This is probably why a bunch of pretty talented Irish riders are coming over here as “grooms” for American pros. They’ll never make a team in Ireland with the depth over there. Might as well come here and see if you can maybe make it and become eligible to compete as an American.
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Several of the people on the Irish list of alternates spend most or all of their time in North America, other than maybe the occasional European tour. But they still seem to be maintaining their Irish citizenship anyway.
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I’m not talking about that… I’m talking about established Irish riders who have American riders filing paperwork claiming the Irish riders are coming over to be “grooms” here, when it’s pretty clear: (1) those Irish riders are way to accomplished to be grooms; (2) they’re really coming here to set up their own business and maybe put roots down deeply enough to ride for us instead (or at least to primarily run their businesses here).
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I understand that.
But a lot of the Irish riders who spend pretty much all their time here have elected to maintain their Irish citizenship, which makes me think there must be a reason.
I think they come to America for business opportunities not because they went to make the American team
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I was SUPER impressed watching the Irish riders in the classes at Devon this year. Loved watching Darragh Kenny specifically with his stallion Chic Chic.
Team selection has a subjective side (like it or not)and decisions are not just based on talent, perhaps they feel better connected with the Irish team organization plus want to remain Irish citizens?
Far as business opportunity, they can earn more here then in most, if not all, other countries.
Anyone watching the Nations Cup from Rotterdam today? It looks like the US team finished 10th in the first round so didn’t advance to the second round. Results show Callie and Jess both clear and Laura and McLain with 4. They had the slowest combined time of the teams with 4 faults.
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Darn. Well, it doesn’t matter until it does matter but McLain sure seems to be consistently collecting a rail lately. Normally he’s like a machine for clear rounds.
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I completely agree. My friends and I agreed watching him several nights in a row at Devon that something is/was 100% off. In the article “McLain Speaks” posted in another thread he states he had a fall and broke his collar bone earlier this year, maybe that’s it?
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So to put the cat among the pigeons. How about a team of Calle, Jess and Karl, with Laura or Kent as alternate? Fun to imagine but a little too out there for Ridland I think.
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Looks like McLain did win the speed class earlier in the day with First Lady.
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Makes me feel a little bit better.
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He also won the 1.50 at a show in France a week or two ago. I think that was on Callas.
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I think Kent and Laura are still pretty solid guesses as being on the team. They both have been consistent and reliable the past year, with some big wins in between.
I do feel like maybe that third spot might be more of a toss up between Karl and McLain than I would have guessed. Karl just seems to really be peaking with his mare at the right time, where as McLain hasn’t been so much with his top two mounts. And with Contagious withdrawn from consideration, it seems more like he might just need a little more time for some of his partnerships to be Olympic ready. But also…it’s McLain. His experience and riding can fill gaps in a mount or partnership (to a certain extent).
We’ll find out soon either way!
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I would rather see him at the Olympics on a donkey than a lot of other people on a top horse.
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I think Callas is the most consistent of McLain’s horses these days. Ilex is inconsistent, but when he steps up, he really steps up! I will say, Contagious’s record is similar to Callas and Ilex. I think McLain will be on the main team for MHM’s reasoning, probably with Callas and Ilex as direct reserve.
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It’s easy to download the Jumpr app and look at a rider’s stats for free. I have nothing to do with the app so this isn’t advertising. It is a fun app and has real data.
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Grand Prix of Rotterdam results:
Laura and Baloutinue 4th, McLain and Callas 10th. Both clear first round - Laura clear in J/O, McLain with 4. Callie with 4 in the first round and Jess with 8.
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Contagious and McLain have an 8 year partnership, with a past Olympics under their belt together. McLain got the ride on Callas about two years ago, and her first 5* win was February 2023. A great pair absolutely but I don’t think quite comparable in terms of partnership experience with Contagious.
I think Karl has done a great job of making it harder and harder to justify leaving him off the team (and his PR team seems to be working to that end too), but also it’s incredibly hard to justify leaving McLain, Laura, or Kent off. It’s a great problem for the US to have and I’ll be interested to see what happens.
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