(THE PLAINS, VA) ‑ July 28, 2014 ‑ A successful weekend at the Preparation Event for the Squad and Alternates for Squad for the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games wrapped up Sunday morning with 11 U.S. combinations completing David O'Connor's cross country. Crowds of 3,500 people came from throughout the United States to watch many of the best combinations in North America compete at the renovated Great Meadow on a beautiful Virginia weekend.
On Saturday, all combinations performed their dressage tests in front of Sandy Phillips and returned in the evening to jump Richard Jeffery's show jumping track. As a testament to the strength of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team all combinations finished Saturday's course without jumping faults.
The weekend was used to for horses and riders to prepare for next month's World Championships in Normandy, France.
"This was about how you prepare the horses in the best possible way," said U.S. Eventing Team Coach O'Connor. "The point is that they are building for France."
The following Squad members and Alternates for Squad for the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games finished in ranked order below;
Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and Bruce Duchossois' Mighty Nice‑ 48.2
Buck Davidson (Ocala, Fla.) and Carl and Cassandra Segal's BallyNoe Castle RM‑ 48.4
Hannah Sue Burnett (The Plains, Va.) and Jacqueline Mars' Harbour Pilot‑ 53.0
Marilyn Little (Frederick, MD) and Team Demeter's RF Demeter‑ 53.5
Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) will ride the Shamwari 4 Syndicate LLC's Shamwari 4‑ 53.6
Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and the Trading Aces LLC's Trading Aces‑ 55.6
Sinead Halpin (Oldwick, NJ) and Manoir De Carneville Syndicate's Manoir de Carneville‑ 59.2
Lynn Symansky (Middleburg, Va.) and her own Donner‑ 59.9
Kim Severson (Charlottesville, Va.) and her own Fernhill Fearless‑ 61.4
Meghan O'Donoghue (Carbondale, IL) and her own Pirate‑ 88.4
Buck Davidson (Ocala, Fla.) and Carl and
Cassandra Segal's Park Trader‑ 107.3
"It was a great chance to have a good gallop; it couldn't have
gone any better," said Dutton who was the winner of the Prep Event
with Mighty Nice on a score of 48.2.
Lauren Kieffer withdrew Team Rebecca, LLC's Veronica from the Preparation Event because of veterinary concerns but remains an alternates to the Squad for the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in the selection process.
To learn more about the Great Meadow Preparation Event visit; http://www.greatmeadow.org/events/weg‑preparator‑trials/
Follow the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team here.