our new

Ambassadors.  When the sport horse world becomes aware that 100 million

equines are supporting 600 million of the world’s poorest people, and that

the Brooke already has proven solutions to the enormous welfare problems

they’re facing, we think they will jump in to help. Debbie can bring that awareness.”

McDonald joins an impressive lineup of Brooke USA Ambassadors that includes

the Brooke’s Global Ambassadors: double Olympic Gold Medalist Charlotte Dujardin,

internationally renowned “horse whisperer” Monty Roberts, and top sport horse

owner Margaret Duprey, among others.

McDonald concluded, “It just brings tears to your eyes when you see

the plight of these animals-heavy loads, injuries and lack of water or

food-some of them are just a rack of bones. We can make a difference.

Sometimes it’s something as simple as teaching owners about hoof care,

vaccinations and proper feeding. You learn that this is happening and it is

astonishing. My God, I didn’t even know that existed still.”

Brooke USA, headquartered at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington,

exists to support the overseas work of the Brooke in 11 countries across

Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Central America.

For more information about Brooke USA, visit their website: www.BrookeUSA.org.

Phelps Media Group, Inc. (PMG), based in Wellington, Florida, is a public relations

firm primarily focused on promoting events and people in the equestrian world.

From the USEF Communications Department

Dressage Pan American Games European CDI Observation Event Squad

Members of the Squad arrived at Gut Ising in Germany on April 30 having traveled well on the flight arranged by The Dutta Corp. As part of its sponsorship of USEF Dressage Programs, The Dutta Corp. covered a portion of the expenses for the trip.

The squad will continue to train under the guidance of Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover in preparation for the first Observation Event at CDI3*/5* Munich, May 13-17.

European Competition and Training Grants

The following combinations have been awarded European Competition and Training Grants (in alphabetical order):

Shelly Francis (Loxahatchee, Fla.) with Patricia Stempel’s Doktor and Danilo
Doktor is a 2003 Oldenburg gelding.
Danilo is a 2004 Hanoverian gelding.

Catherine Haddad-Staller (Wellington, Fla.) with Rowan O’Riley’s Mane Stream Hotmail
Mane Stream Hotmail is a 2002 Oldenburg gelding.

Brian Hafner (Penngrove, Calif.) with his own and Rebecca Hafner’s Lombardo LHF
Lombardo LHF is a 1999 Hanoverian gelding.

Charlotte Jorst (Reno, Nev.) with Kastel Denmark’s Kastel’s Nintendo
Kastel’s Nintendo is a 2003 Dutch Warmblood stallion.

Devon Kane (Wellington, Fla.) with Diamante Farms’ Destiny
Destiny is a 2003 Danish Warmblood gelding.

Tuny Page (Wellington, Fla.) with her own Alina and Woodstock
Alina is a 1998 Danish mare.
Woodstock is a 2003 Dutch Warmblood gelding.

Kasey Perry (Orangevale, Calif.) with Diane Perry’s Trostruplund’s Scarlet
Trostruplund’s Scarlet is a 1999 Danish Warmblood mare.

European CDIOs

Promising American combinations are set to compete in four European Nations Cups over the summer.

CDIO5* Rotterdam and CDIO5* Hagen

The following combinations will represent the U.S. at CDIO5* Rotterdam, in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, June 18-21, and at CDIO5* Hagen, in Hagen, Germany, July 8-12 (in alphabetical order):

Shelly Francis (Loxahatchee, Fla.) with Patricia Stempel’s Doktor
Doktor is a 2003 Oldenburg gelding.

Charlotte Jorst (Reno, Nev.) with Kastel Denmark’s Kastel’s Nintendo
Kastel’s Nintendo is a 2003 Dutch Warmblood stallion.

Tuny Page (Wellington, Fla.) with her own Woodstock
Woodstock is a 2003 Dutch Warmblood gelding.

*Kathleen Raine (Murrieta, Calif.) with Jennifer Mason, David Wightman, and her own Breanna
Breanna is a 2001 Hanoverian mare.

*Should Raine and Breanna be named to the U.S. Pan American Games Team or as alternates to the U.S. team, Katherine Bateson-Chandler (Wellington, Fla.) and Jane Clark’s 2005 Dutch Warmblood gelding Alcazar would replace them on the Rotterdam and Hagen teams.

CDIO5* Falsterbo

The following combinations will represent the U.S. at CDIO5* Falsterbo, in Falsterbo, Sweden, July 9-12 (in alphabetical order):

Susie Dutta (Wellington, Fla.) and Tim Dutta Inc.’s Currency DC
Currency DC is a 2000 Oldenburg gelding.

Catherine Haddad-Staller (Wellington, Fla.) with Rowan O’Riley’s Mane Stream Hotmail
Mane Stream Hotmail is a 2002 Oldenburg gelding.

Brian Hafner (Penngrove, Calif.) with his own and Rebecca Hafner’s Lombardo LHF
Lombardo LHF is a 1999 Hanoverian gelding.

Devon Kane (Wellington, Fla.) with Diamante Farms’ Destiny
Destiny is a 2003 Danish Warmblood gelding.

CDIO3* Hickstead

The following combinations have been named to represent the U.S. at CDIO3* Hickstead, in Hickstead, England, July 15-19, additional combinations may be named pending approval by the USEF Dressage High Performance Committee (in alphabetical order):

Katherine Bateson-Chandler (Wellington, Fla.) with Jane Clark’s Alcazar
Alcazar is a 2005 Dutch Warmblood gelding.

Jennifer Hoffman (San Diego, Calif.) with her own XXXL Rubinio NRW or Farinelli
XXXL Rubinio NRW is a 2003 Westphalian stallion.
Farinelli is a 1999 Westphalian gelding.

*Kasey Perry (Orangevale, Calif.) with Diane Perry’s Trostruplund’s Scarlet
Trostruplund’s Scarlet is a 1999 Danish Warmblood mare.

*Should Perry be named to the U.S. Pan American Games Team or as an alternate to the U.S. Team with Goerklintgaards Dublet she will not compete at CDIO3* Hickstead.

USEF Developing Dressage Program

Two participants of the USEF Developing Dressage Program, supported by the ongoing gift through the USET Foundation Trustee Akiko Yamazaki/Red Husky Foundation, have been awarded grants to train and compete in European U-25 competitions. Chase Hickock (Wellington, Fla.) with Hyperion Farm, Inc.’s 1999 Royal Dutch Warmblood gelding Sagacious HF and Genay Vaughn (Elk Grove, Calif.) with Starr Vaughn Equestrian, Inc’s 2001 Hanoverian stallion Donarweiss GGF will compete at two European CDI-U25s in July.

USEF Dressage Young Rider European Tour

Based on the ranking and selection process for the USEF Dressage Young Rider European Tour, the following combinations have been named for the U.S. Team for CDIO-Y Hagen, in Hagen, Germany, June 16-21, 2015 (in ranked order):

Catherine Chamberlain (Murrieta, Calif.) with Kimberly Pribble’s Avesto Van Weltevreden
Avesto Van Weltevreden is a 2005 Dutch Warmblood gelding.
*Chamberlain will also be an alternate on her own 2002 Dutch Warmblood gelding Verdicci.

Ayden Uhlir (Wellington, Fla.) with her own Sjapoer
Sjapoer is a 1999 Dutch Warmblood gelding.

Barbara Davis (Wellington, Fla.) with Michael Davis’ Feivel Mousekewitz
Feivel Mousekewitz is a 2001 Hanoverian gelding.

Cassidy Gallman (Poway, Calif.) and her own 2000 Hanoverian gelding Grand Makana will serve as first alternates and Lindsey Brewin (San Ramon, Calif.) and her own 2002 Dutch Warmblood gelding Vaillant will serve as second alternates.

Both Chamberlain and Uhlir have received grants to compete on the USEF Dressage Young Rider European Tour.

The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.