Born: March 26, 1964
Residence: Vechta, Germany
Horse: Maximus JSS (12-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding; owned by the Janet S. Schneider Trust)

Catherine Haddad, a native of St. Louis, Michigan, is an American dressage rider who lives and works in Vechta, Germany. The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Region II Grand Prix Champion from 1997, she now represents the United States in competitions throughout Germany and Europe at both the national and international levels. She has achieved results from materials level through grand prix on numerous mounts.

With her current star, Maximus JSS, her international success includes six Top Ten placings in 2006, including third in the Grand Prix Special, Hansbeke CDI*** in May; third in the Grand Prix, Munich CDI ***; third in the Grand Prix Freestyle, Munich CDI***; and fourth in the Grand Prix Freestyle, Rotterdam CDI***. These consistent performances landed them a position as alternate on the Untied States team for the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games. So far in 2007, they have placed fourth in the grand prix and sixth in the freestyle at the CDI-W in Goteborg, Sweden.

"Maximus is my partner and my hero," said Haddad, "He grounds me with his open heart and his willingness to excel. I know from the moment I make eye contact with him every morning that my day is going to be just fine. I believe Maximus choose me instead of the other way around. All the others who tried him out before I did sent him back! We get along beautifully, but he can be a bit particular about the company he chooses to keep."

Haddad moved to Germany in 1993 to train with the world-renowned Willi Schultheis, who along with her parents and trainer Bodo Hangen, she credits as being the most influential people in her life. Later, she established her own training stable in Vechta where she trains and teaches between her busy competition schedules. After receiving sponsorship from the Janet S. Schneider Trust in 2002, Haddad decided to train her top horses under the supervision of Rudolf Zeilinger, former coach of 1996 Olympian Michelle Gibson.

She has also earned a B.A. in International Relations with honors from the James Madison College at Michigan State University and a B.H.S.A.I. certificate of teaching from the British Horse Society in Great Britain. In her life outside of horses, Haddad enjoys skiing, colleting art and playing cards. She increases her fitness by taking daily walks with her dogs in the woods and doing endless sit-ups. Her current project is the development of the Maximus Foundation to help support talented young riders with their travel expenses to national championships and international competitions.

Bio courtesy of USEF