With just three days to go before the opening ceremony of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, the host nation has confirmed its team members for the dressage, driving and endurance competitions.
Dressage
The kingpin of the United States dressage team will be Olympian Steffen Peters with Ravel. This FEI Rolex World Cup winning partnership are on fabulous form and look set to be in the individual medal shake-up. Steffen was born in Germany but moved to America in 1985 and became a citizen in 1992. Four years later he helped the US to win a bronze team medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Tina Konyot will be competing in her first WEG with the Danish warmblood Calecto V. This pair have had some good results this year including grand prix wins at West Palm Beech and Loxahatchee with over 70%. More recently they scored 73.64% in the freestyle at Aachen. Tina was previously shortlisted for the Athens Olympics.
Former young rider champion Todd Flettrich will ride Otto. This partnership have had some promising results this season including 73% at Wellington in the freestyle to music and 68.72% in the grand prix. They will provide America with a valuable score in the team competition.
Katherine Bateson-Chandler and 15-year-old Nartan complete the team. This duo have been producing consistent results this season, frequently scoring in excess of 65% in grand prixs and over 70% in freestyle classes.
The dressage reserves are:
- Catherine Haddad and Winyamaro
- Pierre St Jacques and Lucky Tiger
- Sue Blinks and Robin Hood
- Jan Ebeling and Rafalca
Driving
America will be well represented in the driving competition with a strong team of three, plus up to seven individual competitors. The team will comprise Jim Fairclough, Tucker Johnson and Chester Webber. Josh Rector has been named as the team reserve and will compete as an individual if he is not required for the team. The remaining individual drivers are:
- Bill Long
- Mike McLennan
- Cindy O’Reilly
- David Saunders
- Gary Stover
- Casey Zubek
Endurance
The United States endurance team are:
- Ellen Rapp and Berjo Smokey
- Heather Reynolds and Ssamiam
- Margaret Sleeper and Syrocco Harmony
- Janice Worthington and Golden Lightening
Lindsay Graham and Monk will compete as an individual and Deborah Reich and DJB Juniper are reserves.
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