Leslie Law to coach for United States Equestrian Federation
British Olympic gold medal-winning eventer Leslie Law has taken up a coaching position for the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).
Leslie, who has been in based in America since 2006, is the new eventing developing rider coach and will oversee the Eventing 25 and Eventing 18 programmes.
“This is an exciting next step for the programme,” said US eventing team coach David O’Connor.
“Leslie brings a wealth of experience and will provide great leadership for the next generations.”
As well as winning individual gold at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Leslie also won two Olympic team silvers, two European team golds and team bronze at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in 2002.
Leslie, who is based in Ocala in Florida, was one of seven applicants for the position. A committee then selected Mike Huber and Leslie as the two finalists for the job. Both men were then evaluated on their teaching skills and interviewed.
In 2011 Leslie was shortlisted for the role as US eventing chef d’equipe but David was appointed.
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America finished 11th at last year’s Alltech FEI WEG, meaning the country has not yet qualified for the 2016 Olympics.
David O’Connor said in a meeting with high performance riders in December that hiring a developing coach would give him more time to work with the listed riders.
Leslie spoke at the United States Eventing Association’s annual meeting last month, stating that America had the resources to return to winning medals.
“You have a wealth of top horsemen, riders, owners, top vets, top technology — every single resource one needs to be a top rider,” he said.
“Let’s create a stage and competitions that will attract the world’s top class competitors here, and I think it will bridge the gap you want to close between you and Europe and put you back on the podium where you belong.”
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Sophia Heath joined Horse & Hound in July 2013 having previously worked for the Daily Telegraph's Olympics website, CNN International and Omnisport. A Durham graduate with a Masters in journalism from City University, Sophia has evented, showjumped and hunted. Sophia left Horse & Hound in early 2015 to join an international boating website.