US Equestrian Names Nations Cup Team for Boekelo CCIO4*-L

Image via US Equestrian.

US Equestrian has just named the U.S. Nations Cup team for Boekelo CCIO4*-L, which takes place Oct. 10-13, in Enschede, the Netherlands. Erik Duvander will serve as the chef d’equipe.

The following athlete-and-horse combinations will compose the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team:

  • Jennie Brannigan (West Grove, Pa.) and Stella Artois, the Stella Artois Syndicate’s 11-year-old Holsteiner/Thoroughbred mare
  • Liz Halliday-Sharp (Ocala, Fla.) and Cooley Quicksilver, the Monster Partnership’s eight-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding
  • Frankie Thieriot Stutes (Occidental, Calif.) and Chatwin, the Chatwin Group’s 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding

The following combination has been named as the traveling reserve:

  • Tamie Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) and Mai Baum, Alexandra Ahearn, Ellen Ahearn, and Eric Markel’s 13-year-old German Sport Horse gelding

The following combinations have been named as alternates:

  • Matt Flynn (Reddick, Fla.) and Wizzerd, A. Patrick Flynn, Kathleen Flynn, and Merry Go Round Farm’s 10-year-old KWPN gelding
  • Caroline Martin (Miami Beach, Fla.) and Danger Mouse, her and Sherrie Martin’s 11-year-old Warmblood gelding

Boekelo also serves as a test event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The competition is testing the new Olympic team format, which means there are only three riders on the team and no drop score.

Under the new Olympic team format, the traveling reserve is still a very critical fourth member of the team. The way Boekelo is testing the format will differ from the Olympics, as the reserve for Tokyo will only step in should one of the three team horses be unable to continue on to the next phase (due to elimination, unsoundness, etc). For Boekelo, the traveling reserve will compete in all phases, and their score can be substituted in as a counting score should one of the three team members be unable to continue (due to elimination, unsoundness, etc.)

There are a number of rules that dictate how substitution will work at the actual Games. Full FEI Regulations for Equestrian Events at the Olympic Games are available here. Click here for a direct link to the Games rules. View more information about the FEI Eventing Nations Cup the Netherlands here.

[US Equestrian Announces Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ the Netherlands]