The U.S. Team Just NeedsA Little Luck
Kim Severson–and her two World Championships teammates–could really make an impact in their first Olympics, writes Beth Rasin.

After the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** in April, the U.S. selectors seemed to have too many horses at their disposal for the Olympic team. Except for Kim Severson, who was nearly assured a place with her two-time Rolex Kentucky winner, Winsome Adante, the spots were up for grabs.

But over the next few months, some of the horses showed that they weren’t as ready as their Kentucky performances may have indicated, and others–such as Stephen Bradley’s From–incurred injuries at just the wrong time. Now the selectors are hoping that bad luck is behind their team and that the five horses and riders they’ve chosen are still some of the best in the world.

With Custom Made and Giltedge retired, reigning Olympic gold medalist David O’Connor probably won’t have the chance to defend his title, but the team spirit he helped to rally–a spirit that united the 2002 World Equestrian Games squad to produce a gold medal–will likely continue. Three of the four riders from that team–Severson, John Williams and Amy Tryon–will be back for Athens. And the riders claimed that the camaraderie among them was strong, even before the five riders were selected.

Still, they’ll have quite a battle on their hands to win a team gold medal. “The French and the British are the favorites; the Brits have William Fox-Pitt and Pippa Funnell at the head of their affair, and they have good depth with Leslie Law, Jeannette Brakewell and Sarah Cutteridge,” said U.S. Chef D’Equipe Capt. Mark Phillips. “The French have the current World and European Champions, and their [2002 WEG] horses, and they’re going to be strong.

“We’ve got to show up and shape up, and we’re shaping up into a strong squad,” he added. “If we do our business, we’ll be competitive.”

For the individual medals, Severson has to be considered a favorite–along with Funnell and Fox-Pitt–to win the gold. All three of those riders bring four-star winners to Athens, and the three of them have only once competed against each other at a single event–the 2002 WEG, when Severson finished sixth and Funnell and Fox-Pitt were 13th and 14th.

Funnell’s 2003 Rolex Kentucky win came when Severson was recovering from a broken leg, and Funnell then won Burghley (England) last September after Severson’s Winsome Adante had to be withdrawn due to colic. Likewise, Funnell didn’t compete at Kentucky in April or in 2002, when Severson scored her victories. (But Fox-Pitt did, finishing fourth both times.) Whenever Severson and Funnell have met head-to-head–at the 2002 WEG, and at Blenheim in 2001–Severson has come out on top.

But any of these three could win the gold on any given weekend, and John Williams, who was leading the standings at the WEG after cross-country, could also be a contender for an individual medal, since he has proven all spring that Carrick’s show jumping is more and more reliable.

Of course, Funnell and Fox-Pitt have the advantage of Olympic experience over Severson and Williams. The U.S. selectors must have breathed a sigh of relief when Severson and “Dan” came through the spring season sound and strong. Due to Severson’s broken leg and Dan’s colic, they didn’t get to do a three-day last year and hadn’t even qualified for the Olympics until they completed Kentucky in April. With Severson’s typical competitiveness, she didn’t just canter around for a qualification–she won. And, so long as luck is on her side, she’s capable of doing the same in Athens.

While Severson will be the cornerstone of the team, she won’t be facing their competition alone. “We have a very strong group of horses and people. Everyone has great technique and good experience behind them,” said O’Connor. “If they get together and are cohesive as a group, they are going to be very strong. We’ve got two of the top five horses in the world–any team would love to have Winsome Adante and Carrick, period. This is a strong team; you’d be proud to take them anywhere in the world.”

Since Darren Chiacchia and Windfall will likely have a strong dressage score, if he can hang on to that score, he could also be among the top 10. The Olympics has never been contested in the CCI short format, so no one knows exactly how influential the cross-country will be. But Chiacchia handled the difficult short format at Kentucky better than anyone–and won it. He also won last year’s Pan American Championship and this spring’s Red Hills CIC*** (Fla.) with Windfall.

Amy Tryon won’t be riding her WEG partner Poggio, but My Beau has also proven himself with consistent four-star placings over the past six years. He really doesn’t have a weak phase. The pair bested Severson and Winsome Adante at the North Georgia CIC*** in April, and Tryon’s determination can never be discounted.

Julie Richards, the only Olympic veteran on the team, rides a relatively new partner, in Jacob Two Two. This spring’s Rolex Kentucky was their first major event together, but, even at the age of 16, “Jake’s” jumping ability is second to none. He also traveled to the 2000 Sydney Olympics–where Richards finished ninth as an individual aboard Hyde Park Corner–and he just missed competing there with Abigail Lufkin because of a last-minute injury. If the two rounds of show jumping that will decide the individual medals at this year’s Olympics prove to be influential, Jake and Richards will have a big advantage.

Team Members

WINSOME ADANTE: b. g., 11, English-bred Thoroughbred, by Saunter–Jus With Genoa, owned by Plain Dealing Farm, Inc.
KIM SEVERSON: age 30, Keene, Va.

WINDFALL 2: blk. s., 12, German-bred Trakehner, by Habicht–Wundermaedel, owned by Timothy Holekamp.
DARREN CHIACCHIA: age 39, Ocala, Fla.

JACOB TWO TWO: b. g., 16, Canadian-bred Thoroughbred, by Paper Soldier, owned by Jim Richards.
JULIE RICHARDS: age 32, Atlanta, Ga.

MY BEAU: b. g., 14, Canadian-bred Thoroughbred, by Prince Caspian–Melanie’s Dream, owned by Leigh Mesher.
AMY TRYON: age 34, Duvall, Wash.

CARRICK: ch. g., 12, Canadian-bred Thoroughbred cross, by Cozy’s Commander–War Issue, owned by rider, dePapp, Tichell, Atkins.
JOHN WILLIAMS: age 39, Middleburg, Va.
RESERVES

ANTIGUA: br. g., 15, 16.0 hands, Australian-bred Thoroughbred,by Match Winner–Great Mistake, owned by rider and Matt and Kerry Faudree.
WILL FAUDREE: age 22, Southern Pines, N.C.

OUTLAWED: b. g., 12, New Zealand-bred, owned by Jennifer Taxay.
DAVID O’CONNOR: age 42, The Plains, Va.

TASK FORCE: b. g., 12, 16.1 hands, Australian-bred Thoroughbred, by Blue Vein–Chicola Craft, owned by Dr. and Mrs. Richard Bynny.
JAN THOMPSON: age 36, Purcellville, Va.

POGGIO: b. g., 12, 16.0 hands, U.S.-bred Thoroughbred, by Polynesian Flyer–Waves Club, owned by rider and Mark Hart.
AMY TRYON: age 34, Duvall, Wash.

NORTHERN SPY: b. g., 11, 16.3 hands, U.S.-bred Thoroughbred cross, by All Fair–Lavender Fair VII, owned by rider.
HEIDI WHITE: age 38, Chadds Ford, Pa