United States Eventing Association

U.S. Contingent Passes First Horse Inspection at Military Boekelo CCIO4*-L

The three team horses and one reserve horse representing the United States in the FEI Eventing Nations Cup at the Military Boekelo CCIO4*-L passed the first horse inspection today in front of the ground jury of Jane Tolley (GBR), Stuart Bishell (NZL), and Dr. Katrin Eichinger-Kniely (AUT). A total of 98 horses will move forward to compete in the dressage phase of competition, which is held over the next two days beginning tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.

• Jennie Brannigan and Stella Artois are first in the ring for the U.S. at 10:47 a.m. local time on Thursday.
• Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver go right before the lunch break on Thursday at 12:26 p.m.
• Tamra Smith and Mai Baum wrap up the day on Thursday for the U.S. at 3:02 p.m.
• Reserve pair Matt Flynn and Wizzerd are the sole U.S. combination to compete on Friday, riding at 10:54 a.m.

This FEI Eventing Nations Cup is an Olympic trial event, meaning that it is to be conducted based on the new Olympic format that will go into effect at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. In this new format, teams are made up of three horse/rider combinations instead of four, with a fourth reserve rider who may be substituted in during any of the three phases of competition.

However, at the FEI Eventing Nations Cup at Boekelo, there will be one difference: the reserve team rider will also be allowed to compete in the entirety of the competition for MER and qualification purposes. In the new Olympic format, the reserve team rider only competes if they are substituted in. If the reserve team rider does need to be substituted, they will do so based on the Olympic competition rules. The rules for substitutions are as follows:

• The reserve combination is allowed to be substituted for medical/veterinarian reasons in any of the three tests with a penalty for the team of 20 points except for substitution made before the deadline of two hours the start of the dressage test.
• Any substitution must be made up to two hours before the start of each test.
• A maximum one substitution per team can be made after the start of the competition.
• Any type of elimination for dangerous riding, abuse of horse, or disqualification of a combination will not allow substitution.

If the original team rider is eliminated for any reason other than lameness, a horse fall, dangerous riding, abuse of horse, or disqualification, the original team rider will still continue forward with the competition carrying additional penalties: 100 for not completing dressage, 200 for not completing cross-country, and 100 for not completing show jumping.

More details about the rules governing this FEI Eventing Nations Cup can be found here.

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