The U.S. Endurance Team successfully completed the 120-kilometer course at the 2025 FEI Endurance Pan American Championship, held at Haras Albar in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. Under the leadership of Chef d’Équipe Lisanne Dorion, the team was supported by Veterinarian Dr. Olivia Rudolphi and Team Leader Nicole Zerbee.
“The U.S. athletes met our expectations across challenging terrain and favorable conditions,” said Dorion, reflecting on the team’s performance.
Avery Betz-Conway of Kingsland, Georgia, delivered a standout performance, claiming third place in the Young Rider Championships aboard Zendaya Rach, a 2015 Arabian mare owned by Rach Stud Agropecuaria. This podium finish marks the first medal for U.S. Endurance at a Pan American or World Championship since 2011.
The demanding 120km course was divided into four loops ranging from 20 to 36.5 kilometers, designed to test the fitness, stamina, and horsemanship of each horse-and-rider pair. After each loop, horses underwent thorough veterinary inspections to ensure they remained in peak condition before continuing.
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“Zendaya Rach knew exactly what to do and delivered a flawless performance,” said Betz-Conway. “We’ve been training closely for two months, and she gave me everything she had. I’m incredibly thankful for her and the amazing support team around us—it wouldn’t have been possible without them.”
In the Senior Championship, Heather Davis of The Plains, Virginia, and her mount HM Kaiser Tesla—a 2016 Anglo-Arabian gelding owned by Haras Paso Manzanero—earned a top-ten finish, placing ninth overall in their championship debut. Fellow U.S. rider Thomas Rajala of Hillsborough, North Carolina, and Valente Heb, a 2009 Arabian gelding owned by Fernando De Mello Mattos Haaland, finished a strong eleventh.
