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There was a blizzard at the ESDCTA Horse Trials on Saturday

By on Oct 30, 2011 5:36 pm -

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Forget snow at the Virginia Horse Trials.  Saturday was balmy and warm in Virginia compared to New Jersey.  Despite heavy snow the organizers ran dressage and show jumping all day on Saturday.  The event was canceled on Sunday so it became a combined test to most of the pairs.  I never cease to be amazed by the toughness and resiliency of eventers.  As tough as our sport can be, nothing can keep us away.  [ESDCTA Results]

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Many thanks to Lindsy Gumbiner for sending in the photos.  Sara Gumbiner is featured in the photos with the aptly named Polaris.  The below shot includes the owner of Polaris, Ann Nawn, and the ring crew and stewards of the ESDCTA.  Sara won the OT 2 on her Dressage score of 27.3.  Thanks for the EN shout-out.

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Go eventing.

Lisa Marie Fergusson — The Road To Galway

By on Oct 30, 2011 2:01 pm -

Some of our guest blogs are good, some are great, and some make me completely jealous as a writer.  Lisa Marie Fergusson needs no introduction.  After a heartbreaking withdraw from Fair Hill just a day before the dressage, she and Smart Move have rerouted to Galway.  Here’s the story of their trip out west.  Lisa won’t win the Bit of Britain challenge this year, but we appreciate John Nunn’s support of Lisa and her guest blogs on EN. 
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From Lisa:

This is how we roll “if you event, they represent”…word

Just trying to reach out to all of EN’s peeps while we drive coast to coast to Galway….how cool are we! The trip will be 2680 miles or if you are walking the distances that would be 4,716,800 strides or Smartie can put in 1,179,200….don’t know that Smartie can cover that distance though. The drive will take approximately 48 hours of driving and for those who have not made a 48 hour road trip before I can tell you from experience that it’s the first 47 hours that are the toughest but after that it’s usually clear sailing. Huge shout out of congrats to Jessica Phoenix for her Gold Medal performance and of course the US Team on 5 amazing double clear/double clear performances…did that actually happen…wow!

All roads lead to ….Galway

We will travel through 11 states, personally I will go through many more than that but I will try to stay in the happy state as much as possible. To give the European EN readers a perspective, our road trip would be the equivalent of starting your trip in Vale Sabroso, Portugal, home of the 2011 FEI Junior European Championships, driving through Spain and arriving in Pau France for the 4*, continuing to Milan Italy because I want to go there, then travel up through Germany to do the 4* in Luhmühlen. From there we head back to Boekelo in the Netherlands for the 3*, travel through Belgium, take the Le tunnel sous la Manche into the United Kingdom and on to London, just in time for the 2012 Olympics…with a couple hundred miles to spare…seriously the things we do in America to compete.

Lewis and Clarke

Lewis and Clarke had Sacagawea as map and guide when they made the first transcontinental expedition across America, unfortunately, she was not available for travel so choice number 2 is my boyfriend who is actually fairly good with a map, that is as long as he can find his keys…coincidentally, being stuck together in the cab of our truck for 48 hours straight increases the chances of me calling him a Saca…something, but again I will try and stay in that happy state for the entire trip…right that will happen….

THE ART OF PIT STOPS…..EVENTER STYLE

If you have ever watched the Indy 500 you have watched some pretty impressive pit crews in action but they have absolutely nothing on Eventers. Typically for us it is Dressage at the pumps (not in pumps, sorry guys) and it often goes something like this. We roll up to the pump, doors cracked, credit card in hand, barely rolling to a full Halt and Salute. We leap out of the vehicle and start our test with medium trot to the pump and into a walk pirouette to untwist the fuel hose and then directly into a little piaffe, (not on the test I know but you drive 4 hours drinking pop on a full blatter!)…Mike starts back to the trailer in the extended trot to lower the windows for the horses and moves nicely into half pass (he hasn’t pee’d either) to the water pumps to get some water, the sound of the running water has him doing halt and rein back until the bucket is filled. Once the tank is filled and the horses have water we both do extended canter to the restrooms which is when our test becomes very fluid…after our break we do our extended walk around the store to load up on more health food (of course), pay and then canter back out to the trailer to close the windows, jump into the truck, Halt, Salute and roll on out of the Pit Stop. The judge says there is some good work but the test seems a little rushed. Over the years our “tests” have improved dramatically though. At first I struggled trying to get the extended trot, half pass or halt and rein back but after a lot of training Mike is actually starting to listen…there is still hope for him yet.

Are we there yet, are we there yet

We will exhaust every form of entertainment available and still have time on our hands. Every CD will be played, everything to talk about will be discussed, every friend to phone will be phoned and then we will be left with that comfortable quiet between two people who know each other well enough that they don’t have to talk. It’s often the time where you can just enjoy the quiet, relax, organize your thoughts and review goals….and why can we enjoy the quite?….because there will be no chinchillas (sorry John) or kids in the back screaming “are we there yet, are we there yet”. Oh and did I mention that road trip rules entitles each road tripper the opportunity to stuff as much junk as humanly possible, in your face for 2680 miles all in the reasoning of trying to stay awake. Well we are off to Galway and will touch base in the near future…till then GO EVENTING…WORD

Eventing Nation Snow

By on Oct 29, 2011 5:00 pm -

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[Jessie Hargrave & Mellie Mascaerelli]

The sun is starting to shine here in central Virginia and I can only imagine the weather is much improved at the Virginia Horse Trials from this morning.  Thanks to a reshuffling of the schedule it looks like the riders were able to avoid the worst of the weather.  The conditions are much worse in New Jersey for the ESDCTA Horse Trials with an inch of snow on the ground.  The organizers decided to run the event but this afternoon they elected to cancel cross-country on Sunday, making the event a combined test.  Thanks to everyone who sent in EN photos and we hope everyone is staying as warm as possible out there today.

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[via Sharon White]

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[via Richard Gamble]
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[via Diane Zrimsek]

Go eventing.

Brian’s World: Insanity in the Snow

By on Oct 29, 2011 1:07 pm -

The great Brian O’Connor joins us for a report from the Virginia Horse Trials.  The weather may be terrible at the Virginia Horse Center, but spirits appear high.  Good luck to all of the competitors at the VHT, at the New Jersey Horse Park where more snow is predicted, and all across Eventing Nation today. 

[VHT Results]

Go eventing.

Flying out to Galway

By on Oct 28, 2011 9:30 pm -


Your complete EN coverage of an airplane full of horses taxiing, stopping, and unloading horses

The second PRO organized flight out to Galway landed this afternoon at LAX airport in California.  Titanium, Park Trader, Reggie, DV8, Jude’s Law, and Ballingowan Pizazz were all scheduled to be on the flight.  While Buck’s horses were in the air today he was busy taking the lead at Chattahoochee Hills CCI2* with The Apprentice. 

Not to give all of the attention to the air travelers, a few horses and riders have braved the drive out to California all the way from the east coast.  Anyone still on the road–send us your photos.

Many thanks to Gamal Awad for taking the photos and thanks to Hawley for the video!

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If you’re going out tonight, stay safe and have fun.  I want to give a special thanks to the EN Team this week for stepping their game up while I was busy with life away from horses.  And thank you for your continued support of Eventing Nation.  Go eventing.

Visionaire’s Friday News and Notes from FLAIR

By on Oct 28, 2011 12:17 am -

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A photo of Ticket To Ride, a 21 year old doing the T3DE at Waredaca with Stephen Fulton, photo via KF

You might have been noticing an exciting development here at Eventing Nation over the past few weeks–Visionaire is back!  If you reach way back into Eventing Nation lore you will find a young Eventing Nation at the 2009 USEA annual convention, just my second live event coverage.  On Saturday night I received an email from an old friend complimenting EN and offering to join as an EN guest blogger.  Knowing this person’s work ethic, love of horses, and knowledge of everything eventing, I gratefully accepted the offer and ‘Visionaire’ was born.  Visionaire founded such legendary series as the Best of Craigs List, The Sunday Morning Jog: Tips From A Groom, and Rider Profiles, which became regular features on EN and sustained us through that first long slow winter.  I can say with certainty that the experiment known as Eventing Nation would have long ago ended without Visionaire.  After a year away to focus on these strange things people keep telling me about called “life” and “a real job,” Visionaire is returning to Eventing Nation in a bigger and better role than ever before.   

–The end of the North American eventing season is literally just around the corner.   We have just a few three-days left including the CCI2* and CIC* at Chattahoochee Hills this weekend and the Galway CCI3* next weekend.  There are five USEA events this upcoming weekend:

Holly Hill (LA) — [Website]
Chattahoochee Hills (GA) — [Live Scores, Ride Times]
The Virginia HT — [Website]
Briar Fox Fall HT (KS) — [Website]
ESDCTA New Jersey HT — [Times/Scores]

–Speaking of Galway, there are currently 41 horses entered in the Galway CCI3*.  That is 4 less than the number of three-star starters at Fair Hill.  Good footing, a good course, and great organizing have lured many top east coast horses out to the left coast for their autumn three-day.  PRO is flying 15 horses out this year, three times as many as last year.   Ronald Zabala’s horses arrived in California earlier this week.  There are 6 horses heading out from Florida on Friday (3 of Buck’s, 2 for Michael–DV8 and Jude’s Law, and Shannon Lilley’s Ballingowan Pizazz is going home).  Then 8 horses are going out on Monday from BWI in Baltimore (2 for Nina Ligon, 2 for Kristin Schmolze, In The Fog for Stephen Bradley, Fun Maker for Mara Depuy, Rolling Stone for Nate Chambers and Gaelic Marriage for Martha McDowell).  [Galway 3* Entries, Event Preview Press Release]

–Blogger contest results are coming soon–I promise.  

–Congratulations to the US show jumping team for kicking butt in Guadalajara.  The US teams in dressage, eventing, and show jumping swept the gold medals at the Pan American Games.  The show jumpers won on just 2.9 penalty points for all three rounds and, like the eventers, they led the competition from start to finish.  In many ways, this was the most important event for US equestrian sport because our show jumpers needed a good result here to qualify for the Olympics.  Our show jumping team is plagued by selfishness because some owners choose to compete their horses for money rather than at team competitions, but Kent Farrington, Beezie Madden, McLain Ward, Christine McCrea got the job done on Thursday for the red, white, and blue.  [Gold for USA]

October 27th, 2011 will forever be known as the day of the EN hats.  We sold out in less than two hours and I had to fight to make sure we saved enough for the writers.  I’m not even sure if I will end up with one.  I believe there are still a couple available here with promocode “HatPlease” at checkout and here without a promocode from our friends at Kentucky from the hats we gave to them, although you have to buy a pair of boots to get a hat. 

Your rider list for the Canadian Royal Winter Fair indoor eventing: Mark Todd, Doug Payne, Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch, Penny Rowland, Kendal Lehari, Kelly List, Holly Payne, Diana Burnett, Michelle Mueller, Leahona Rowland, Sinead Halpin Ian and Waylon Roberts and Individual Gold Medalist from the Pan Ams Jessica Phoenix.  Not too shabby, as they say.

Best of the Blogs: EN at Waredaca, Florida Training Camp, Vote for Jessa on EN

Wherever you might be, thanks for making Eventing Nation part of your day.  Stay classy EN and I’ll see you soon.  

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Update: hats sold out

By on Oct 27, 2011 4:54 pm -

As a quick update, the EN hats have sold out in just over an hour and a half.  We weren’t sure how many to buy and we didn’t want to be stuck with any, but the chinchillas seem to have underestimated things significantly.  We are working on getting EN shirts and I think we will have more hats made sometime soon.  There are still a few hats available through the purchase of Kentucky boots here with promocode “HatPlease” at checkout and here without a promocode, but I expect those to be gone shortly.  I’ll be along later with news, notes, and my top 10 ideas on how to steal EN hats from your friends.  Go eventing.

The apocalypse is finally here, or Eventing Nation hats

By on Oct 27, 2011 3:07 pm -

Eventing Nation gear has been the merchandise equivalent of the Apocalypse.  People keep asking for it, we keep promising it, and it just never comes.  Until now.  We get around an email a day asking for Eventing Nation gear and in the EN tradition of mob rule, we are finally delivering what the people want.

[Click here for your EN hat]

All profits from the sale of the hats above cost will be donated to CANTER Mid-Atlantic, one of Eventing Nation’s favorite equestrian non-profit organizations.  Even if you don’t buy a hat, please consider giving a donation to CANTER here.  CANTER is a volunteer run organization that works to find new careers for ex-racehorses.

We are putting just under 200 hats up for sale and my guess is that they will sell out quickly.  Our friends at LEO have generously offered to handle all of the shipping in exchange for the click-throughs and EN Karma, so the chinchillas don’t have to worry about mailing out hundreds of hats. 

Additionally, in partnership with EN sponsor Kentucky Horsewear, we are giving them a few hats to offer to their customers.  You can get 10% off of a pair of boots and a free EN hat (while supplies last) through Kentucky Horsewear retailers The Equine Source and Legacy Equestrian Outfitters.  Enter promocode “HatPlease” (exactly as shown) through Legacy Equestrian Outfitters, or just place your order at Equine Source.  Seriously, if you haven’t checked these boots out, have a look at them.  They are expensive but they are the best in the business and more and more riders are using them. 

The design for the hats and the new EN logo was done by the great Mary McEachern of MerryOne Design.  Mary also designed the logo for our friends at SmartPak and we were incredibly grateful of Mary’s work and professionalism despite the chinchillas changing their minds several times.  It’s hard to find good graphic work in the horse world, but Marry was wonderful to work with.

I understand that times are rough in the eventing world, especially for working students, and we don’t want that to stop anyone from representing Eventing Nation or getting the EN Karma that comes from wearing EN gear.  So, if a hat is prohibitively expensive for you due to whatever life circumstances, send us a quick email explanation to [email protected] along with your address and we’ll be happy to sort it out as long as we still have hats.

Go eventing.

A Busy Thursday Afternoon’s Links

By on Oct 27, 2011 1:22 pm -

We have a special surprise announcement coming this afternoon, but until then here are a few links for your viewing pleasure:

Michael Pollard gets some love from the Dalton Daily Citizen for his Pan Am team gold

Video: Live feed of the Pan American Games show jumping today (only available in certain areas)

Live blog of the show jumping at the Pan Ams from the USEF

Lisa Slade writes about Ralph Hill’s injury for the COTH

As the story goes, Ralph was trying to trot a horse over a white plank laying in the arena.  The horse refused once, Ralph fell off, got back on, and then as Ralph explained to Lisa: “I was keeping him at a dead straight trot, and I was ready for him, but about six feet in front of it, he put his head all the way on the ground and ran backwards. I had a helmet on but landed on my danged head.”

Sinead blogs about the ultimate horse fan

Go eventing.

Midsouth Novice Helmet Cam

By on Oct 26, 2011 5:45 pm -


[via deltawave]

Enjoy our aforealuded to helmet cam of novice at the Midsouth Three-Day last weekend.  I hope you have enjoyed this Wednesday on Eventing Nation as much as I have.  Unless Boyd Martin is caught streaking at the Mall of America or that pterodactyl egg I planted at the Kentucky Horse Park hatches, that will do it for us tonight.  Check back late tonight or in the morning for Ali’s notes and news.  Go eventing.

Get well soon Ralph Hill

By on Oct 26, 2011 11:20 am -

We’d like to extend a big ‘get well soon’ to one of eventing’s biggest personalities.  Ralph Hill has reportedly suffered a fracture to his C1 and C2 vertebrae.  The great Denny Emerson, who injured his neck in a cross-country fall earlier this year, made the announcement on his Facebook page with the good news that Ralph is apparently not paralyzed:

“Ralph Hill just had an accident like mine, and is in a halo for the next couple of months, and then they reassess. Please send him a card, or be in touch, as this is a tough deal. His Address: Ralph Hill, PO Box 1024, Archer, Florida, 32618″

I’ll never forget watching Ralph literally sing his way around Rolex on the incredible Bad Boy Billy when I was younger.  Ralph suffered a fall and a severe brain stem injury in 2007, but he has recovered to be a regular feature on the US eventing clinic circuit.  Ralph is one of the toughest eventers I have every seen Eventing Nation wishes Ralph a speedy recovery. 

Ali Smallpage spoke with Ralph for EN just a month ago at Otter Creek and he was doing great.  [Interview]

Go Ralph.

Not another helmet cam video

By on Oct 26, 2011 9:40 am -

This time I’m serious!  We did have a helmet cam video to show you this morning, but that will have to wait.  Instead, we have a video of eventing’s sister sport–sheep herding, combined with Coren’s favorite activity–putting Christmas lights on sheep.  This video is guaranteed to get you 2 minutes and 40 seconds closer to the end of your work day or you can have your money back.  Many thanks to EN’s good friend Tiana Coudray for sending the video in.  Go eventing.

Jacky Green — Le Lion Show Jumping

By on Oct 24, 2011 11:35 am -

Good evening Eventing Nation!  I apologize for not checking in sooner today although I would imagine that I have missed you considerably more than you have missed me.  After an exciting day of traveling I have arrived home for exactly 12 hours before my travels resume tomorrow.  Until then, Jacky Green was kind enough to send us her report from the Le Lion show jumping.  Thank you very much for all of the wonderful reports throughout the weekend Jacky, as always!
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From Jacky:

Showjumping at Le Lion in the main arena has a truly international feel with a large crowd, flags, a big screen and a course for the six year olds that was wide and very square but unusually with two doubles and no treble. Yet again the sun shone and on Sunday the scoreboard started to change with clear rounds at a premium as some horses climbed up and some plummeted down. Paul Tapner (AUS) and Indian Mill rode in last to go but suffered a sharp drop down the order with 4 rails to end up in 13th. Just 5 horses finished on their dressage scores which justly included the winner, Michael Jung (GER) on Rocana who rose from 3rd, Rosalind Canter (GB) moved from 4th to 2nd and 3rd placed Italian Emiliano Portale who rose from 9th place overnight. Sarah Algotsson-Ostholt (SWE) wound up in 5th from 20th and finally Tanya Kyle (GB) who went from 24th to 8th with her clear round. It was a great end to the Championships as the jumping had a serious impact on the results and as future stars of the event world that is how it should be.

The 7 year olds had a different course but again the showjumping proved very influential although it did not affect Kitty King (GB) and Zidante who had a rail but since most of the top 10 also pulled a rail she held on to her position. Andreas Brandt benefited most from his rare clear moving up to 2nd from 7th overnight being one of just 3 combinations to finish on his dressage score along with Malin Peterson (SWE) who went from 31st after dressage to eventual 8th and Ingrid Klimke (GER) who went from 31st to 9th.

[Le Lion Scores] 

As always Le Lion produced the goods and both classes would have seen the participants heading home with so much experience under their belts. As the sun dipped and the trucks pulled out of the stables it was a great way to end the 2011 season and may give a few pointers to the rising stars of next year and the 2016 Olympics.

Celebration time in Guadalajara

By on Oct 23, 2011 7:47 pm -

Jessica Phoenix was kind enough to take a few minutes to chat with us after winning gold (!) at the Pan American Games.  Jessie is one of the nicest, classiest, and most likeable people you’ll ever meet and the Pan American Game’s couldn’t have a better eventing champion.  It’s celebration time in both the Canadian and US camps this evening–we can all sleep on the flight tomorrow. Go eventing.

Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti’s Pan Am Show Jumping Recap

By on Oct 23, 2011 6:40 pm -

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Hannah, Jessie, and Buck

Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti won individual gold at the Pan American Games for Canada with a fantastic double-clear ride in the individual show jumping round.  43.9 in the dressage, two seconds under the optimum time on the cross-country, two double-clears today–it was a truly brilliant gold medal performance.  Hannah Burnett and Harbour Pilot jumped double-clear as did Buck and Absolute Liberty.  They moved up to silver and bronze position respectively when Michael Pollard and Hanni pulled two rails.

For the win:

Pan American Games Individual Results:

1. Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti (CAN) +0  43.9
2. Hannah Burnett and Harbour Pilot (USA) +0  45.2
3. Buck Davidson and Absolute Liberty (USA) +0  48.9
4. Michael Pollard and Hanni (USA) +8  52.5
5. Elena Ceballo and Nounours Du Moulin (VEN) +0  56.9
6. Rebecca Howard and Roquefort (CAN) +0  62.9
7. James Atkinson and Gustav (CAN) +0  65.7

[Full Results]

When the US and Canadian riders entered the arena for the individual show jumping round, they did so knowing that they already had won gold and silver team medals respectively.  All of the US pairs had jumped double-clear in the team round, and Jessie had also jumped clear.  The top three riders from each nation came back for the individual jumping round.  It’s absurd that Lynn, Shannon, Hawley, and Selena are not part of the individual results because they all would have finished in the top 15.  James Atkinson and Rebecca Howard both had individual show jumping rides that were much improved from their team rounds.

I feel really bad for Hanni and Michael Pollard.  Hanni usually has brilliant show jumping performances, but today just wasn’t their day and they slid to 4th place.  Michael will take home a gold medal for his contribution to the US Team and there’s no doubt in my mind that this is the first of many times Michael will represent the US on an international team.

Jessie said that the first course was a little more “flowing” and the second course had more severe turns that they had to ride aggressively through.  In the press conference following the show jumping all of the riders said that they felt more pressure in the team competition than in the individual round.

Buck stressed that the US team came here with one goal–team gold.  He said that he felt for Michael and mentioned that he almost felt guilty winning bronze, but emphasized that team gold was this weekend’s true achievement.  The riders all thanked their support team and also their owners–Sharon Will (Absolute Liberty), Ms. Mars (Harbour Pilot), and Don Good (Pavarotti).

I want to thank everyone for joining our live blog of the show jumping.  We fought through a bad internet connection and had over 2,000 readers.  A bunch of great friends joined us including Karen, who chimed in to say “Way to go all three medal winners. Passing it to Pavarotti from Teddy!”  The Pan Am individual gold is moving from one classy champion to another.

Go eventing.

Live Blog: Pan American Games Show Jumping

By on Oct 23, 2011 3:31 pm -

Click the box below to watch our live blog of the final round of show jumping at the Pan American Games.  The show jumping is scheduled to start at 3:30pm local time, 4:30pm ET.  The top three riders from each nation will be riding.  Apologies for the intro ad that comes with the live blogging software and I apologize in advance for any internet connectivity issues that come up or a site crash.  [Course Map, Order of Go]

Go eventing.

Five for Five: Team USA Wins the Pan American Games

By on Oct 23, 2011 3:23 pm -

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Five for five

Team USA didn’t just win gold at the Pan American Games, they dominated the team competition from start to finish.  All 5 of team USA’s riders finished the team show jumping round on double-clears and all of them finished the weekend on their dressage scores.  I haven’t confirmed this, but I believe that this is the first time in the history of international championships that a team has finished all five of its riders on their dressage scores.  Jessica Phoenix of Canada jumped clear with Pavarotti to maintain the individual lead going into the final round.  The US won by over 30 points with Canada taking silver and Brazil finishing with bronze.  Brazil and Argentina can celebrate getting the all important Olympic team qualifiers this weekend, with the USA and Canada of course already having teams qualified.

The top 19 individual pairs will compete in one more show jumping round coming up at 3:30pm local time, 4:30pm ET.  Due to the Olympic style competition format, only the top 3 pairs from each nation are allowed to show jump in this final round.  This is a pretty absurd rule because it prevents Shannon, Lynn, Selena, and Hawley from competing for an individual placing.  Shannon and Lynn are currently in 5th and 6th place and less than 10 points out of 1st place.  Michael and Hannah are within one rail of Jessie but all three of them jumped double-clear in the first round.

In order: Michael, Hannah, Buck, Shannon, and Lynn:

Pan American Team Results:

1. USA +0  138.6
2. Canada +12  172.6
3. Brazil +20  209.8
4. Argentina +12  229.5
5. Guatemala +4  372.6

Pan American individual results going into the last round of jumping:

1. Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti (CAN)  43.9
2. Michael Pollard and Schoensgreen Hanni (USA)  44.5
3. Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot (USA) 45.2
4. Buck Davidson and Absolute Liberty (USA)  48.9

[Full Pan Am Scores]

15 of 30 show jumpers in the first round had double-clear rounds.  For Canada, Rebecca Howard and Roquefort pulled two rails, James Atkinson and Gustav pulled one rail, Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High had one rail and three time penalties, Hawley Bennett was double-clear with Five O’Clock Somewhere and Jessie was clear with Pavarotti.  Ronald Zabala-Goetschel of Ecuador was eliminated for falling off after a sticky jump at the 6th fence.

Team Canada didn’t win gold this weekend and I know how much this group of riders hates to lose, but they have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of this weekend.  In fact, I should say that they have everything to be proud of this weekend.  They represented Canada with class all weekend–both when things were going great and when they weren’t.  David, Graeme Thom, and all of the Canadian support team has built a group of incredibly tough riders and great competitors who will continue the trend of podium finishes for Canada a long time into the future.  Saturday just wasn’t their day.

The US and Canada had a fierce but friendly competition all weekend.  Canada sent their veterans and the US sent our next generation of international riders, and you would be hard pressed to find 10 riders to better represent their countries.  It has been an absolute blast sharing a small part of the experience with both teams this weekend.

Stay tuned, we have one of our world famous Eventing Nation live blogs coming up for the individual show jumping finals.  Go eventing.

Gold!

By on Oct 23, 2011 2:18 pm -

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Team USA wins gold at the Pan American Games with five straight double-clear show jumping rounds.  Much more shortly and stay tuned for a live blog of the individual show jumping round.  Go USA!

Pan American Games Sunday Morning Horse Inspection

By on Oct 23, 2011 12:03 pm -

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Canada’s Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti have a 0.6 point lead going into the show jumping

The US and Canadian horses all passed at the final horse inspection this morning which mercifully started at 10am local time.  Prometeo Equus and Carlos Cornejo of Mexico withdrew before today’s jog, but the 30 horses that did present to the ground jury all passed. Ines and Carlos Sueiras of Guatemala, Jose Ortelli with Jos Aladar of Argentina, and Serguei with Barbara TW of Brazil were held but they all passed on reinspection.  Those three pairs were part of the three remaining teams other than the US and Canada.  Remember that there is a lot at stake for Argentina, Brazil, and Guatemala as they are fighting for two remaining Olympic qualifying spots which will go to the highest placed teams other than the US and Canada today.

The show jumping is scheduled to start at noon (ish) local time, which is 1pm ET.  The first jumping round will determine the final team score but any penalties will also count towards the individual score.  Then the top 25 riders will return for the individual round around 3:30pm local time.

As for the all important fashion review, you can see the Canadian ladies’ outfit from Jessie’s photo and the US ladies were rocking khaki pants, a blue blazer, and a white shirt.  Anyone who knows me knows that I have absolutely no fashion sense so I won’t even begin to judge between the two.

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Team USA is 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th with Michael Pollard and Hanni leading the way in 2nd

Good luck to everyone show jumping around Eventing Nation today and particularly to the US and Canadian teams here in Guadalajara.  It has been a fabulous competition so far and we are sure to have an exciting conclusion to the Pan American Games today.

Go eventing.