Eighty-nine riders from 21 nations will compete at the FEI World Championships for eventing in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, after one horse was withdrawn at the first horse inspection.
Three horses were held by the vets and the ground jury - Christina Klingspor (SWE), Peter Gray (CAN) and Christian Steiner (AUT) - Joystick, ridden by Aminda Ingulfson for Sweden, Cecelia, the 19-year-old mare ridden for Mexico by Daniela Moguel, and Brazil’s Ballypatrick SRS (Ruy Fonseca). Both Joystick and Ballypatrick SRA were passed on reinspection, but Cecelia was withdrawn from the holding box and will not take part in the competition.
All five American horses breezed through the trot-up, which took place in a small area between the main dressage arena and the practice arenas. The three female US riders - Ariel Grald, Tamra Smith and Lauren Nicholson wore belted pink tweed skirts, knee-length boots, dark blue poloneck tops and Panama hats, while the men - Boyd Martin and Will Coleman - wore cream chinos and US team jackets.
The British squad wore black armbands to mark the recent passing of Her Majesty the Queen, as did the Australian team.
Will Coleman and Off The Record will be the first US partnership to go at the FEI World Championships They will be 11th into the dressage arena tomorrow (Thursday, 15 September) at 11:05 a.m. Italian time.
Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculous will follow them as number 33, and will perform their test at 15:35 p.m. Italian time.
The individual rider for Team USA, Ariel Grald (Leamore Master Plan) will be second to go on Friday morning as number 47 at 9:38 a.m. Italian time.
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum, number 61, are scheduled to do their dressage test at 12:00 p.m. Italian time on Friday.
Boyd Martin (Tsetserleg TSF, number 86) are the final pairing to represent the USA at 4:38 p.m. Italian time on Friday. They are part of the last rotation of riders, which also includes world number one and Tokyo team gold medallist Oliver Townend from Great Britain, Australian individual bronze medallists from the Tokyo Olympics Andrew Hoy and Vassily De Lassos, Pau CCI5* winners for New Zealand Tim Price and Falco, and the Japanese combination who were fourth at Tokyo, Kazuma Tomoto and Vinci De La Vigne.
Badminton CCI5* winners Laura Collett and London 52 are drawn third for the British team at 15:51 p.m. Italian time on Thursday. Britain’s individual competitor is team rookie Yasmin Ingham, who will ride her 2022 Kentucky CCI5* runner-up Banzai Du Loir at 12:00 p.m. Italian time on Thursday.
Helpful Links
Follow the USEA event coverage on social media!
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.
Last month, readers met VIP Volunteer Rebecca Proetto, who volunteered at the MARS Maryland 5 Star horse inspection. This month, the focus turns to husband and wife Ed and Leanne Barnett who introduced Proetto to the art of running an efficient horse inspection at Maryland. Ed and Leanne undertake a 12-hour drive from their home in Indiana to Maryland just to volunteer at the event.
The USEA is saddened to share the passing of Sara Kozumplik’s five-star partner As You Like It at the age of 34. The gelding died in his sleep at his retirement home at Kozumplik's parents' residence.
The 2024 USEA Emerging Athletes U21 (EA21) National Camp is just a little over a month away and all over the country, young riders are preparing for their trip to Ocala, Florida, to participate in this year's prestigious week-long academy led by U.S. eventing legend David O'Connor. This year's camp takes place Dec. 31, 2024, through Jan. 4, 2025, and will feature classroom sessions, guest lecturers, and in the saddle work as a group to help strengthen the foundation of each rider selected to participate.