Pony wins Pan American Games

A 14.1hh pony won double gold medals in the eventing at the Pan American Games in Rio, Brazil, last weekend.

Karen O’Connor and Theodore O’Connor were third after dressage, but moved up to the top spot after adding just 1.6 time-penalties on the cross-country. They held their position with just one show jump down.

Eleven-year-old “Teddy”, who has Thoroughbred, Arab and Shetland blood, sprang into the limelight when he finished third at the Rolex Kentucky earlier this year, a result which earned him fans on both sides of the Atlantic.

Karen led a whitewash for the Americans, who claimed the first four places individually as well as the team gold medal. Phillip Dutton took the individual silver aboard Truluck, with Gina Myles winning individual bronze on the 17.3hh McKinlaigh.

American individual Darren Chiacchia was fourth on Better I Do It. The fourth American team member was Stephen Bradley, with From, but he finished 13th having had a stop across country after lying second after dressage.

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Pippa Roome

H&H magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.