Gladstone, NJ – The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation awarded the 2026 Karen E. Stives Endowment Fund Grant to four US Equestrian (USEF) Eventing European Development Tour athletes. The funds supported them in representing their nation on the Defender U.S. Eventing Team at the FEI Eventing Nations Cup Bicton CCIO4*-NC-S in Devon, England, held May 27-31, 2026.
The team of Tommy Greengard, Quidley Kellermann, Allie Knowles, and Cassie Sanger was led by U.S. Eventing Chef d’Equipe and High Performance Manager Leslie Law and earned the silver medal, finishing behind the host nation.
The U.S. team claimed silver behind the host nation at the FEI Eventing Nations Cup Bicton CCIO4*-NC-S.
Photo by Libby Law Photography
The Karen E. Stives Endowment Fund Grant supports the USEF eventing program’s goal of producing sustainable international success and assists athletes and their horses in achieving elite-level standard in eventing. As the philanthropic partner of USEF, USET Foundation funding supports USEF’s High Performance and Pathway Programs.
“We tend to bring Development 25 athletes over for this event, and they gained a lot of great team experience this weekend,” said Law. “We have to be happy with the result — finishing second behind a Great Britain team that included two of their Olympic riders was a very good result overall.”
This year’s grant helped cover expenses for the athletes, including layover accommodation for riders and grooms, layover stabling and feed, entry costs, hotel and groom accommodations during the competition, National Federation fees, coaching support, and flights where applicable. This financial assistance enabled these up-and-coming athletes and their horses to gain valuable competition experience on the world stage, setting them up for future success.
Allie Knowles and Montpellier Scais.
Photo by Libby Law Photography
Allie Knowles rode Katherine O’Brien’s nine-year-old AES gelding Montpellier Scais (by Quasimodo van de Molendreef x Indoctro), who was cared for by Alex Cain. Knowles recorded the best U.S. final score of 50.1 penalties, including the top U.S. dressage score of 32.1 penalties, to spearhead the U.S.’s podium finish and claim fifth place individually.
“I am unbelievably grateful to the USET Foundation for the Karen E. Stives Endowment Fund Grant, as it made it possible to take my horses over to the U.K. and get team experience in a Nations Cup,” said Knowles, who is from Lexington, Kentucky. “It was even more special that it went well. Without this funding, it would be really difficult to get that international experience.
“This is my second Nations Cup, and it was a huge stepping stone as I got to take two horses,” continued Knowles, who also competed Katherine O’Brien’s 11-year-old gelding Leo Santos (by L’Arc de Triomphe x LBH Calvados) individually, finishing seventh. “To have them both there as we lead up to big things with the Pan American Games next year and the Olympics the year after was perfectly timed. I’ve got a group of great young horses, and it’s fantastic for them to get this experience now as I have big hopes for them.
“Without the USEF Pathway Programs, I wouldn’t even know how to get to where I want to go,” she added. “The mentoring and funding provide us with experience and opportunities that we otherwise wouldn’t be able to access.”
Quidley Kellermann and Blakeneys Cruise.
Photo by Libby Law Photography
Kellermann, who is from Wimberley, Texas, but is currently based in the U.K. with Australian Olympian Kevin McNab, made her senior team debut at Bicton. She posted a counting score of 67.7 penalties on her own nine-year-old Irish-bred gelding Blakeneys Cruise (by FSS Correlli Bravo x Cruising), who was cared for by groom Olivia Jenkins.
“Last year, as an eight-year-old, he was competitive at four-star level, so this year advancing his career on some bigger stages and making a team were the main goals,” said Kellermann, who has produced Blakeneys Cruise since he was five. “This grant funded my first senior Nations Cup experience, and I’m only 20. It was so nice to be in a team environment with fellow Americans.
“I’m super grateful for the grant, the experience, and the support in developing my career,” she added. “It was so helpful that the training before Bicton was funded and travel was covered. I’m getting more experience at bigger four-star events, and I’m very grateful for these opportunities.”
Cassie Sanger and Fernhill Zoro.
Photo by Libby Law Photography
Sanger, from Wilmington, Delaware, delivered a valuable performance on her own 18-year-old AES gelding Fernhill Zoro (by Verdi TN x Voltaire), who was cared for by Meigs Rutherford.
“Fernhill Zoro was out in 2025 due to injury, and this grant gave me the opportunity for him to come back to competition, which was so special,” said Sanger, who was also awarded the 2026 Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy by the USET Foundation in January.
“This grant is all about helping to continue developing horses and riders’ education and to keep putting them out there,” added Sanger. “It’s so special to get a taste of what the team environment is like, and it was such a fun week with great results. These trips and experiences would not be possible without the grant. Even though I’m based in the U.K. [with Ros Canter], it helps so much because getting to Bicton is still a long process.”
Tommy Greengard and That’s Me Z.
Photo by Libby Law Photography
Tommy Greengard from Petaluma, California, was the fourth team member, competing his own and Andrea Pfeiffer’s That’s Me Z. The nine-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Take a Chance on Me Z x Indoctro was cared for by groom Mia Brown.
“The Karen E. Stives Endowment Fund Grant made the trip possible; otherwise, it was not on my radar for this spring,” said Greengard. “It was a catalyst for a lot of learning and a springboard for the rest of the year and for this horse’s future. It was a terrific week under the guidance of Leslie Law and Karyn Shuter. They helped with every element, including dressage preparation, final show jumping touches, and I learned a lot about how to tackle a cross-country course of that magnitude.
“The grant made it possible for us to travel to England and for the horse to stay there for the season, so we could further our education across the pond with Tim and Jonelle Price. That would not have been the plan without the grant,” he added.
The Karen E. Stives Endowment Fund Grant was established by the late Olympic team gold and individual silver medalist Karen E. Stives and provides financial assistance to horse-and-rider combinations that are already competing at the four- and five-star levels and are identified as having the potential to reach elite level through additional training and competition opportunities.
As the philanthropic partner to USEF, the USET Foundation helps support developing and elite U.S. athletes and their teams through the funding of USEF High Performance Pathway Programs, including the U.S. Eventing European Development Tour.
