2014 World Equestrian Games - USA News

USA TEAM:

Chef d'Equipe - Emmett Ross
Ellen Olson - Hot Desert Knight
Heather Reynolds - Chanses, Wallace Hill Shade
Jeremy Reynolds - RR Gold Dust Rising
Kelsey Russell - My Wild Irish Gold
Meg Sleeper - Syrocco Reveille

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Photos by US Endurance Athletes Association

Before the Ride Gallery I

Before the Ride Gallery II

Photos by Becky Pearman

Vetting In

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US Endurance Team 2014 WEG

2014 WEG: Jeremy Olson and Wallace Hill Shade Lone USA Finishers

In a WEG with difficult weather and footing, the USA was only able to finish one horse and rider in the Endurance Championship. Jeremy Olson and Wallace Hill Shade - the Team Alternate who was moved up to starting position the day before the race, due to Meg Sleeper's Syrocco Reveille being a little off during the trot out - finished 31st in 10:46:16.

US Equine Athletes Association released this statement: "Sadly we must report that the US Team was unable to deliver the performance it had worked so hard to achieve at the WEG 2014. Disappointment is an understatement. A full analysis will be forthcoming in a few days. In short the trail was slippery, challenging to say the least...

"Chances ridden by Heather Reynolds, Gold Dust Rising ridden by Jeremy Reynolds, and Hot Desert Knight ridden by Ellen Rapp Olson, were pulled for metabolic issues. All three are fine post ride, with no serious after effects. Kelsey Russell’s mount, My Wild Irish Gold was slightly off at the trot out after loop two and did not pass the vet gate. We thank our riders, horse owners, supporters and our Chef d’Quippe for their continued support and commitment to US Endurance."

2014 USA Endurance Team Member: Meg Sleeper and Syrocco Reveille

August 18 2014
by Merri Melde-Endurance.net

To truly understand the definition of a classy endurance competitor who successfully embraces not only the challenges of high level international competition, but the epitome of the laudable AERC endurance attribute of career longevity, one needs look no further than Meg Sleeper and Syrocco Reveille.

Veterans of both USA endurance rides and numerous World Endurance Championships, both rider and horse bring a bounty of experience to the USA team for the Endurance Championship at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in France on August 28th.

With AERC statistics of 27 completions in 28 starts, 11 of 12 100-mile completions, 5 wins, twenty Top 10 finishes, almost 2000 miles, and 8 Best Condition awards over 10 seasons, 14-year-old Syrocco Reveille (a purebred Arabian by Rimmon - Edgewood Schelite by Blackburne Charal) has a record any USA endurance horse would envy. However, her success goes far beyond resilience and good management. Reveille carries her durability and toughness to the highest level of competition on the world stage for the third time in her storied career.

Reveille and Meg first competed together in a World Endurance Championship in Malaysia in 2008 when Reveille was 8 years old. The pair was riding with fellow team members Jan Worthington and Golden Lightning when, near the end of loop 2, the foursome was nearly struck by lightning on course. "I saw the bolt of light and sparks all around us," Meg later wrote. "The thunder clap was immediately after and both horses bolted. Unfortunately, Leon bolted into Rev and pushed both horses out into the jungle. We hit a tree, and both horses went down and rolled." Due to the wreck, Reveille was pulled for lameness at the next to last vet gate. (Jan and Golden Lightning completed the race but were pulled at the finish line for lameness.) The hardy mare bounced back, returning to her winning form next season, winning the 2009 AHA 100-mile championship with Meg in Oklahoma.

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2014 USA Endurance Team Member: Ellen Olson and Hot Desert Knight

August 18 2014
by Merri Melde-Endurance.net

Before April of 2014, Hot Desert Knight had already made a name for himself in the USA endurance world. The bay gelding is 14 years old, has a record of 3565 AERC miles and 14 Best Condition awards over 11 seasons (mostly with owner and heavyweight rider Farzad Faryadi), has finished 15 of 16 100-mile rides, and holds at least one course record, in the Vermont 100.

Before April of 2014, Ellen Olson of Dubuque, Iowa (and Florida in the winter) had already made her mark as an experienced horsewoman and endurance rider with 3240 AERC miles, as a partner with husband Jeremy Olson in their Noslo Endurance training business, and as a USA Team Member for the Endurance Championship at the 2010 Kentucky World Equestrian Games, though sadly, her horse came up lame the day before the race.

Ellen and Hot Desert Knight are now set to accomplish even higher goals on the world stage: together they are headed to France in August to represent the USA in the August 28th Endurance Championship, part of the 2014 World Equestrian Games.

Ellen remembers seeing "Dez" the last couple of years at endurance rides with Farzad; her husband Jeremy said he always thought Dez was one of the top 3 horses in the country. The Olsons made a deal with Farzad in 2012 to lease the horse and try to make the USA team for France. "I always thought my horse could get to that level," Farzad says, "but I just didn't have the time to give him what he needed, so I think it worked out great."

Ellen and Dez paired up for the first time together in March 2013 for the 100-mile FITS ride in Florida, and they won first place and Best Condition. They competed together again in Montana in the Ft Howes 100-mile ride in June, and got second place and Best Condition. Those races cemented the Olsons' confidence in Dez's potential. "We figured he'd have a really good shot at making the team with his ability. He basically is just a natural, especially for a 100-mile horse. He loves what he does, and he's good at it. He's so awesome!" Ellen says...

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US Endurance Team Announced for 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

Dr. Margaret Sleeper (right)

Five horse-and-rider pairs and four alternates have been named for Normandy.

August 11, 2014
USEF Press Release

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has named five horse-and-athlete combinations to the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Endurance Team. Additionally, four horse-and-athlete combinations have been named as alternates.

The following horse-and-athlete combinations have been named to the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Endurance Team (in alphabetical order):

Ellen Olson (La Motte, Iowa) and Farzad Faryadi's Hot Desert Knight
Hot Desert Knight is a 2000 Arabian gelding.

Heather Reynolds (Dunnellon, Fla.) and her own Chanses
Chanses is a 2005 Arabian gelding.

Jeremy Reynolds (Dunnellon, Fla.) and his own RR Gold Dust Rising
RR Gold Dust Rising is a 2006 Arabian gelding.

Kelsey Russell (Williston, Fla.) and Valerie Kanavy's My Wild Irish Gold
My Wild Irish Gold is a 2003 Anglo Arab mare.

Dr. Margaret Sleeper (Frenchtown, N.J.) and her own Syrocco Reveille
Syrocco Reveille is a 2000 Arabian mare.

The following horse-and-athlete combinations have been named as alternates to the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Endurance Team (in ranked order):

Jeremy Olson (La Motte, Iowa) and Amy Wallace-Whelan's Wallace Hill Shade
Wallace Hill Shade is a 2002 Half-Arabian gelding.

Valerie Kanavy (Fort Valley, Va.) with her own Just Gold
Just Gold is a 2005 Arabian gelding.

Lisanne Dorion (Williston, Fla.) with her own SH Sur Trad
SH Sur Trad is a 2004 Arabian gelding.

Melody Blittersdorf (Jeffersonville, Vt.) with her own Synthetic
Synthetic is a 2000 Arabian gelding.

View the Selection Procedures for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Endurance Team at USEF.org.

Keep up with all the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 news at HorseChannel.com/Normandy2014.

Full article on HorseChannel.com

2014 USA Endurance Team Member: Jeremy Reynolds and RR Gold Dust Rising

August 3 2014
by Merri Melde-Endurance.net

Sometimes it takes an athlete to know an athlete. 34-year-old Jeremy Reynolds is one who understands exactly what a championship calibre endurance horse experiences in a 160-km race, because he's run the distance himself. Last month Jeremy finished the 100-mile Western States Endurance Run - over the Tevis Cup course - in a finish time of just over 21 hours. "It was extremely difficult," Jeremy says.

"I started doing ultras a long time ago to learn more about what the [endurance] horses go through," he continues, "the mental ups and downs that you can have." He also learned the importance of training specifically for a course so the horse (or human) uses the same muscles and joint movements he'll be using in a race.

Such understanding and dedication can create a deeper partnership with a horse, and such a partnership is what helped land Jeremy and lightly raced 8-year-old RR Gold Dust Rising on the 2014 USA Endurance Team headed to France for the August 28th Endurance Championship, part of the World Equestrian Games.

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2014 USA Endurance Team Member: Heather Reynolds and Chanses

July 27, 2014
by Merri Melde-Endurance.net

It's a good thing for Heather Reynolds and the 2014 USA Endurance Team that Chanses didn't make it as a racehorse. "He was really fast, but he would just look around, rather than race," Heather says. "He's really laid back, a super relaxed horse. He can turn it on when he needs to. When asked to do it, he'll do it. He's just not going to volunteer," she laughs.

Now owned by Heather and husband Jeremy Reynolds who make up Reynolds Racing, and partner Skip Lightfoot, the Reynolds obtained the "cool looking" 9-year-old bay Arabian gelding in 2012 just 15 minutes down the road from their place in Dunellon, Florida. "We were short on horses at the time, and our friend Lynn Ashby recommended him to us. We usually take her word pretty seriously."

That Chanses happened to be a half brother to Jeremy Reynolds' 2012 World Endurance Championship ride in Great Britain, A Kutt Above (they finished 21st), was an added bonus. Both horses are by the sire Patriot Missle.

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Kelsey Russell: The "Gonna Go Someplace Kid"

Kelsey Russell, a Young Rider, is one of the USA Endurance Team riders for the 2014 World Equestrian Games Endurance Race in France

"She's as cool and calculating as any of the senior riders," says USA Chef d'Equipe Emmett Ross of Kelsey Russell, the first Young Rider to ever make the senior World Championship USA Endurance Team. "And of course she's a chip off the old block, because she rides for Valerie Kanavy, and Valerie has been coaching her ever since she's been a kid."

Kanavy hardly needs any introduction in endurance circles, being a 2-time former World Endurance Champion in 1994 in The Netherlands, and 1998 in the United Arab Emirates. Being only 18, Russell isn't as well known yet, but that's not because she's been hiding in the stables.

"I've been on horses pretty much my whole life," Russell says. "With my aunt I do barrel racing and western riding." It wasn't till about 5 years ago that Russell boarded her horses in Kanavy's stable across the street and discovered endurance. "I started riding endurance with her the following winter, and I have been ever since."

It was obvious to Kanavy that Russell was a horsewoman from the beginning. "She was like a little monkey that hung on, no matter what. Sometimes the horses would do things, and we'd be going, 'Oh no!', but she didn't come off," Kanavy laughs.

Russell, from Williston, Florida, did her first endurance ride in January of 2010 on one of Kanavy's horses, Layla Z Gold. Since then, Russell has racked up over 1800 AERC miles, a first place finish in the 2011 North American Young Riders FEI Championships aboard Kanavy's My Wild Irish Gold, a 6th place finish aboard Kanavy's Gold Raven in the 2011 FEI Young Rider Junior World Endurance Championship in Abu Dhabi, and a 5th place finish with My Wild Irish Gold in the 2013 Young Rider Junior World Endurance Championship in Tarbes, France.

Russell will be riding My Wild Irish Gold on the USA Team in the 2014 World Equestrian Games Endurance Race in Normandy, France on August 28, 2014. "Irish" is a 10 coming 11-year-old bay Anglo-Arabian mare, owned and bred by Kanavy's Gold Medal Farms. She is Russell's favorite horse in the stable to ride. "She's comfortable; she likes to go, but she has a brain. She doesn't get stupid, and she doesn't waste her energy," Russell says.

Russell's first endurance ride on Irish was a 2nd place finish in the Goethe Challenge 75-miler in December of 2010. Since then, they've completed 10 endurance races in the USA together (including 4 wins and a Best Condition), and the 2 overseas races. Their best ride, Russell says, was the Young Rider Junior Championship in France last year where the mare covered the 120-km course in 6 1/2 hours.

Russell is not daunted at all by riding alongside experienced senior riders in such a prestigious Championship race in France. "I ride with quite a few of them and I hang out with them at the rides so I know them pretty well. It'll be different than the Young Riders, but I think it'll be fun and it'll be a really good experience," she says matter-of-factly.

Kanavy knows Russell can handle the pressure, and is delighted with her accomplishments. "I'm pretty proud of her all the way around. I'm proud of her for what she does in school and all her other activities too; it's not just about riding. She's an all-around 'Gonna Go Someplace Kid.' She has great family support, and I think where she is, and what she's accomplished, is because she's determined, and she is a dynamite worker. I'm more proud of the way she's conducted her whole life; and her good will and determination to go somewhere and be somebody, and be the best you can be - she takes that to another level."

Russell will be riding at the top level in France next month, aboard a top level mare, with a top level team, coach, family, and mentor rooting her on, and it's likely she will take it all in stride.

FITS announces five riders selected for 2014 WEG

July 1, 2014, Portland, Oregon, USA — FITS, inventor of the most athletically advanced riding breech on the market, is proud to announce that five of FITS team of elite riders have been selected to represent the United States and Canada in the upcoming 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Horse and rider combinations were selected based on a few criteria. These included their previous international experience, the horse and rider’s drive to win, and performance in the 2013/2014 competition season, with emphasis placed on dressage scores and cross country scores, among others.

Representing Canada at the World Equestrian Games are FITS riders: Hawley Bennett-Awad from Langley, British Columbia, with her mount Gin & Juice, a 2000 American Thoroughbred. She is joined by Selena O’Hanlon, from Kingston, Ontario and her 2003 Canadian Sport Horse gelding Foxwood High. Rounding out the third FITS rider representing Canada is Jessica Phoenix, from Cannington, Ontario, and her horse A Little Romance, a 2005 Canadian TB /Trakehner mare.

Not to be outdone, two FITS riders will be representing the United States at the 2014 World Equestrian Games. Eventer Kim Severson, from Charlottesville, Virginia will take along her horse Fernhill Fearless, a 2000 Irish Sport Horse gelding. FITS endurance rider Meg Sleeper, from Frenchtown, New Jersey, along with her 14-year-old Arabian Mare Syrocco Reveille will represent the USA Endurance team.

Confirming the reputation for excellence and comfort that FITS has built over the years, the entire team USA Endurance at this year’s Alltech World Equestrian Games will be wearing Treads AS Lite breeches. The uniquely designed breeches with rubberized full seat ink dots optimizes a rider’s grip and stability in the saddle, an absolute must-have for long endurance racing.

“We are so proud of our elite FITS riders who will be competing at this year’s World Equestrian Games,” said Sheryl Rudolph, founder of FITS. “Seven women athletes were chosen for the two eventing teams, and we dress over half of them! We are also very happy to have fitted out the men and women on team USA Endurance with our Treads AS Lite breeches. We wish all of our FITS athletes good riding!”

With the exceptionally talented and dedicated FITS riders already world-renowned for their international eventing careers, this year’s WEG is sure to be one to watch.

For more information about FITS clothing, including their technically advanced breeches, please visit FITSriding.com.

ABOUT FITS

FITS (“Fun In The Saddle”) launched in 2005, bringing to market the original patented PerforMAX™ top-performance technical breech that continues to revolutionize the way riders connect with their saddle, their horse, and their riding experience. Today FITS has a well-deserved reputation as inventor of the most advanced athletic wear for the English rider, with a full range of exceptional performance clothing for year-round riding. FITS is sold widely throughout the USA, with growing availability in Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, France, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Holly Davis, Horsefly Group
770-674-4675 holly@horseflygroup.com

Hunterdon riders make short list for World Equestrian Games team

Local equestrians are one step closer to going to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games later this summer.

Oldwick resident Sinead Halpin was named to the three-day eventing team. She will ride Manoir De Carneville Syndicate’s Manoir de Carneville. Halpin was a strong contender for the Olympic team two years ago but did not make the final cut.

Ballynoe Castle RM, a horse owned by Tewksbury Township residents Carl and Cassandra Segal, also made the team. He will be ridden by Buck Davidson.

Eventing has three phases — dressage, cross-country and show jumping.

Tewksbury Township native Doug Payne had his eye on a spot on the three-day eventing team but did not make the list. He and Halpin however, were named to the High Performance Summer/Fall Training Lists.

Both made the “World Class” list, meaning the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) believes they possess the ability to be competitive anywhere in the world. They will participate in training sessions with US Eventing’s Chef d’Equipe, David O’Connor.

Dr. Meg Sleeper of Kingwood Township has been named to the “short list” for the endurance riding team by the USEF.

She is currently ranked third on the list aboard Syrocco Reveille, a 14-year-old Arabian mare. If something happens and that horse can’t compete, Sleeper’s other horse Syrocco Cadence, an 11-year-old Arabian mare, is the first alternate.

Sleeper was one of two riders who represented the United States at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games endurance test event last summer. The ride was held at Sartilly in Manche, France.

Endurance rides are generally 50 to 100 miles long. Horses go through several thorough veterinary exams before, during and after a race. Heart rates, respiration and temperatures are closely monitored. Only horses deemed fit to continue at each vet check are allowed to keep going.

The World Equestrian Games will be held Aug. 21 to Sept. 9 in Normandy, France.

Hunterton County Democrat

USA Endurance Set Sights on Team Medal in France

The USA endurance team heads to Normandy, France for the World Equestrian Games on August 28, 2014, with one goal in mind: a team medal in the World Endurance Championship.

"I'm not going over there to look at that castle out there on the beach, Mont Saint-Michel," says US Chef d'Equipe Emmett Ross. "We're going over there to win a medal."

Ross will take a strong team to face the world over a previously unridden 160-km trail (parts of the trail were tested during last year's WEG pre-ride) that will traverse hills, fields, single track roads, pavement, and the beach along the Bay of Normandy on the English Channel. "In an event like the World Equestrian Games, riders must know how to manage their horse over a distance of 160 km, changing gait according to the terrain and the challenges faced, maintaining an average speed of 15 to 23 km/h throughout," says WEG Manager of the Endurance discipline, Nicholas Wahlen.

Ross has the riders for the course. "It puts a premium on good riders - and we have good riders. We have experienced riders." Ross' 2012 World Equestrian Championship team in Great Britain just missed the bronze medal, averaging 19.49 km/h. "This team is better than that one, even though that team was the Who's Who of American endurance."

USEF named the shortlist of horse/rider combinations on June 19, and the final Nominated List of 10 will be sent in to the Organizing Committee in France on June 25. Barring any mishaps, the top 5 will be the team that takes to the French trail: Heather Reynolds and Chanses, Ellen Olson and Hot Desert Knight, Dr Meg Sleeper and Syrocco Reveille, Jeremy Reynolds and RR Gold Dust Rising, and Kelsey Russell and My Wild Irish Gold. Russell is the first USA Young Rider to ever make the senior World Championship team. In 6th and 7th places are Jeremy Olson and Wallace Hill Shade, and Valerie Kanavy and Just Gold.

After the final list is turned in, Ross will focus on the top 7 riders and horses (countries are allowed 5 riders, and 2 spare horses in the barn), working with them on their training schedules and final preparations. The team will fly over on August 12 to a private stable near the venue, where they will have 2 weeks to relax, top off on training, and get organized.

Ross is pleased with his team and very confident. His riders are athletes, and all horses are fit and have been through exhaustive numerous veterinary exams. The weather, Ross feels, is not a factor. "We're coming from heat and humidity training - all of our horses are on the east coast or in Iowa - and they're talking about it being very hot over there, at 78 degrees!" Ross says. "And if it rains, then I feel we even have a better advantage, because we over here, like the French do in Europe, experience different types of terrain and different types of weather.

"We used to dominate the sport, but since 1998 we've done nothing at the WEC or the WEG. Nothing. No teams, no individuals, nothing. And we've been finishing teams now, with a lot of 4th places. So now we're ready to step up."

USEF Names Short List for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Endurance Team

RELEASE: June 19, 2014
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: USEF Communications Department

Lexington, Ky.- The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has named ten horse-and-athlete combinations to the Short List for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Endurance Team. Additionally, three combinations have been named as alternates.

The following horse-and-athlete combinations have been named to the Short List (in ranked order):

Heather Reynolds (Dunnellon, Fla.) and her own Chanses
Chanses is a 2005 Arabian gelding.

Ellen Olson (La Motte, Iowa) and Farzad Faryadi's Hot Desert Knight
Hot Desert Knight is a 2000 Arabian gelding.

Dr. Margaret Sleeper (Frenchtown, N.J.) and her own Syrocco Reveille
Syrocco Reveille is a 2000 Arabian mare.

Jeremy Reynolds (Dunnellon, Fla.) and his own RR Gold Dust Rising
RR Gold Dust Rising is a 2006 Arabian gelding.

Kelsey Russell (Williston, Fla.) and Valerie Kanavy's My Wild Irish Gold
My Wild Irish Gold is a 2003 Anglo Arab mare.

Jeremy Olson (La Motte, Iowa) and Amy Wallace-Whelan's Wallace Hill Shade
Wallace Hill Shade is a 2002 Half-Arabian gelding.

Valerie Kanavy (Fort Valley, Va.) with her own Just Gold
Just Gold is a 2005 Arabian gelding.

Lisanne Dorion (Williston, Fla.) with her own SH Sur Trad
SH Sur Trad is a 2004 Arabian gelding.

Dr. Nicki Meuten (Zebulon, N.C.) and her own FYF Dutch
FYF Dutch is a 2004 Arabian gelding.

Melody Blittersdorf (Jeffersonville, Vt.) with her own Synthetic
Synthetic is a 2000 Arabian gelding.

The following horse-and-athlete combinations have been named as alternates to the Short List (in ranked order):

Dr. Margaret Sleeper (Frenchtown, N.J.) and her own Syrocco Cadence
Syrocco Cadence is a 2003 Arabian mare.

Martha Rattner (Paris, Ky.) and James Hay's Indepen
Indepen is a 2002 Arabian stallion.

Willemina DeBoer (Hico, Texas) with her own Frisia Shaheen
Frisia Shaheen is a 2006 Arabian gelding.

Selection Trials Entries at Broxton Bridge

USEF Names Endurance Long List for 2014 World Equestrian Games

May 21, 2014 -- The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has named 16 endurance horse-and-athlete combinations to the Long List for 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. All combinations will be required to demonstrate continued preparation, soundness, and ability by attending one Fitness and Soundness Assessment. More information about these assessments will be available on USEF.org as it becomes available.

The following 16 combinations have named to the Long List (in alphabetical order):

Melody Blittersdorf (Jeffersonville, Vt.) with her own Synthetic
Synthetic is a 2000 Arabian gelding.

Willemina DeBoer (Hico, Texas) with her own Frisia Shaheen
Frisia Shaheen is a 2006 Arabian gelding.

Lisanne Dorion (Williston, Fla.) with her own SH Sur Trad
SH Sur Trad is a 2004 Arabian gelding.

Valerie Kanavy (Fort Valley, Va.) with her own Just Gold
Just Gold is a 2005 Arabian gelding.

Dr. Nicki Meuten (Zebulon, N.C.) and her own FYF Dutch
FYF Dutch is a 2004 Arabian gelding.

Ellen Olson (La Motte, Iowa) and Farzad Faryadi's Hot Desert Knight
Hot Desert Knight is a 2000 Arabian gelding.

Jeremy Olson (La Motte, Iowa) and Amy Wallace-Whelan's Wallace Hill Shade
Wallace Hill Shade is a 2002 Half-Arabian gelding.

Martha Rattner (Paris, Ky.) and James Hay's Indepen
Indepen is a 2002 Arabian stallion.

Heather Reynolds (Dunnellon, Fla.) and her own Chanses
Chanses is a 2005 Arabian gelding.

Heather Reynolds (Dunnellon, Fla.) and Jeremy Reynold's RR Gold Dust Rising
RR Gold Dust Rising is a 2006 Arabian gelding.

Jeremy Reynolds (Dunnellon, Fla.) and Heather Reynolds' Chanses
Chanses is a 2005 Arabian gelding.

Jeremy Reynolds (Dunnellon, Fla.) and his own RR Gold Dust Rising
RR Gold Dust Rising is a 2006 Arabian gelding.

Kelsey Russell (Williston, Fla.) and Valerie Kanavy's My Wild Irish Gold
My Wild Irish Gold is a 2003 Anglo Arab mare.

Dr. Margaret Sleeper (Frenchtown, N.J.) and her own Syrocco Cadence
Syrocco Cadence is a 2003 Arabian mare.

Dr. Margaret Sleeper (Frenchtown, N.J.) and her own Syrocco Reveille
Syrocco Reveille is a 2000 Arabian mare.

Amy Wallace-Whelan (Louisa, Ky.) and Dr. Nicki Meuten's FYF Dutch
FYF Dutch is a 2004 Arabian gelding.

The Selection Procedures for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Endurance Team can be found here: https://www.usef.org/_IFrames/breedsDisciplines/discipline/allendurance/hpendurance.aspx.

- See more at:
http://www.equisearch.com/news/usef-names-endurance-long-list-for-2014-world-equestrian-games/#sthash.g8wk94lZ.dpuf

USA Endurance Riders look to compete at World Equestrian Games

May 19 2014
Pamela Burton

May 19, 2014, California ~ On April 20, USA Endurance hopefuls gathered at Broxton Bridge Plantation in Ehrhardt, South Carolina, to take part in the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Endurance Team Selection Trial CEI2* 120km. The race was scheduled to take place April 19, but heavy downpours caused the race to be rescheduled to April 20 and run under a new format.

Under the guidance of Chef d’Equipe Emmett Ross, 14 applicants for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games plus an additional three proxy riders riding in two groups headed out onto the three-loop trail which totaled 69.44km. Riders had to maintain a specified speed, use their GPS units, and work together as instructed. On April 21, all horses completed a post-event veterinary inspection.

Chef Ross was pleased with the results and the next step will decide the Nominated list by June 12...

Read more here:
http://www.horsereporter.com/2014/05/19/usa-endurance-riders-look-to-compete-at-world-equestrian-games/

Targeting a U.S.A. Team Medal at the 2014 WEG: Broxton Bridge Selection Trials

April 30 2014
by Merri Melde

It seemed so straightforward: a CEI2* 120-km 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Endurance Team Selection Trial at Broxton Bridge Planation in Ehrhardt, South Carolina, April 18-19, for U.S. riders and horses vying for a spot on the team for the August championship in Normandy, France.

Endurance rides have been held over grounds of the historic Broxton Bridge Plantation (built in the late 1700's) the past several years, and it made sense to hold a 120-km event here over the somewhat flat and fast course. The horses' fitness would be determined by the trial; there would be detailed veterinary inspections pre- and post-ride; riders would hone their skills with their GPS units to judge pace; team play, crewing, trotting the horses in the vet lanes, and other things would be discussed; all "to accomplish our mission, which is to win a team medal at the 2014 World Equestrian Games," said U.S. Chef d'Equipe Emmett Ross.

That was until Mother Nature had a few things to say on Friday the 17th, the day before the ride. "We were significantly disrupted by bad weather," Ross put it mildly. "When I got there on the 15th, the trails were in bad shape anyway because of the weather they'd had there all winter, followed by a big freeze. The owner of the property was very cooperative, putting some bulldozers on the trail to remove all the fallen trees. There was still some work that needed to be done, so I immediately decided to create one loop and run it several times to make up the 120 kilometers."

The one-loop plan seemed a good fallback solution and all was set for the start of the trial Saturday morning - until it started raining Friday afternoon, and it didn't stop for 12 hours.

The pre-ride vetting had been squeezed in Friday morning - right before the rain began, but as the day continued wet and dismal, (some 4 inches fell in the 12 hours), Friday night Ross called his 17 riders (14 rider applicants, with 3 proxy riders) for a meeting. Since the idea of the qualifying trial was not just to race 120 kilometers to determine the fastest horses and riders - particularly over a sloppy course, thereby risking losing a few to serious lameness - Ross suggested they reduce the trial distance further, and postpone the official event until Sunday morning (hoping the rain would indeed stop); and Ross would come up with another alternative trail. The riders were all in good spirits despite the pressure they all felt; and after comments and questions, they all agreed at 10 PM that night to wait till Sunday to ride.

By 3:00 Saturday afternoon, Ross was able to squeeze out a safe trail of about 15 miles which the riders would do 3 times. Besides assessing performances in the trial ride itself, significant pre-ride inspections were done on Thursday, and post-ride evaluations would take place early Monday morning, for an over-all picture of the contestants. (Additionally, Ross had all 17 horses take a formal drug panel test after the post-ride evaluation on Monday. "This was done in part to demonstrate to the FEI and other countries we run clean - always have and always will," Ross declared.)

"Everybody made significant changes to their schedules," Ross said, "and they hung around, and we ended up having a very good event."

What was supposed to be the Saturday night post-ride southern dinner became the pre-ride dinner for close to a hundred people - staff, riders, crews, and helpers. Everybody dressed up for a real unique southern meal; and finishing awards - crystal vases - were given out. "I think that's the first time anybody's had a finishing award before they even finished the ride!" Ross said. "People were in good spirits; it was just fantastic."

The trial began at 9 AM on Sunday. The weather turned out to be clear and cool - mid-50's to mid-60's during the day - and beautiful, with the trails drying out. "It was pretty much a canter all day." Ross divided the riders into two groups, and gave each group a speed range to achieve. "When we go overseas, we're always racing in big groups of people, which we don't do here in the States. So on each of the three loops, I gave them a speed range so they could learn how to use their GPS units better. The second loop I gave them a higher speed range, and the third loop was even higher than the prior two." The course wasn't a "technical" course, though riders did have to watch their footing on some boggy areas, while still maintaining the rhythm and speed Ross set for them. "'Technical' wasn't the goal. I know we can ride technical."

It turned out to be a highly successful trial despite the weather; and while the horses and riders can now rest a while, the selection process continues for Ross and the Team Selectors (Susan Kasemeyer of Tennessee, Linda Howard of Utah, and Carol Giles of Oregon), and the Veterinarians (Dr Ann Stuart of North Carolina, Dr Ken Marcella of Georgia, Dr Catherine Kohn of Ohio, and Team Vet Dr Dwight Hooton of Colorado). They will look at their notes, analyze performances, and review interviews with each rider, and will then rank the riders. By June 24th, the Nominated List of the top 10 horse/rider combinations must be submitted to the Organizing Committee in France, which cannot be changed. The Endurance Championship at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will take place on August 28. Ross will continue to work with the 10 combinations, then ultimately take the top 5 to France on August 12 or 13.

"Prior to the [trial] event," Ross recounts, "we had 1 or 2 people that were unable to continue due to some mild veterinary issues, so that took them out of contention, and that kind of disappointed me; but we're going to have a strong group to pick from. Everybody who will go [to France] will have earned a position on the team. And they will all meet the criteria that I think is necessary to bring back a medal." The USA team finished 4th in the World Endurance Championship in 2012 in England, just missing the bronze medal. "This year we're going to take an even stronger team, and I'm really confident - not hopeful, but confident - that we'll be able to regain some of our past notoriety in endurance company."

Ross has been involved in endurance one way or another (beginning with Ride & Tie competitions) since 1982, and he has been U.S. Chef d'Equipe since 2011; and yet he still learned something from the Broxton Bridge Trials. "It isn't just about a horse and a rider being able to do something. I'm certain of this: it's the character, and the way they get along under pressure. [At Broxton Bridge] we were able to look at those things as well, and I was quite pleased, actually. You bring together a lot of highly competitive people, they're all trying to make a team, it's not always easy."

It isn't always easy, but with the depth of talent aiming for the 2014 World Equestrian Games Endurance Championship, the U.S.A. is poised to accomplish their goal of standing on the podium in France in August with a team medal for the first time since 1998.

Photos by Becky Pearman Photography