BRENTINA & DEBBIE McDONALD, GP, U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS 2008

Brentina and Debbie McDonald scored 73.042 and took 3rd place in the Grand Prix at the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions held at the Oaks Blenheim in San Juan Capistrano, California on Saturday June 28th, 2008.

Debbie McDonald
Born: August 27,1954
Hometown: Hailey, ID

Horse: Brentina (17-year-old Hanoverian mare; Owned by Peggy Thomas)

A true Olympic success story at a mere 50 years young, Debbie McDonald set out to bring home a Team medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics - a goal she saw to fruition as an integral part of the Team USA Olympic Bronze-medal effort. She again proved her mettle with legendary partner Brentina with a Team Bronze medal at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany.

She focused on an up-and-coming star in 2007, and her diligence with Felix paid off that summer - they won three consecutive Grand Prix. McDonald had had an impressive season thus far in 2008 with both horses. Felix earned a first in the Grand Prix at Los Angeles Winter Dressage and a second at the CDI-W Burbank. Brentina brought home a first and a second in the Grand Prix at the CDI3 Burbank.

McDonald's prowess has earned her a first among American dressage riders-the title of World Cup Champion in 2003-an honor she shares with Brentina. McDonald's score of 78.890% in the Grand Prix Freestyle earned the combination the coveted title. In June of that year, McDonald was an integral part of the U.S. team finishing second in the team competition at CDIO Aachen, where she also placed third individually. At the 2005 World Cup Final in Las Vegas, McDonald and Brentina had one of their most memorable moments, placing third overall on home turf, receiving a standing ovation from a packed house. In 2005, Brentina was named the inaugural 2005 Farnam/Platform - USEF Horse of the Year.

Mcdonald's accomplishments are many, including wins at both the 2005 and 2004 U.S. Grand Prix Freestyle/Championship/U.S. League Finals, 2003 Bayer Festival of Champions, U.S. Equestrian Team Grand Prix Championship, a Team Silver medal at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Spain, and both Individual and Team Gold medals at the 1999 Pan American Games. She was named Equestrian of the Year by the American Horse Shows Association (now the USEF) in 1999, as well as the 1999 United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Female Equestrian Athlete of the Year.

McDonald and her husband make their home in Idaho, where she trains for competition and coaches young riders. She and husband, Bob, have one son, Ryan.

Websites:

Brentina & Debbie McDonald:
http://brentina.com/

USEF:
http://www.usef.org/

USDF:
http://www.usdf.org/

USET:
http://www.uset.com/

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• BRENTINA
• DEBBIE
• McDONALD
• Grand
• Prix
• U.S.
• OLYMPIC
• TRIALS
• Dressage
• Festival
• of
• Champions
• Oaks
• Blenheim
• Dressur
• dressuur
• adestramento
• dressyr
• doma

[babicakes10100]

thats my half brothers moms horse not kidding my favorite dressage horse