US Equestrian Team Wins Big at Pan American Games

Kudos to the US Equestrian Teams "Gold haul" at the Pan American Games this week in Mexico at the Guadalajara Country Club.  The US topped 12 competing teams.  Brazil won the show jumping silver with Mexico claiming the bronze and Canada coming in fourth. This win assures the US Team a spot in the 2012 Olympic Games (The Team was not qualified to compete without a good showing here).  Mexico and Chile also earned a chance to travel to London next year.

The US Show Jumping Team includes (L-R) Kent Farrington, Beezie Madden, McLain Ward, Christine McCrea and Mario Deslauriers (who rides as an alternate, in case a team member's horse has to pull out at the last minute). 





Amazingly, all four competing team members jumped double clear to clinch the Gold with only 2.90 penalties.  It was the first time since 1975 that all three US teams have won Gold at a Pan American Games (winning also in Dressage and Three-Day Eventing).

(AP Photo)

The US Dressage Team also had a good week:



Take a peek at these gorgeous athletic horses:

McLain Ward wasn't able to bring Sapphire this time out but his mount, Antares F, quickly proved that he is worthy of international gold, like his stablemate. 



Kent Farrington, less experienced on the international scene than his teammate Ward, let no one down and rode impeccably on Uceko, an 11-year-old Dutch gelding. I am sure we'll be seeing much more of this pair in the years to come, very likely in London next summer.



Beezie Madden added another clear round at the top of the international show jumping world with the mare Coral Reef Via Volo.  The 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood once again topped some of the best in the world.  Madden was also a member of the 2003 Pan American Games Gold medal-winning team.



Christine McCrea won her first international Gold medal on her 11-year-old KWPN gelding, Romantovich Take One. 

Kudos to all three teams for bringing home the Gold this week!