Thank you EN for engaging, in a nice way on the first part of this story, Team Canada. Lots of banter, I really appreciate it. I do want to clear up one misconception before we move on any further. London is an Olympic Four Star event, they do the 2008 Olympic 4* B test, XC must be about 5700m that is 10 mins with 42-45 efforts. They all then do a full four star jumping round and then the top 25 (max 3/nation) will jump off again up to 12 efforts at 125cm. This is not a soft CIC or three star event. Greenwich Park has killer terrain, it will be as tough as most four stars.
Following on from the start of this series and Canada, next up is Team USA and this field is also wide open. Like my Canadian article, it’s important to remember that these are just my opinions and not the opinions of EN, John, or the chinchillas. To me there is only one combination that will be on the plane no matter what: Boyd and Neville. No selector for any Nation would avoid picking this pair for London, these Aussie-bred tough buggers will have your back in an Olympic tussle.
There are two other Aussies I hope will make the US team, Phillip Dutton and Mystery Whisper. Mystery Whisper is a new partnership for Phillip having only secured the ride in November from Heath Ryan, Boyd Martin’s former mentor and Australian Eventer and Dressage competitor. Heath bred Mystery and it was intended originally for him to be a dressage mount, but horses as they are, have their own plans and he ended up an Eventer, but one with some very fine dressage skills.
I have believed for a few years now that Mystery is one of the best event horses in the world, unfortunately his results don’t show this. Mainly because a couple of years ago, Heath had a small stroke and since then his cross country hasn’t been quite right. As a partnership Mystery and Phillip will be a force to be reckoned with.
So that is two, who will fill the other three spots?
Sinead and Manoir de Carneville are a shoe-in, they have been in top form and deserve to be on any team. They are well seasoned in Europe and the UK; they will go to London.
There are a few on the B List I have considered only briefly, they won’t be going to London. Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot, this horse is only proven at the 2-star level (too green). Will Coleman and Twizzel–too much risk. Shannon Lilley and Ballingowan Pizzaz are only a 2* combination at the moment. Marilyn Little-Meredith and RF Rovano Rex, this is a new partnership with promising potential but they are untested at a four star and too risky for London. Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen also promising but untested at four star level, a good Rolex may get them a look in but they still only make my top 10 combinations.
Karen O’Connor is interesting. She has a shiny new ride Mr. Medicott, picked up from top German rider Frank Ostholt. Karen needs to prove herself with this new mount and I expect she will run at Rolex, looking for a good outing. That said, I am not convinced by the horse; in its last 10 FEI starts he has twice not completed XC and had 20 penalties on two other occasions. There are better tested combinations in the US ranks in my opinion.
Jules Stiller and Chapel Amble unfortunately have had a few XC issues which knock them off my team. I also considered, despite her exclusion from the High Performance lists Colleen Rutledge and Shiraz; personally I believe their dressage is not quite there yet, perhaps she would benefit from working with CMP. Also, Shiraz sometimes takes 2 or 3 jumping rails.
Buck and Ballynoe Castle RM at Badminton 2011, photo thanks to Samantha Clark
So who is left? We mustn’t forget Buck, he has three mounts on the list but Ballynoe Castle RM is the real prospect in my opinion. I would take them filling the number five spot on the team. Buck has proven he can get consistent results with this horse. Buck’s recent injury shouldn’t bother him at London although it will affect his preparations and will probably adjust his schedule. Hopefully his collarbone will heal quickly and we will see him out competing again soon.
Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister, these two seem to have tackled a demon at Blenheim, and they are on their way up. A Badminton top 10 would squeeze them onto the team but at the moment, for me at least, they sit in the number six spot, just missing out on a berth at this stage. That said, they are based in the UK and will probably go into camp, and you never know what happens when you put horses on airplanes.
Will Faudree and USEF’s Sara Ike
Finally Will Faudree and Pawlow, this pair is impressive and edges out Buck for the number 4 spot on the team. Very consistent with only one finish outside a top 20 (it was 21st) in their last 10 FEI starts and six of those top ten.
So there you have it, Team USA in my humble opinion will be:
Boyd Martin – Neville Bardos
Phillip Dutton- Mystery Whisper
Sinead Halpin – Manoir de Carneville
Will Faudree – Pawlow
Buck Davidson – Ballynoe Castle RM
Reserve Tiana Coudray – Ringwood Magister
A strong team all capable of top ten spots in a four star, bring on the Games.
In my next story I will tackle the Kiwis.
Yours in Eventing,
ESJ
