Liz with Olivier foals Dayowillie and Dorina

Twenty-seven-year-old Liz Austin has been a dressage competitor since 1989 (she was five). She began riding sales horses for her mother, Madeleine Austin, when she was twelve, the same year she started her first horse under saddle. At sixteen she competed in her first Prix St. Georges on a horse she trained herself and by twenty-two she made her Grand Prix dressage debut in Europe riding Olivier, her mother’s homebred stallion.

Liz has had the pleasure of working with some of the greatest riders and trainers in the world, including a two month stay in Germany working with US Team Coach Klaus Balkenhol. Other trainers Liz had had the opportunity to work with include Conrad Schumacher, Lendon Gray, Tuny Page, Jennifer Baumert, Ulla Salzgeber, Carol Lavell, Michael Poulin, Hubertus Schmidt, Ulf Moller, Ingrid Klimke, Michael Klimke and Lisa Wilcox.

Competitive Highlights

2011

  • Reserve Rider for FEI World Cup 2011
  • World Dressage Masters 4th place Grand Prix Special
  • Gold Coast CDI-W 1st place Grand Prix
  • Gold Coast CDI-W 2nd place Grand Prix Special
  • Palm Beach Dressage CDI-W 2nd place Grand Prix Freestyle
  • Welling Dressage CDI-W 2nd place Grand Prix Special

2010

  • Winner of Allentown CDI- Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special
  • Qualified for the Championship for the World Equestrian Games
  • Competed at the Festival of Champions- Gladstone, NJ
  • Invited to compete in the prestigious World Dressage Masters in Wellington, Florida
  • Finished 9th in the Grand Prix and 3rd in the Grand Prix Special at World Dressage Masters
  • CDI Grand Prix average nearly 67%

2009

  • Won 7 of 9 national Grand Prix classes with an average of 70%
  • Competed in CDIs at NEDA and Saugerties including a win in the Grand Prix Special at CDI Saugerties
  • CDI Grand Prix average of 65%
  • Apple Valley Show Grand Prix – 72.3%

2008

  • USDF Gold Medalist
  • Dressage at Equestrian Estates Fourth Level – 69%

2007

  • Champion – USEF/Collecting Gaits National Dressage Championship Brentina Cup
  • Devon CDI Grand Prix – 2nd place
  • Devon CDI Grand Prix Special – 2nd place
  • NEDA CDI Grand Prix – 68%
  • NEDA CDI Grand Prix Freestyle – 69%
  • CDI Saugerties GP Freestyle – 71.4%
  • King Oak Dressage Grand Prix and GP Special – 71%
  • CDI Raleigh Intermediare 2 and High Score FEI – 72.195%
  • WEF Dressage Classic Grand Prix – 71.25%
  • Palm Beach Dressage Derby Grand Prix 66.25%

2006

  • Champion – USEF/Collecting Gaits National Dressage Championship Brentina Cup

2005 and Prior

  • Champion – 2005 Youth Dressage Festival (Young Rider division)
  • Individual Silver Medalist- 2004 NAYRC (Junior Olympics)
  • Champion – 2004 Youth Dressage Festival (Young Rider division)
  • Young Rider Champion – 2003 CDI Blainville
  • NAYRC Team Member – 2004 (Qualifying Average 67%)
  • NAYRC Team Member – 2003 (Qualifying Average 66%)
  • NAYRC Team Member – 2002 (Qualifying Average 65%)