Ashlee Meeus Bond Joins the Israeli Team

Team Israel has a(nother) new recruit!

Former American show jumper Ashlee Meeus Bond announced on Instagram today that she is officially an Israeli citizen.

Bond’s father, Steve Bond (born Shlomo Goldberg), was born in Haifa, Israel. He moved to America in the early 1980s after doing his mandatory military service for the state of Israel.

Posted Bond:

“Today is truly 1 of a kind ….today I became an Israeli 🇮🇱 citizen happened to also fall on my 33rd bday and Jesus happened to live to be 33! Honored to be a part of such a historic country! Couldn’t be more proud to call myself an Israeli! I also got to see where my dad grew up 😎🇮🇱🎉 #israeliamerican #backtomyroots #jesusismysavior”

Today is truly 1 of a kind ….today I became an Israeli 🇮🇱 citizen happened to also fall on my 33rd bday and Jesus happened to live to be 33! Honored to be a part of such a historic country! Couldn’t be more proud to call myself an Israeli! I also got to see where my dad grew up 😎🇮🇱🎉 #israeliamerican #backtomyroots #jesusismysavior

A post shared by Ashlee Meeus Bond (@ashlee_meeusbond) on Apr 15, 2018 at 2:40am PDT

Bond is one of several riders to switch to Israeli citizenship in recent years. Alberto Michan, formerly of Mexico, joined in 2018. Daniel Bluman, previously of Columbia, took up the white and blue flag in 2017. And ex-American Danielle Goldstein became an Israeli in 2014.

Now, who wants to place bets on which four riders will represent Israel at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon?