British five-star event rider swaps nationality: ‘Becoming part of a culture that celebrates big dreams feels like the right home’
Five-star event rider Lucienne Bellissimo has changed nationality to ride for the US, having represented Britain until now.
“It is such an honour to now be an American citizen. Becoming part of a culture that celebrates big dreams feels like the right home,” said the 42-year-old rider, who has been based in the US for seven years and married to Mark Bellissimo, CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions since June 2020.
“The support of my husband and stepchildren through this chapter has been so inspiring, and I will give my all to make them and America proud in the next chapter of my eventing career. I have my sights set on the 2026 season and beyond.”
Lucienne (née Elms) runs a business called Horse Scout, which she started in 2010, an equine online marketplace and support agency for riders. Her husband Mark’s company is behind a number of large-scale US equestrian venues and events, including the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, and Tryon International equestrian centre, the venue for the 2018 World Equestrian Games.
This move to US nationality has been on the cards for Lucienne Bellissimo for a while – she told H&H it was likely in 2024, saying: “I’d love to try and get on a team for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics for the US – that would be a dream and if it doesn’t happen, we tried.”
Lucienne has been very successful at four-star with her top horse, the 14-year-old Diarado son Dyri, although their five-star debut at Kentucky Three-Day Event last year ended in retirement. But with a strong record in the first phase, they have the potential to be serious competitors in future.
- To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website, and read more about supersire Diarado – whose progeny include Lucienne’s top horse Dyri – in the magazine issue out 5 March.
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