Just got a text from a friend in Guadalajara…
GOLD !!!
For Jessica and PAVAROTTI or the American team?
For the American team - they are jumped double-clean today.
The individual show jump round isn’t until later today, my understanding is that Jessie is still in the lead.
Thanks
YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!
If you don’t already know this, John is at the Games and has been keeping the world informed-one of the few to have found “reliable” connection to the rest of us…eventingnation.com
Also a “chat” here with pretty up to date information
http://horsejunkiesunited.com/2011/10/pan-am-games-live-ish-chat-from-north-of-the-border/
I have to refresh the page to keep it working…but they have some great comments going!
ETA: And another live blog here
congrats to Jessica Phoenix for the individual gold
Exactly how is this an achievement? isn’t it like the Dallas Cowboys whooping up on some high school football teams?
Yikes and harsh! 
Many congrats to our team and our neighbors to the north!
For the 5 USA team members to finish on their dressage score is very cool. To finish well in an international competition with a lot of pressure and spectators is very good. There are nice horses and good riders there. Yes this is an achievement to be proud of.
[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;5912246]
Exactly how is this an achievement? isn’t it like the Dallas Cowboys whooping up on some high school football teams?[/QUOTE]
Yes. And it’s not even a 4* event. 2* I think.
More like the Dallas Cowboys beating a PAL league team at touch football.
Not everyone took their best horses - this is not comparable to next year’s Games.
Sort of an experience getting outing for some…in case #1 horse goes unsound.
[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;5912246]
Exactly how is this an achievement? isn’t it like the Dallas Cowboys whooping up on some high school football teams?[/QUOTE]
I bet for those who worked so hard to get there it was an achievement.
I bet if you were the one with the medal around your neck you would be very proud.
Also,
1-The Canadians were there too. So not just like the Cowboys beating a bunch of HS football teams. There was another NFL team there as well.
2-The US and Canadian riders were not on Advanced horses. They were riding their Intermediate horses. 3 of the 5 were making their US debuts. Shannon Lilley was an alternate to even being in the selection trials, won and ended up having quite a successful experience. Bodes well for the US going forward.
3-It’s still a 2* with 2* horses. Look at any 2* in the US and not all good riders have success. For the US to finish 5 in the team competition on their dressage scores was pretty impressive even if they were competing against the course.
4-For Jessica Phoenix to win gold, she had to beat all of the US and Canadian riders.
Finally-I would love to know which of the riders from the lesser known eventing countries (not necessarily including the ones who regularly ride here in the US) were particularly impressive. I know a couple got around x-c clear, was it luck or did they look good doing it?
kinda harsh don’tcha think guys?
Seriously-it’s an accomplishment to event at the CCI*,**, ***, **** level. Any dang one of them. Add being out of the country? FInishing with sound horses, on your dressage score? Damn fine, I say.
Maybe it’s an easy walk in the park for you and your horses to run around a CCI** and finish on your dressage score and if so, I bow to you. Me? Eh, I tended to choke at the CCI* and the idea of ** really made me nervous.
Wow, I think of eventers being a supportive, kind-hearted bunch of people, who care about safety first- snarky never seemed to be a descriptive word I’d associate!
[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;5912281]
For the 5 USA team members to finish on their dressage score is very cool. To finish well in an international competition with a lot of pressure and spectators is very good. There are nice horses and good riders there. Yes this is an achievement to be proud of.[/QUOTE]
Exactly! When the people poo-pooing this achievement show me THIER comparable scores at an international event, (even at the ** level), I will be more inclined to accept their criticism.(plus, as someone up thread mentioned, the Canadians are not bush league by any means.) Come on, people, I thought eventers were supposed to be supportive? It seems lately when I come on COTH, there is a larger than used to be percentage of whiners/nitpickers/snarkiness. I never thought the Pan Ams were the equivalent of the Olympics, but it is a good way to get some of our less experienced riders an education at an international venue. They did great! Congrats to them!!
Many congrats to the team! And yay for Shannon on her first team/international experience!
As for Drvmbggle and S A McKee, judging from previous postings, I’m pretty sure neither of them are eventers. So I wouldn’t attribute their nasty attitude to eventers. S A McKee is an equal opportunity offender, they condescend on the hunter/jumper and breeding boards as well.
Thank you!
As for Jessica on Phoenix. That was an exercise in sheer mental control with the pressure of FIVE Americans on their dressage scores staring her down. I doubt she slept much the last night! Congratulations.
Individual; http://info.guadalajara2011.org.mx/ENG/EQ/EQR178A_EQX003003@@@@@@@@ENG.htm
Team; http://info.guadalajara2011.org.mx/ENG/EQ/EQR173A_EQX40340320000001ENG.htm
You do not need to be an eventer to see the lopsidedness of the results.
The same was evident in the dressage competition. Brazil may make it more competitive/interesting in the jumping.
