There were a few last-minute dramas at the first horse inspection for the Tokyo Olympics which took place in the main equestrian park at Baji Koen Equestrian Centre at 9:30 a.m. JST today.
While all three U.S. team members - Boyd Martin (Tsetersleg), Philip Dutton (Z) and Doug Payne (Vandiver) - and alternate rider Tamie Smith (Mai Baum) were accepted without hesitation, Polish team rider Pawel Spisak’s horse, Banderas, was not accepted and will therefore not take part in the competition.
Banderas, a 14-year-old gelding, failed the second horse inspection at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and did the same at the 2017 European Championships in Strzegom. However, he and his experienced rider, for whom this would have been a fourth Olympics, won twice at CCI4* level in 2019.
Puerto Rico’s individual contender Lauren Billys’s Castle Larchfield Purdy was sent to the holding box and asked to trot again, but passed on reinspection.
Jessica Phoenix withdrew 19-year-old Pavarotti, a veteran of the past two World Equestrian Games, meaning that Canada will be represented only by Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue D’Argouges in Tokyo.
The USA is drawn third of the 15 teams, one behind Great Britain. Thailand is the first team to go, while the Germans are second-last, with only Brazil behind them. The home nation, Japan, is sixth to go.
The full team draw is as follows:
The first session of dressage commences on Friday, July 30 – 8:30 a.m. JST (Thursday, July 29 – 7:30 p.m. ET), with a second session on Friday, July 30 – 5:30 p.m. JST (Friday, July 30 – 4:30 a.m. ET), and a third on Saturday, July 31 – 8:30 a.m JST (Friday, July 30 – 7:30 p.m. ET)The ground jury comprises president Nick Burton (GBR), Christina Klingspor (SWE) and Jane Hamlin (USA), and they will be judging the new, short Olympic test, specially written for this competition, which takes just 3minutes and 50 seconds to complete.
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The USEA Classic Series is going strong thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm of event organizers who are committed to the thrill of long-format eventing. Dr. Christel Carlson, M.D. is one of the biggest champions of the program. A former competitor, she continues to contribute countless hours to the USEA as an organizer, judge (R), volunteer, and member of multiple committees. She is the owner of Spokane Sport Horse Farm in Spokane, Washington, which hosts two USEA recognized events each year. The facility’s fall event, which closes out the season in Area VII, includes Classic Three-Day divisions at the Beginner Novice, Novice and Training levels.
It was a weekend to remember for eventers from 13 colleges as they convened at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina, from May 26-28 for the 2023 USEA Intercollegiate Championship. The 23 teams gave their all and had tons of fun!
The 2023 Woodside Spring H.T. served as a celebration of the successes of the West Coast eventers that competed in the Kentucky Three-Day Event, as well as what’s in store for the future of the sport in California. On the eve of competition on Thursday, organizers at the Woodside Horse Trials held a party in honor of both Tamie Smith’s historic win in the Kentucky five-star and the team of cross country builders led by Bert Wood that unveiled new courses at The Horse Park. Derek di Grazia designed the new Advanced and Intermediate tracks, with Wood designing the new tracks for Preliminary through Starter.
The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is pleased to offer the USEA Adult Team Championships (ATC) at the upcoming USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC), presented by Nutrena Feeds. The Adult Team Championships will be offered once again at the Beginner Novice, Novice, Training, and Preliminary levels for members of the USEA Adult Rider Program, and newly added this year, the Modified level will be included in the ATC as well.