Prolific Young Rider Kat Fuqua Named 2025 Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy Recipient
Wellington, FL – The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation awarded the 2025 Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy to rising dressage and jumping athlete Kat Fuqua at its Gold Medal Club reception held on January 17, 2025, at the National Polo Center in Wellington, Florida. The award is presented annually to a junior or young rider in an Olympic discipline who exemplifies the U.S. Equestrian Team’s ideals of sportsmanship and horsemanship….. click for link to article Jump Media photo
“ “She’s maybe not the flashiest mover or biggest horse, but she’s always on it and very consistent.””
MEDIA
Video: Kat Fuqua Lives A Triple-Gold Dream With Dreamgirl At NAYC
THE CHRONICLE OF THE HORSE : Published August 5, 2024
Competition closed out on Sunday at the 2024 Discover Dressage/FEI North American Youth Dressage Championship with Atlanta-based Kat Fuqua emerging as a triple gold medalist in the Young Rider section.
She kicked off the week winning team gold Thursday with her USDF Regions 3/5 teammates, sisters Alicia and Allison Berger of Wellington, Florida, then followed that with wins Saturday in the FEI Individual Test (70.97%) and Sunday in the freestyle (74.35%) on Dreamgirl, the 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Spielberg—U-Vira, Goodtimes) she calls “my ride or die.”
“It’s really, really special [to be undefeated at this NAYC],” she said Sunday. “I’m just so proud of Dreamgirl, and it’s even more important because it’s with Dreamgirl. I’m so excited. Every day I felt like we were just getting better and better. I’m so proud of her.”…… click for link to article Kat Fuqua and Dreamgirl. Avery Wallace/USEF Photo
U.S. Young Riders Gain Experience on the World Stage During 2024 Euro Tour
EURODRESSAGE : Published August 25, 2024
USA For American youth dressage athletes who aspire to represent the U.S. on senior teams in the future, gaining experience competing overseas is still an essential part of preparation.
Every year, a small group of up-and-coming young dressage athletes and their horses are selected to travel to Hagen, Germany, for the Future Champions CDIOY competition where they compete against their peers from around the world.
Pathway Development Participating athletes work with USEF Dressage High Performance Pathway Development Advisor and Youth Coach, George Williams, and get a firsthand glimpse into what it means to be an international elite dressage athlete.
“Future Champions is a youth nations cup competition—a CDIOY for us, and they also hold a CDIOJ [for juniors] and for pony riders and children,” said Williams. “There are usually approximately 24 nations that send teams, so it’s as close as you can get to a youth world championship, especially for dressage.”
This year, Alicia Berger (Chicago, Ill.) with Aqua Marin, her own and Marianne Berger’s 2011 Oldenburg gelding, Kat Fuqua(Atlanta, Ga.) with her own 2008 Dutch Warmblood mare, Dreamgirl, and Nash Gagnon (Gorham, Maine), with his own Happy Texas Moonlight, a 2007 Oldenburg gelding, were selected to travel to Europe for the tour. Fuqua and Dreamgirl, were also part of the tour in 2023. The other two athletes had their first overseas competition experience with this year’s tour…… click for link to article. Eurodressage Photo
