PrintIn the four-year cycle of international equestrian sport, this past year fell between the World Equestrian Games and the Olympic Games, the year always reserved for the Pan American Games.
Unlike former times when our most experienced riders on their top horses traveled to this event, today, unless the United States is in need of qualifying for the WEG or the Olympics, we’re more apt to send a team of horses or riders with less experience. This year was no exception.
The Pan Ams are hotly contested by many of our American neighbors, and we notched a team bronze but lacked a rider on the podium for the individual medals.
Brazil won with a team consisting of three riders based in Europe and one locally prepared. The Brazilian- based rider contributed a double-clear performance in the team event, which said a lot for the level at home. Canada stood one place below the home team on Nations Cup day, but team member Jill Henselwood went on to a well-deserved individual gold.
A new fixture on the Global Champions Tour debuted in São Paulo directly after the Pan Ams. Frenchman Hubert Bourdy won the main class, while we were without notable success from our own riders despite the impressive prize money on offer.
Early in the year, the Fédération Equestre Internationale events hosted here in Wellington, Fla., continued to grow in size and in international participation. Sadly, deplorable footing at the end of circuit for the CSIO and the Global Champions Tour event took a lot away from the prestige that these fixtures deserved. (see Sidebar).
Our strong team of Margie Engle, McLain Ward, Beezie Madden and Lauren Hough failed to win on home soil, but the competition was super and it is grand to have our own CSIO again, and an outdoor one
to boot!
Once again the Rolex FEI World Cup Final was hosted in Las Vegas. Crowds were impressive with the double draw of jumping and dressage. McLain Ward and Sapphire came out of the blocks on fire with an impressive win of the Table C opening phase but failed to keep it together through the next rounds, ending tied for eighth.
Sadly, despite an impressive array of U.S. riders, when jumping concluded our results this year mirrored those of prior years. Beat Mändli of Switzerland was a popular winner, having knocked on the door several times in the past with his wonderful (but now retired) partner Positano. Beat won with Ideo du Thot to notch his first major individual championship.
Our main emphasis internationally was the Samsung Super League series. Limited to the strongest eight nations in the world, the eight events are hotly contested, especially since the team with the fewest points at the end of the season is dropped from the series for the following year.
It looked a bit dicey early on when our teams had a hard time putting it all together, but they rallied in the second half and finished a more than respectable fourth, safe from relegation.
Meanwhile, we fielded a successful Developing Rider Tour. These young riders were ably directed by Melanie Smith-Taylor (see article p. 55). Melanie had a long international career with highlights to rival
any rider of today or yesterday, including Olympic gold and a World Cup Final victory.
Unlike former times when our most experienced riders on their top horses traveled to this event, today, unless the United States is in need of qualifying for the WEG or the Olympics, we’re more apt to send a team of horses or riders with less experience. This year was no exception.
The Pan Ams are hotly contested by many of our American neighbors, and we notched a team bronze but lacked a rider on the podium for the individual medals.
Brazil won with a team consisting of three riders based in Europe and one locally prepared. The Brazilian- based rider contributed a double-clear performance in the team event, which said a lot for the level at home. Canada stood one place below the home team on Nations Cup day, but team member Jill Henselwood went on to a well-deserved individual gold.
A new fixture on the Global Champions Tour debuted in São Paulo directly after the Pan Ams. Frenchman Hubert Bourdy won the main class, while we were without notable success from our own riders despite the impressive prize money on offer.
Early in the year, the Fédération Equestre Internationale events hosted here in Wellington, Fla., continued to grow in size and in international participation. Sadly, deplorable footing at the end of circuit for the CSIO and the Global Champions Tour event took a lot away from the prestige that these fixtures deserved. (see Sidebar).
Our strong team of Margie Engle, McLain Ward, Beezie Madden and Lauren Hough failed to win on home soil, but the competition was super and it is grand to have our own CSIO again, and an outdoor one
to boot!
Once again the Rolex FEI World Cup Final was hosted in Las Vegas. Crowds were impressive with the double draw of jumping and dressage. McLain Ward and Sapphire came out of the blocks on fire with an impressive win of the Table C opening phase but failed to keep it together through the next rounds, ending tied for eighth.
Sadly, despite an impressive array of U.S. riders, when jumping concluded our results this year mirrored those of prior years. Beat Mändli of Switzerland was a popular winner, having knocked on the door several times in the past with his wonderful (but now retired) partner Positano. Beat won with Ideo du Thot to notch his first major individual championship.
Our main emphasis internationally was the Samsung Super League series. Limited to the strongest eight nations in the world, the eight events are hotly contested, especially since the team with the fewest points at the end of the season is dropped from the series for the following year.
It looked a bit dicey early on when our teams had a hard time putting it all together, but they rallied in the second half and finished a more than respectable fourth, safe from relegation.
Meanwhile, we fielded a successful Developing Rider Tour. These young riders were ably directed by Melanie Smith-Taylor (see article p. 55). Melanie had a long international career with highlights to rival
any rider of today or yesterday, including Olympic gold and a World Cup Final victory.
