Selena O'Hanlon and Foxwood High at Bromont. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Numerous sources have confirmed to EN that Selena O’Hanlon has replaced Stuart Black as the traveling reserve on the Canadian Pan American Games team, though Equine Canada still has not publicly confirmed this changing of the guard more than 24 hours after it took place.
Amie O’Shaughnessy, Equine Canada’s High Performance director, told EN that Stuart “voluntarily withdrew,” and “Equine Canada is following protocol to name his replacement as the team alternate.” The team and all involved parties are under a gag order for the second time in the past month, meaning we are unable to obtain comment from Selena or Stuart.
Selena, who was originally named to the team as a non-traveling alternate with John and Judy Rumble’s Foxwood High, competed in a 1.25-meter jumper class with the rest of the team yesterday at Angelstone Farms in Rockwood, Ontario. (You can click here to view those results.)
EN is working to confirm the exact nature of Stuart’s withdrawal from the team and will continue to bring you more information on this last-minute change once Equine Canada elects to publicly release a statement.
The Canadian Pan Am team is Colleen Loach and Quorry Blue d’Argouges, Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti, Waylon Roberts and Bill Owen, and Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee. Click here to view the full list of alternates.
The eventing portion of the Pan American Games starts Thursday with the first horse inspection. Click here for more information on the schedule for the competition, and stay tuned for much more from the #PanAmGames.
[UPDATE 7/12]: Equine Canada has released an official statement on the naming of Selena O’Hanlon as the replacement traveling reserve.
“O’Hanlon will replace previously named reserve, Stuart Black of Weatherford, TX. Black’s horse, Tre’ du Kernat, owned by Orin Tre’ Book was fit and prepared for the Games, however Black voluntarily withdrew from the Canadian Eventing Team, citing personal medical reasons,” Equine Canada says.
