Dressage

News

Kelly Layne to ride for the USA

Australian Olympic dressage rider Kelly Layne, who has long been based in Wellington, Florida, will now ride for the USA.

Kelly Layne riding her Tokyo Olympic horse Samhitas. Image by Satomi Ishikuri.

Equestrian Life

Published 26 Feb 2025

Australian Olympic dressage rider Kelly Layne will now ride for the USA. Dressage-News reported on Monday that the 49-year-old competed at week seven of the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida for the country she has now called home for many years.

Speaking to Dressage-News, Kelly cited eligibility for grants, pipeline programs and development programs, as well as eligibility to work with the USEF young horse and young rider programs, as the driving reasons behind the change.

Kelly enjoyed success with For Treasure RG in the FEI Inter II (national class), winning with a score of 68.235%, and also competed with Que Jolie in the FEI Inter I. In addition, she was the Chef d’Equipe for the Australian FEI Dressage Nations Cup team at the same event.

Kelly rode for Australia at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games with Samhitas, as well as the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen riding Amoucher.

Layne Kelly and Samhitas riding for Australia at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. Image by Hippo Foto – Dirk Caremans.