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US Equestrian Announces U.S. Endurance Team Short List for 2026 FEI Endurance World Championship
by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | 7/29/2026
Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian is pleased to announce the combinations named to the U.S. Endurance Team Short List for the 2026 FEI Endurance World Championship in Butheeb, UAE on December 19, 2026. The team will be led by Chef d'Equipe Jeffrey Stuart, Team Veterinarian Dr. Olivia Rudolphi, and Team Leader Nicole Zerbee.
The following unranked athlete-and-horse combinations have been selected to the U.S. Endurance Team Short List for the 2026 FEI Endurance World Championships and are listed in alphabetical order.
Niki Beck (Ocala, Fla.) and her own Majestic Cloudy Boy, a 2009 Appaloosa/Arabian cross gelding (Majestic Prince x Comanche Lady)
AnnaMaria Clarke (Davis, Va.) and Ole Gold, a 2016 Arabian gelding (Sand Tiki Special x Mags Rega Roya) owned by Valerie Kanavy, and Southern Justice, a 2012 Arabian gelding (PA Gazsi x PA Ecolina) owned by Valerie Kanavy and Dessia Miller
Heather Davis (The Plains, Va.) and SM Mi Anay, a 2015 Arabian mare (SM Mi Lord x Anay Fatima) owned by Haras Paso Manzanero
Mollie Quiroz (San Leandro, Calif.) and Highh Visibility, a 2017 Arabian mare (Vangogh FPA x Alla Masquerade) owned by Samantha Ellis
Heather Reynolds (Dunnellon, Fla.) and Supersonic Zell, a 2012 Arabian gelding (SW Zell x Just N Tyme) owned by Heather Reynolds, Jeremy Reynolds, and Zhaoyi Cheng
Jeremy Reynolds (Dunnellon, Fla.) and Treasured Moments, a 2010 Arabian mare (Da Adios +/ x Hidden Treasure) owned by Jeremy Reynolds and Heather Reynolds
Kelsey Russell (Williston, Fla.) and Juno Im Gold, a 2015 Half-Arabian gelding (Flash Golden x LM Parys) owned by Valerie Kanavy
Alex Shampoe (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Authentic Gold, a 2016 Anglo-Arabian gelding (Flash Goldon x Rhain) owned by Wendy Maccoubrey
Meg Sleeper (Frenchtown, N.J.) and her own Belesema Sapphire, a 2012 Arabian mare (Belesemo Magic x Cal Flaming Emit) and Syrocco Serenade, a 2015 Arabian mare (Syrocco Troubador x Syrocco Renaissance)
Nicole Wertz (Auburn, Calif.) and her own Little Sammy SV, a 2015 Arabian gelding (Sammy V x Zans Little Wing)
The following ranked combination has been selected as the first alternate.
Holly Corcoran (Allentown, Pa.) and her own Lorienn, a 2012 Arabian mare (Syndicat x Lothlorienn)
Competition Information:
The 2026 FEI Endurance World Championship will take place in Butheeb, UAE on December 19, 2026.
Event Website
For more information see:
https://www.usef.org/media/press-releases/us-equestrian-announces-us-enduranceteamshort
Butheeb (UAE) selected as replacement host for the FEI Endurance World Championship 2026
Inside.FEI.org
29 July 2026
Author: FEI Communications
The world-renowned Butheeb International Endurance Village (BIEV) has been selected to host the FEI Endurance World Championship 2026, following a decision by the FEI Board during its teleconference on 28 July 2026. This will be the second time the venue hosts a World Championship, having successfully staged the 2022 edition.
The decision follows the FEI Board’s decision on 1 July to withdraw the Championship from AlUla (KSA) and re-open the bid process.
The Championship will take place in Butheeb, located approximately one hour from Abu Dhabi city centre, from 14 to 20 December, with the Championship ride scheduled for 19 December 2026.
“We are very pleased with the decision to award the FEI Endurance World Championship 2026 to Butheeb,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.
“The Butheeb bid was one of four very strong bids received when we re-opened the process. The fact that four Organisers put themselves forward as potential hosts demonstrates the solidarity within the Endurance community and a shared commitment to ensuring there would be a FEI Endurance World Championship in 2026. The Butheeb Organising Committee has a proven track record of hosting events of this calibre, and we have very fond memories of the outstanding FEI Endurance World Championship 2022 held at the venue.
“In taking its decision, the Board considered all relevant factors, in particular the safety and security of human and equine athletes. The Organiser submitted not only a detailed plan covering all sporting aspects of the Championship, but also a comprehensive logistics outline, including the costs of transportation and accommodation of horses and delegations, as well as contingency plans to ensure the event is accessible to all eligible National Federations and their athletes. The Board was therefore satisfied that all the necessary conditions will be in place for a safe and successful Championship.
“We are extremely grateful to the Organising Committee and the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation for their continued support of the Endurance discipline, and we are confident that the 2026 Championship will be an outstanding event.”
Since 2004, the BIEV has hosted around 180 FEI and 361 National Endurance events.
The venue has earned global recognition for its modern, well-equipped veterinary clinic, which features digital X-ray, ultrasonography and other diagnostic services, as well as highly qualified veterinarians and laboratory technicians. Located close to the Central Vet Gates and the Holding Area, the clinic includes examination areas, stables for in-patient treatment, and observation and administrative facilities.
The course, which passes through a forestry reserve, combines desert sand terrain, natural tracks and gently undulating sections. The BIEV is known for producing technical rides that prioritise horse welfare, in line with its mission to deliver exceptional international endurance events that celebrate sporting excellence, place horse welfare at the heart of every decision, embrace innovation and sustainability, and create unforgettable experiences for athletes, officials, spectators and partners.
Ann Kratochvil Passes Away
July 22 2026Remembrance by Nina Bomar and Miki Dekel
Rest in Peace, Ann Kratochvil... She was a beloved friend to many and a dedicated endurance rider from Ridgecrest, California.
Ann was cherished for her beautifully crafted leather chaps, which came in a variety of colors and were adorned with as much fringe and bling as anyone could enjoy. She was also a talented tack maker, creating numerous bridles during a time when few others were sewing. I always appreciated her use of the super narrow beta, giving her gear a minimal, elegant look.
Miki Dekel, who lives in Canada, reached out to share the heartbreaking news. Miki had an Appy named Kool Hand Luke and was a friend of Ann Kratochvil. She said Ann passed away on July 9, 2026, at her home in Ridgecrest after battling cancer.
Miki praised Ann’s remarkable 34 years of riding with AERC, highlighting her many achievements. Among them was her extraordinary mare GF Brazil's Envy, who earned a perfect 10 (completing 10 years, 10,000 miles, 10 first-place finishes, and 10 best conditions). Ann rode Envy from 2006 to 2015, covering 10,200 miles.
Her total AERC mileage was 26,060, with her final ride in January 2025 at the Fire Mountain Ride in her hometown, where she rode her filly BBA Khaleelah. I believe Ann eventually entrusted Khaleelah to Callie Thornburgh, knowing that she was too much horse for her—their successes must have made Ann proud.
Miki also spoke of Pandora’s Pixy, another mare who earned a perfect 10, ridden by Ann’s partner and beloved companion, Randy Coleman. They shared many years and rides together, though Randy passed away several years ago at an XP Ride. I remember Ann expressing how lonely she felt without him. My hope is that they have reunited in the heavens, reminiscing about all the miles they shared.
Miki conveyed that Ann’s ashes were scattered in the hills above Ridgecrest. May she forever rest in peace, her spirit forever etched in the hearts of those who loved her.
More about Ann and Envy here! http://tracks.endurance.net/2015/10/the-newest-perfect-ten-equine-ann.html?m=1
Angie Field Rochna 1965 - 2026
Legacy.com
Angela "Angie" Field Rochna passed peacefully at her home in Sonita, Arizona on May 22, 2026 at the age of 61.
She was born on May 11, 1965, in Dallas, Texas, the daughter of Rad and Barbara Field.
Angie grew up in the North Dallas area on Stonemoss Drive, an idyllic neighborhood filled with wonderful friends. Angie attended J Frank Dobie Elementary School, Northwood Junior High and graduated from Richardson High School, class of '83, where she played bass clarinet and made lifelong friends in the Golden Eagle Band. Angie went on to attend Texas A&M University ultimately graduating from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine.
Angie developed a love for animals practically from birth. For over 25 years she worked as a veterinarian, giving her very best to her clients and their beloved animals. Rain or snow, late nights or early mornings, Angie was always there for God's sick little creatures.
She loved adventure, and along with her husband Jeff, spent 23 wonderful years in Alaska. They floated rivers, flew around Denali, caught giant halibut and salmon and snowmobiled. One of her favorite memories was exploring the Alaska Range while hunting Dall sheep then heading straight to Anchorage to catch a Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera.
After Alaska Angie retired from veterinary medicine and moved to Orcas Island, tucked away in the beautiful waters of Washington State just south of Vancouver, British Columbia and with her husband Jeff, lovingly restored an old heritage farmstead dating to around 1906. There she raised Clun Forest sheep, gardened, grew dahlias, raced sailboats and yachts, played tennis, shot trap and savored life with wonderful neighbors.
Angie's first love was horses and after that great chapter on Orcas Island, she and Jeff moved to a ranch in Inkom, Idaho which served as a base to ride endurance events all over the country ranging from 25 to 50 miles where Angie was truly in her element and fulfilled her lifelong dream of owning horses.
Angie had a deep love for travel and adventure. She and her husband Jeff traveled to Africa, South America, Central America, Australia, Slovenia, New Zealand, and many places in between. They scuba dived, hiked, went on photo safaris, and even did a Jack the Ripper tour through London on an eerie winter night.
Angie's final chapter brought her to Sonoita, Arizona, where you can ride horses for miles and the skies and mountains seem endless. Angie's last season was a challenging one as she faced her long battle with cancer, but her horses were kind and the local ranch community was extraordinarily caring. She rarely complained, and when she did, it was only because a Mayo Clinic appointment kept her out of the saddle. It was a tough chapter but a beautiful one.
No account of Angie's life would be complete without her faith. She loved God and treasured His Word. Angie attended the First Baptist Church of Richardson during her childhood and found many church homes during her travels. She participated in Bible studies, poured over Scripture, and sought to understand and live out her Christian faith in everything she did. She supported missionaries and Christian causes close to her heart. Above all, Angie wanted everyone around her to know her faith, not just in words, but through the way she lived. She would want you to know that it is through Jesus dying on the cross that we are offered salvation and eternal life, and that God is the ultimate caregiver, the one who provides a peace the world cannot give. That peace is what Angie knows today, freedom from suffering, from pain and from the heartbreak/corruption of this world.
Angie is survived by her husband, Jeff Rochna, her parents Rad and Barbara Field, her brother Calvin Field and her niece Andrea Venable.
Services are to be held Saturday July 11, 2026 at 1 pm at CARE Church, 1504 East Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75081
An informal celebration will be held following the memorial at Gillespie's Irish Tavern, 3600 Shire Blvd. Suite #112, Richardson, TX 75082
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Angie's memory to "Faith Comes by Hearing", faithcomesbyhearing.com
To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.
Make a donation to Faith Comes By Hearing Intl Foundation in memory of Angie Field Rochna
More at https://www.legacy.com/legacy/angie-rochna