Part 2: Germany, Future Champions, and Watching the Young Riders Shine

Mud, Rain, and Move-In Day

After the long drive from the Netherlands, we arrived to find that Mother Nature had other plans for the start of the show. A heat wave had just passed through northern Germany and gave way to a significant amount of rain, but what is more fun than a horse show in the rain!

Heavy rain turned move-in day into organized chaos as dozens of horse vans converged on the same entrance, transforming the fields into deep mud. It took patience—and plenty of horsepower—to get everyone unloaded and settled.



Fortunately, once the horses were comfortably stabled, training began smoothly and everyone quickly focused on the week ahead.

A Week of Great Riding

Once again, our riders competed in the:

Team Test

Individual Test

Freestyle

Each ride throughout the week showed noticeable improvement as the horses and riders became increasingly comfortable competing in Europe.

Outside our own competition, one of the highlights was watching the Pony and Junior Show Jumpers. The Irish pony riders were particularly entertaining—fearlessly flying around enormous courses at what seemed like breakneck speed, laughing, cheering, and clearly loving every second of it. It was impossible not to smile watching them. One of our team riders also competes in the jumpers and had her two horses at Future Champions competing as well. One of the few times, if not only time, that an American rider has also competed in both dressage and show jumping at Future Champions.

By the end of the Sunday's competition, the weeks of travel, preparation, and competition across the tour had all paid off.



One American combination finished second, while another earned fourth place. More importantly, all three riders left Europe with experience that simply cannot be duplicated at home.

A Visit with a Colleague

One unexpected highlight came on a free day when I drove north to Oldenburg, Germany, to visit a friend and fellow equine veterinarian at his farm and clinic in the beautiful forests of northern Germany.

Despite practicing on opposite sides of the Atlantic, we found ourselves discussing many of the same challenges, successes, and rewards that come with caring for horses. Veterinary medicine may look a little different depending on where you practice, but our shared passion for horses creates an immediate connection no matter the language or country.

Why These Trips Matter

Ultimately, these tours offer much more than just the pursuit of awards—they are essential experiences that shape the skills, character, and future of our young riders.

They expose talented young American riders to a new level of competition, broaden their horsemanship, build resilience, and help prepare the next generation of international athletes.

As the Team Veterinarian, I feel incredibly fortunate to play a small role in that journey.

I'm grateful to USEF, George Williams, and Lauren Moore for continuing to invite me to be part of this exceptional program. Watching these young riders grow in confidence, represent our country with professionalism, and embrace every challenge is one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.



I'm already looking forward to the next opportunity to help America's future equestrians perform at their very best.