The USEA is very sad to share the news that Patrick “Packy” McGaughan passed away in his sleep at the age of 56. Packy was a successful eventer, coach, trainer, and USEA member. He began his career as a young rider in the late 1970s and went on to compete at the North American Young Rider Championships. Packy was rider in residence at the U.S. Equestrian Team from 1981 to 1982 with Jack LeGoff. In 1987 Packy helped the U.S. earn a team gold medal at the Pan American Games in Indianapolis, Indiana and also finished in third individually. That same year he graduated from Duke University in North Carolina. In 1991 Packy graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law.
A popular instructor in Area II, Packy operated Banbury Cross Farm in Clarksburg, Maryland. The farm was developed into a premier training, breeding and boarding facility, specializing in eventing, dressage, hunters, and equitation. Packy produced numerous horses and riders to the highest level of the sport. He was a top instructor in Area II for both juniors, amateurs, and professionals alike and could often be found at events up and down the East Coast coaching riders of all ages and levels.
In response to quarantine and decreased travel recommendations in the State of Maryland at this time, the family of Packy McGaughan has made the difficult decision to postpone his funeral service until a later date. Details will be shared when new arrangements are made.
The USEA sends its condolences to Packy’s family, friends, students, and connections. He will be deeply missed.
Tomorrow, the first of five regional clinics for the USEA Emerging Athletes U21 (EA21) Program kicks off in the central region of the country in Benton, Louisiana, at Holly Hill Farm. Throughout the summer, the remaining clinics on the East and West Coast will follow. At each clinic, 12 hand-selected riders will participate in a two-day clinic led by USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) coaches. The purpose of the EA21 program is to create a pipeline for potential team riders by identifying and developing young talent, improving horsemanship and riding skills, and training and improving skills and consistency. The intention is to provide young athletes with access to an added level of horsemanship and riding skills to further their training and skill development with greater consistency.
After the first day of competition, Canadian Olympian Colleen Loach and her horse FE Golden Eye lead an international field in the CCI4*-L division of the MARS Bromont CCI.
Stone Gate Farm Horse Trials, located in Hanoverton, Ohio, announced they would cancel their fall horse trials, which were scheduled for Sept. 23-24.
Morgan Rowsell had just wrapped up organizing a successful Essex H.T. in Far Hills, New Jersey, on June 4, but as he turned his attention to his next show two weeks later, he was faced with challenges presented by the effects that wildfires from Canada are now having on equestrian sports in the Northeast. “The very next day, the smoke came in,” he said. “It looks like a warm, humid, hazy day, but it’s not humid, it’s not warm, it’s actually quite cool. There’s no air. There’s very little breeze. There’s a northeast wind coming out of Canada that is bringing all the Novia Scotia and Quebec smoke to us, and it smells like smoke.”