Team USA! [Update: It's Official]

By John on

Eventing Nation has confirmed from multiple sources in England that the Eventing High Performance committee has approved the following selection for eventing Team USA’s Olympic team:

Will Coleman and Twizzel

Karen O’Connor and Mr. Medicott

Phillip Dutton and Mystery Whisper

Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister

Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere

Alternates: As for the alternates, all of the US short listers plus Buck Davidson with Ballynoecastle RM, Will Faudree with Pawlow, and Phillip with Fernhill Eagle have been named as alternates.  The list of alternates, ranked alphabetically:

Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle RM
Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice
Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Eagle
Will Faudree and Andromaque
Will Faudree and Pawlow
Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville
Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos
Boyd Martin and Remington XXV
Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen
Allison Springer and Arthur

The US riders were informed of the team selection in a rider meeting that started at 12:30pm ET.  The rationale behind naming so many alternates, as told to the riders, is that each alternate would substitute for a different member of the team.  For example, if Mystery Whisper drops out, Mighty Nice or Fernhill Eagle would take his place.  Ringwood Magister would be substituted by probably Loughan Glen or Arthur, Otis by Neville or Remi, Mr. Medicott or Twizzel by Manoir De Carneville, Missy, or Reggie.  Most of the alternates who are in England will likely head to Burghley.

Please note that this list still has not yet been approved/finalized by the USEF Executive Committee, which meets later this evening to put the final USEF stamp of approval on the team.  The riders have been informed of the team and I would be shocked if the Executive Committee made any changes.  Go Team USA!

1:30pm Update: The list has been made official by a USEF Press Release, although the release still says that the list is pending the approval of the USEF Executive Committee and the United States Olympic Committee’s Board of Directors.  In my opinion, there’s basically no chance the Exectutive Committee will make any change considering that an official USEF press release has been sent out.  [USEF Release]

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  • Shannon

    I'm So disappointed not to see Sinead on the team.... She's been so consistent save Barbury where she still put in two double clear jump rounds.

  • jen-s

    My heart breaks for Allison and Arthur, but I get it. What a fabulous group of horses and riders to choose from. I'm so glad I wasn't a selector!

  • LorraineJ

    We are so lucky to have such a deep field this year that we can afford to make people like Allison and Sinead and Will and Clark alternates. It breaks my heart that people have to leave disappointed when they are such incredible competitors and representatives of our eventing program, but I am also so proud of the team that US Eventing has chosen. Our sport has come a very long way.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1541657327 Jamie Carleton

    Its absolutely absurd that Sinead is not on this team. She has been so consistent save the dressage at Barbury. Still, she scored in the low 50s, which is hardly terrible! Ridiculous.

  • ej

    GOOOOOOOOO TIANA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are all rooting for you and Finn!!!!!!!!

  • CC

    Really shocked about Sinead's omission, but the selectors have access to a lot of information that us armchair followers don't. It's still a great team. Go USA!

  • Bondlyte

    I can only guess that something in the vetting kept Sinead and Tate off the list. I think it is a good list just a tad bit concerned with Tiana as a rider and will her nerves hold up and Twizzle as an older guy and will he hold up? But the committee is privy to more info than we have so I am behind the team 100%. Go U S A!

    • LorraineJ

      @301627c6651cc2036dcecacb37c873d6:disqus, Sinead said on twitter that she and Tate are rerouting to Gatcombe, so I assume that means her lovely horse is fit as a fiddle. This won't be the last we see of that pair!

      • Bondlyte

        I am relieved with that! Hope we see them in 2014!

    • Sidelines

      Haha older guy? Lenamore?!?! Age is just a number :) ...but I do know what you mean--the lovely horse does have a history of injuries.

    • tbpartner43

      I agree with this as far as Tate is concerned. I thought he was looking very gaunt, thin over his top line. After going to Burghley, I don't remember any gaunt looking horses. I love the horse, but he was behind the vertical in his dressage and looked tense.

  • Hannah

    Really? No Sinead?? After they gave her all those bys? Insane! I would be thrilled if they switched Tate and RM. Don't even know what to say....

  • Kelly

    Would rather put a horse and rider combination that has had a year of successes and one mistake than a year with mistakes and barely any sucess. *cough*Tiana *cough*. clark and sinead should be on the team. hows absurd.

    • Callie

      Tiana didn't take "Sinead's spot", Will C. did. Tiana got the wild card spot that was between Tiana, Arthur and maybe Clark.

  • Caroline

    Very shocked to see Sinead not on the team while Tiana is. Tiana is a lovely rider and she's made incredible progress (and works her ass off!), but she just isn't as consistent on that horse as Sinead is with Tate.

  • http://www.facebook.com/hollyford.maxwell Holly Ford Maxwell

    So disappointed to not see Sinead and Tate on the list, I was really rooting for them!

  • nancy

    Our National CHAMPION???

  • LMK

    I am so disheartened to see Neville as an alternate, but I understand the reasoning. I was just hoping he'd be able to go. I am thrilled to see Tiana on the list! For years, the USEF has been saying they want up and coming riders on the international teams, and then don't name them to teams. With Tiana the top finisher at Barbury, it is no surprise she's ready.

  • Amanda

    I know Karen and Medicott are the "dream team all-stars" but they make me queasy. I just feel like she bought her way on the team 6 months ago. :-S

    • Sidelines

      Amanda-- "queasy" is exactly the word I've been looking for. Stunning horse, veteran skilled rider, MASSIVE potential, but the whole situation makes me rather uncomfortable.

    • Callie

      You must feel the same way about Phillip too then?

    • TBpartner43

      Sadly true... but so it is with Mystery Whisper. It's the American way, now.

  • Kathleen Sullivan

    I can't believe they left Buck at home. Also thought Sinead should have been there.....

    • Eventer Girl

      Agreed, Reggie should be there!

  • D.

    Really surprised to not see Sinead on this team!! Really. :(

  • Sidelines

    Also, guys, you must remember what John said about having one or two "high risk/reward pairs". Looking SOLELY at the comparison of Tiana/Finn and Sinead/Tate (which seems to be the case for many of these comments) one has the potential to medal on a day when it all comes together while the other you can count on to contribute a stable, consistent score to support the team. They are simply two very pairs.
    Thus, I found it very interesting how they chose to work the alternates. Finn would likely be replaced with Arthur--another horse with the potential to medal on a perfect day.
    And, again, as others have mentioned, we don't have all the facts, veterinary or otherwise.
    I will say I really feel for Sinead--ever since Rolex '11 she's been discussed as a shoe-in for the team, and you've got to think that begins to affect your mind-set on the matter. I can't imagine how she must be feeling right now.

    • Sidelines

      oops! ***very different pairs

    • http://www.facebook.com/ShannonRiley2 Shannon Elizabeth

      I agree, I just feel they really strung her along and if there were any doubts to her ability to preform under pressure they should have told her to run another 3*, not tell her to rest on her past preformances then knock her for one poor dressage preformance. Just disagree. I'd have preffered to seen another solid pair instead of 2 risk pairs, I just feel it puts too much pressure on Boyd, Phillip, and KOC to carry the team. Phillip and KOC are on new horses, and Boyd and Otis are still a green pair. I'd just liked to a have had a consistent long standing pair on the team.

  • k.kirkwood

    Go Will & Twizzel!!!

  • Stark

    Sinead, go kick everyone's ass at Burghley! :) You rock. Kick on!

  • Eunice

    A lot of pressure on Phillip & Boyd - looks like an individual looks like our only hope. Serious doubts whether Karen can make it around the xc on Mr. M, Tiania has never made it through a 4* and has regular stops at the 3* level, Twizzel has regular soundness issues. Looks like another WEG disaster in the making

    • TBpartner43

      After Tiana's Rolex last year, I am very surprised at their selection.

    • anon

      Just a little fact... Mr. M has never had any xc jump penalties! He and Karen will rock it!

    • MET

      You have serious doubts whether Karen can make it around xc on Mr.M? Really? This is a seemingly very odd comment, and I wonder what makes you say this? Of everyone on the team, I have the least concerns about Karen getting around. She's tough and he's an awesome horse.

  • phyllis

    Fans of non-selected riders (and the riders themselves) should not give up hope! For Olympics 2008, Karen was not initially named to the team. She replaced Heidi shortly before the team shipped to Hong Kong. Mara was replaced last minute for the Pan Ams in 2007. The horses cannot be bubble-wrapped and have conditioning gallops ahead of them. Hopefully all will stay sound, but past history says they will not. Luckily we have more than one good horse waiting in the wings.

  • Kelli

    Congrats to an awesome team and thanks to the selectors and vet team for their significant efforts! It is strange that this team is missing several of our more experienced 4* horse/rider combinations like Tate/Sinead, Neville/Boyd, Buck/Reggie (and Shiraz/Colleen for that matter). Maybe that doesn't matter and we do have the significant Olympic experience of Phillip and Karen on the team. It's also odd that the two horses who got all the bye's for previous strong performances at 4*'s are neither one on the team (Neville and Tate). The selectors obviously have way more insight so all I have to say is GO USA!!!

  • http://twitter.com/Maplelump Sarah Loughran

    So happy to see my girl, Tiana, on the team! Go Tiana, you worked hard, and am so proud to have watched your journey!! USPC pride!!! :D

  • Elizabeth

    No Sinead is a huge disapointment. Over the past 2 years she has proven to be consistent and a true competitor.

  • http://www.facebook.com/gretchen.scott1 Gretchen Scott

    Wishing them all the best of luck

  • Objective outsider

    While I know I am supposed to root for Team USA, I am very disappointed in the choice of team to not include a consistent top dressage scorer (1 at Rolex and 4 at Barbary), the top US finisher at Rolex and 4th US finisher at Barbary, a performance pair with lots of experience together and a pair who is obviously "peaking". Yes, this year's field of US competitors was deep, but this competitor surely belonged in the top 5. On top of this, it is totally objectionable to see 1st team competitors listed as "alternates" with 2nd and 3rd horses...this is not sportsmanship...this is a well-oiled "machine" that is not within the spirit of that which is the Olympics. The selection committee erred on the side of the "machine" at a great cost to the public support of this team, evidenced by the ambivalence felt by competitors selected and the comments below. While we do not have the benefit of all information, this team selection simply does not feel "right" - does not pass the smell test. If this team wins, I hope everyone finds it was worth it...it was at great cost.