Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous. Photo by Jenni Autry.
All eyes will be on the Ocala Horse Properties International Festival of Eventing in Florida this week as the action kicks off with USEA Young Event Horse and Future Event Horse classes today, with the highly anticipated CCI2* starting tomorrow with the first horse inspection and dressage. And thanks to our friends at What’s Up Media, you can watch the CCI2* live thanks to a free live stream.
The Ocala CCI2* is the first U.S. Pan American Games selection trial of the year — along with the Twin Rivers CCI2* in Paso Robles, California, this weekend — and a number of riders from the U.S., as well as Canada, Mexico, Venezuela and Ecuador, will be looking to qualify for Toronto in Florida.
With Rolex Kentucky CCI4* and the Jersey Fresh CCI2* and CCI3* still to come as the final U.S. Pan Ams selection trials, some of the heavy hitters currently in contention for the team are forgoing Ocala, but there are still a slew of combinations in contention for the team to keep your eye on as you watch the live stream:
Buck Davidson and Quasar: Buck has several horses in the Pan Ams picture, with Quasar firmly in the mix. The 8-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Ann Clements finished sixth last fall on his dressage score of 49.0 in the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International CCI2*, which was a Pan Ams selection trial, so he’s already proven he can tackle tough cross country courses at this level. Another clear cross country trip at this event will help make his case for Toronto.
Will Faudree and Caeleste: “Mouse” has emerged as a future superstar for Will, and she has a chance to make her case for the Pan Ams team this weekend. The 8-year-old Holsteiner mare owned by Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables had a 20 on her score card at Fair Hill CCI2*, the only Pan Ams selection trials she’s competed in thus far, so she needs a clear cross country run at Ocala to remain in contention. She can be deadly in all three phases.
Will Faudree and Pfun: “Teddy” has been in the shadow of his stablemate since she burst onto the scene, but he’s been incredibly consistent on cross country at the FEI level and continues to make a case for Pan Ams consideration. The 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables finished on his dressage score of 58.3 last fall at Fair Hill to finish 19th, which already gives him a solid performance in a Pan Ams selection trial.
Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous: Having won three CIC2* events in a row at Pine Top, Red Hills and Carolina International, Marilyn and “Kitty,” a 10-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Phoebe and Michael Manders and Raylyn Farms, now face their biggest challenge yet with the mare’s first CCI2*. They’ve put a string of blips on cross country last season behind them to firmly emerge as frontrunners for Toronto. A solid finish in Ocala will all but shore up a spot for them on the Pan Ams team.
Marilyn Little and RF West Indie: Though “Indie,” an 8-year-old Hanoverian mare owned by Raylyn Farms, has been overshadowed by her stablemate this season, she already has a CCI2* victory under her belt, having won at Galway Downs in November, which was one of last year’s Pan Ams selection trials. Marilyn fell from her at Pine Top but bounced back with a win at the Carolina International CIC* and also finished sixth in The Fork CIC* this past weekend.
Michael Pollard and Cyrano: Michael’s main goal in competing Cyrano in the CCI2* at Ocala is likely to gain a qualifying score so he can take the horse to a CCI3*, but I can’t imagine he’d say no to a spot on the Pan Ams team if the horse shines here. An extremely experienced campaigner, having competed in the 2012 London Olympics with owner Carl Bouckaert, the 14-year-old Zangersheide gelding could emerge as a Pan Ams front runner this weekend.
Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border: When they’re on their game, Kim and “Cross” can win just about anywhere, and that’s keeping them firmly on the Pan Ams radar despite continued issues on cross country. The 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by the Cross Syndicate finished second on his dressage score of 43.6 at Fair Hill CCI2* last fall, which shows you just how good he can be. They need a clear run at Ocala to stay in contention.
The Canadians also have a number of strong combinations competing for a spot on their Pan Ams squad at Ocala, like Lesley Grant-Law and What Law, Tik Maynard with Dutch Times and Sapphire, Kendal Lehari and RF D’Orbalia, and Jessica Phoenix with Abbey GS and Bentley’s Best.
As for riders from other countries making their Pan Ams bid, look for names like Elena Ceballos and Nondours du Moulin and Alvaro Lozada and Urileva for Venezuela, Pedro Gutierrez and Racques Biats and Daniela Moguel and Cecilia for Mexico, and Daniel Sarango and Carmac and Ronald Zabala Goetschel and Wise Bandurria Minada for Ecuador.
Keep it looked on EN for coverage from both Ocala and Twin Rivers as we continue to follow the Pan Ams selection process. Additionally, both events are running Advanced combined tests for the horses gearing up for Rolex Kentucky CCI4*, with Lauren Kieffer and Veronica coming off a big win at The Fork. It’s going to be a busy weekend!
Ocala International Links: [Website] [Schedule] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Live Stream]
