Eventers like speed, right? Try this one on for size: last October, less than a year before the start of the 2018 World Equestrian Games at Tryon, the United States Equestrian Federation hired Erik Duvander as the U.S. High Performance Director for Eventing. With limited time to become familiar with the horses and riders and make an impact on the program before the next major championship, Erik prioritized preparation for the Games, while simultaneously formulating his plan to return the U.S. to a powerhouse position in the sport of eventing. 

Since taking on this new position, Erik has spent close to four months away from his family in New Zealand, traveling around America and to competitions worldwide, working with the U.S. high-performance three-day event riders.

“I really need to invest my time and spend enough with the riders to try to fully understand them and their horses so I can be of best value to them,” Erik says. “I feel the time invested has been really good. It’s worked out and I think it’s a lot to