Tuesday December 11, 2001

USDF Inducts Jessica Ransehousen into Hall of Fame

Lincoln, Nebraska (December 6, 2001) -Two noted equestrians were recently inducted into the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Hall of Fame during the federation's annual convention held November 28-December 1st in Orlando, Florida. Major General Guy V. Henry, Jr. and Ms. Jessica Newberry Ransehousen joined the ranks of seven other remarkable equestrians and three notable dressage horses as the newest inductees into the Hall of Fame.

Jessica Newberry Ransehousen rode one of the first dressage tests ever judged in the United States. At the age of 15, she competed against six adult male competitors in the international Prix St. Georges in Canada, and won the top honor. At ages 18 and 19, she was named USET National Dressage Champion in 1956 and 1957.

With the Trakehner stallion Forstrat, she competed at several international competitions including Aachen where she finished second in the Grand Prix. They competed at the 1959 Pan Am Games where she placed fifth overall and earned the team silver medal. At the age of 21, Jessica competed in the 1960 Olympics in Rome and placed 12th individually. Four years later, she and Forstrat competed at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo in which they placed 14th individually and the U.S. team placed fourth. After a 24-year absence from the Olympics, Jessica was returned to represent the United States at the 1988 Seoul Olympics with the Dutch stallion, Orpheus.

Jessica was selected to serve as Chef d'Equipe for the United States team at the 1991 and 1995 Pan American Games, the 1990 and 1994 World Equestrian Games, and the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Olympic Games. An FEI "I" judge, Ransehousen is currently the Vice-President for dressage of the U.S. Equestrian Team. She served three terms as Chairperson of the AHSA Dressage Committee and was elected Assistant Secretary of the AHSA in 1997.

Portraits of these two equestrians will join those of Lowell Boomer, Chuck Grant, Col. Donald W. Thackeray, Violet Hopkins, Col. Bengt Ljudquist, Lt. Col. Hans Moeller, and Captain John Fritz, plus three remarkable horses, Keen, Gifted, and Graf George. These portraits are on display at the USDF office, and will soon be on the USDF website.

Related Links
USDF Inducts Major General Guy V. Henry, Jr.
USDF Website