Oct 24, 2023

Meet The Pan Am Eventing Team

By Lindsay Berreth - USEA Staff

The Pan American Games kick off this week in Santiago, Chile, and the U.S. Eventing Team has sent four strong horse and rider combinations plus a traveling reserve. We caught up with all four team riders to learn more about them.

Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire.


Sydney Elliott
Age: 38
Hometown: Bossier City, Louisiana

QC Diamantaire
Barn Name: Q
Age: 13
Breed: Oldenburg gelding (Diarado x Latana)
Owner: Carol Stephens
Personality: “We have such history together,” said Elliott. “We’ve been together since he was 5. We’re like an old married couple. I know his bad habits, he knows mine, and all the good qualities and everything in between.

“He is an amateur’s dream, family horse through and through,” Elliott added. “Everyone can ride him. But having said that, he is 99 percent perfect, except when he decides he doesn’t want a towel to the face, and nothing will go in his mouth with a syringe. He is interesting. Yesterday we couldn’t get near him with a hoof pick. Couldn’t pick his feet out. But yet, a kid could hang all over him. He’s odd and quirky, but safe. He tells on people. If they’ve mishandled him in any way or looked at him wrong, he lets me know!”
Groom: Elizabeth Crowder
Favorite Treat: Carrots and apples

Liz Halliday and Miks Master C.

Liz Halliday
Age: 44
Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky

Miks Master C
Barn Name: Mikki
Age: 11
Breed: U.S.-bred Swedish Warmblood gelding (Mighty Magic x Qui Luma CBF)
Owner: Ocala Horse Properties and Deborah Palmer
Personality: “Mikki is a lovely, kind horse. He’s very generous, he’s very kind, he’s very cuddly and sweet. He’s desperate to do the right thing all the time, which means he nearly offers too much sometimes. He’s so keen to get on with the job and wants to do the best all the time, you sort of have to bring him down a notch, especially on the flat,” said Halliday.

“He can be a handful to bring in from the field,” she added. “He lives out at night, which he loves. He can be a lot to bring, and he is a lot at a show for the same reason, especially when we have him and Deniro Z together. That can be an exciting handful. I can’t have someone lead him to cross-country to get on him.”
Groom: Mia Braundel
Favorite Treat: “He likes all the treats. He has no treats he doesn’t like!” said Halliday.

Sharon White and Claus 63.

Sharon White
Age: 49
Hometown: Summit Point, West Virginia

Claus 63
Barn Name: Claus
Age: 11
Breed: Holsteiner gelding (Catoo x Tina II)
Owner: Sharon White
Personality: “He’s a very emotional horse,” said White. “Trying to get him to focus is always my big goal. He manipulates me really easily! All he has to do is look at me. He loves his treats. I can stop him dead in his tracks with a little sugar and a crinkle, crinkle if he gets emotional. It will immediately get his attention. He’s quite an athlete and quite a performer, and a pain in the ass sometimes!”
Groom: Lea Adams-Blackmore
Favorite Treat:
Sugar

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake.

Caroline Pamukcu
Age: 28
Hometown: Riegelsville, Pennsylvania

HSH Blake
Barn Name: Blake
Age: 8
Breed: Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tolan R x Doughiska Lass)
Owner: Mollie Hoff, Sherrie Martin, Caroline and Deniz Pamukcu
Personality: “We nickname him Princess. He loves being the center of attention,” said Pamukcu. “He needs attention 24/7. If he could live in my living room, he would appreciate it. We jokingly say he’s a house cat. When he was a young horse, I always pull their shoes for a holiday, and every day he would jump out of the field and be in my front lawn sleeping right next to the enclosed pool. Then we’d keep him in a stall, and he’s jump out of his stall to go to the front lawn.”
Groom: Lee Maher
Favorite Treat: Carrots and apples

Feb 12, 2025 Eventing News

Horse Illustrated Joins as “Media Partner of the USEA”

The USEA is thrilled to announce Horse Illustrated has joined the USEA as a media partner, as well as a contributing level sponsor of the 2025 USEA Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Eventing Championships, USEA Emerging Athletes U21 program, and the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program.

Feb 12, 2025 Profile

Producing Young Horses Has Jordán Linstedt-Granquist Excited for the Future

When Jordán Linstedt-Granquist entered the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event for the third time with RevitaVet Capato in 2017, she had no clue what the future had in store for her.

Feb 11, 2025 Intercollegiate

Get Ready for the 2025 USEA Intercollegiate Team Challenge Season!

Rally your teammates! The spring semester is here and the 2025 USEA Intercollegiate Team Challenge season has officially begun. As riders prepare for the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship on May 2-4 at Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina, many will be heading to their local Horse Trials to sharpen their skills and build team spirit ahead of this epic event.

Feb 11, 2025 USEA Foundation

USEA Foundation Now Accepting Applications for 2025 Organizer's Relief and Competition Assistance Fund and Frangible Technology Fund

The USEA Foundation is pleased to announce the new Organizer's Relief and Competition Assistance (ORCA) Fund and has updated the Frangible Technology Fund for 2025. Please read below for more information on each opportunity.

Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA

Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA

Official Feed of the USEA

Official Saddle of the USEA

Official Equine Insurance of the USEA

Official Forage of the USEA

Official Supplement Feeding System of the USEA

Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA

Official Horse Boot of the USEA

Official Shockwave of the USEA

Official Horse Wear of the USEA