US Olympic Team and alternates named

[Madison]

No real surprises here, except perhaps that they value Boyd’s experience enough to take both Big Red and Welcome Shadow as a direct replacement over Maya and Cody.

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has named four athlete-and-horse combinations to the U.S. Olympic Eventing Team and one traveling reserve for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Four direct reserve horses have also been named. A direct reserve horse would be an automatic replacement should the original horse on which an athlete was named need to be substituted. Eventing competition at the Olympic Games will take place August 5-9, 2016, at the Deodoro Olympic Equestrian Center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The following athlete-and-horse combinations will compose the Team (in alphabetical order):

Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and Caroline Moran, Simon Roosevelt, and Thomas Tierney’s Fernhill Cubalawn, a 2003 Holsteiner gelding
Direct Reserves
HND Group’s Mighty Nice, a 2004 Irish Sport Horse gelding
Ann Jones and Thomas Tierney’s Fernhill Fugitive, a 2005 Irish Sport Horse gelding

Lauren Kieffer (Middleburg, Va.) and Team Rebecca, LLC’s Veronica, a 2002 KWPN mare
Direct Reserve
Marie Le Menestrel’s Meadowbrook’s Scarlett, a 2007 Thoroughbred cross mare

Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and Blackfoot Mystery Syndicate, LLC’s Blackfoot Mystery, a 2004 Thoroughbred gelding
Direct Reserve
Gloria Callen’s Welcome Shadow, a 2005 Thoroughbred cross mare

Clark Montgomery (Tetbury, England) and Holly and William Becker, Kathryn Kraft, and Jessica Montgomery’s Loughan Glen, a 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding

The following combination has been named as the traveling reserve:
Maya Black (Clinton, Wash.) and Dawn and Jonathan Dofelmier’s Doesn’t Play Fair, a 2005 Holsteiner gelding

Other Reserves (alphabetical):
Matthew Brown (Cochranville, Pa.) and Blossom Creek Foundation’s Super Socks BCF, a 2006 Irish Sport Horse gelding

Sinead Halpin (Oldwick, N.J.) and the Manoir de Carneville Syndicate, LLC’s Manoir de Carneville, a 2000 Selle Francais gelding

Lynn Symansky (Middleburg, Va.) and the Donner Syndicate, LLC’s Donner, a 2003 Thoroughbred gelding

Elisa Wallace (Jasper, Ga.) and the Simply Priceless Syndication, LLC’s Simply Priceless, a 2001 Thoroughbred gelding

[Blugal]

So the team horses all have minimal or no white markings, with the exception of Loughan Glen. Time to start over with my eventing prospect selection :winkgrin:

[FitToBeTied]

I know why they do it but I am not a fan of the direct reserve idea.

I think Boyd is great and our best big event rider but any other eventer who had the same results on those two horses as Boyd would not be on the list.

[HiJumpGrrl]

It’s the right team.

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

It does seem that in including both Phillip and Boyd, the selectors want to include at least two riders with significant international experience.

I had to go look at Welcome Shadow’s record as she was not on my radar as one of Boyd’s top Olympic prospects. Not sure about that decision.

I will be rooting hard for the team, but it’s going to be a herculean task to out-compete the Germans, the Kiwis, and the Brits.

[kcmel]

[QUOTE=FitToBeTied;8712744]
I know why they do it but I am not a fan of the direct reserve idea.

I think Boyd is great and our best big event rider but any other eventer who had the same results on those two horses as Boyd would not be on the list.[/QUOTE]

I agree. But my husband was asking me when the last time he won a 3* was, and I couldn’t find anything in the last 2 years. He does have two recent 2nds though.

I saw on FB that Buck’s Petite Flower had some lameness come up at her vetting, which I suppose is why he is not on the reserve list.

[Larksmom]

experience counts a LOT at these things. As I mentioned on another thread, the stalwarts of our teams in the 70s and 80s were B. Davidson, and M. Plumb. You knew they would finish. Nerves can do terrible things to a person. Not to say these people won’t have nerves, but… And NOT a knock, but suppose Lauren, [or Clark] or any of them really, have a stop, or tense up before Dressage, and don’t put on a sparkling test. They know they will have the weight of all of us boo birds on the back rail hissing.

IMHO, they picked the strongest group. They have the nerve and hopefully the best judgement to complete. I still think the dressage will not be as good, Veronica notwithstanding.
Hopefully, all horses WILL be sound, but heck you never know. Bettina Hoy’s horse went lame Friday being hand grazed! How does that happen?
Maybe next year, Maya will get a grant to go to Badminton. Maybe stay for this new thing, nations cup of the top 20 riders in the world.

I was a bit surprised about Welcome Shadow, but sad at the exclusion of Shammy. The poor sj at Kentucky sealed his fate, and since he has been campaigned lightly, it came back to bite them. An experienced rider with a 3* horse should be fine.
In case you didn’t notice, Buck has had a horrific spring. I didn’t see him on any lists at all.

[FitToBeTied]

@kcmel;8712763

I agree. But my husband was asking me when the last time he won a 3* was, and I couldn’t find anything in the last 2 years. He does have two recent 2nds though.

I may have to retract my comment on Boyd. I looked all the way back to 2010 and he has not had any three star wins. I was impressed on how long he has had some of these horses under development though. He does seem to take his time. But it doesn’t change that he hasn’t won above a two star for six years.

[ctab]

CONGRATS for all who made the team and listed reserve. VERY happy for Elisa!

[WNT]

[QUOTE=FitToBeTied;8712805]
I may have to retract my comment on Boyd. I looked all the way back to 2010 and he has not had any three star wins. I was impressed on how long he has had some of these horses under development though. He does seem to take his time. But it doesn’t change that he hasn’t won above a two star for six years.[/QUOTE]

But, he usually finishes in the top ten. I’m pretty sure any team we field will have to have every. single. star in alignment to really challenge the Germans, Brits, and Kiwis.

[Madison]

[QUOTE=WNT;8712850]
But, he usually finishes in the top ten. I’m pretty sure any team we field will have to have every. single. star in alignment to really challenge the Germans, Brits, and Kiwis.[/QUOTE]

I think that’s really the issue - those teams are so dominant that it is unlikely we would challenge them this year, so they picked a team that they think will finish. Lauren can pull a good dressage score if Veronica’s on, but Clark is probably the only one who can potentially throw down a test that would put them in the hunt for a strong individual finish, and then he’d have to make sure he didn’t have time penalties on XC.

Boyd won the CIC3* at Red Hills on Trading Aces in 2014, but beyond that I think there have mostly been consistent top 5 and top 10 finishes. What makes me sad is that Shamwari was supposed to be the Olympic horse, but obviously post-WEG has not been the same. That’s the horse it would have been nice to see Boyd be able to take

[FitToBeTied]

Here is a question that came to mind. Considering the problems of the zika virus, would you, if you were Maya Black, take the chance with your own health and your horse’s health to go to Rio knowing that you probably won’t even compete?

[Blugal]

[QUOTE=FitToBeTied;8712885]
Here is a question that came to mind. Considering the problems of the zika virus, would you, if you were Maya Black, take the chance with your own health and your horse’s health to go to Rio knowing that you probably won’t even compete?[/QUOTE]

If you ever wanted to be considered for a future team… yes. Otherwise expect to be blacklisted forever. (Might be a convenient time for horse to come up with a severe stone bruise or other minor ailment preventing travel…)

[Equibrit]

@Larksmom;8712786

Bettina Hoy’s horse went lame Friday being hand grazed! How does that happen?

The horse escapes the hand, and gallops flat stick back to the barn

[Maybelle_Cowbelle]

How can you NOT want Boyd on the team?!?!?

He has the best record of any of them.

WEG 2010 and 2014- Top Ten finish

London- WD before SJ (clean xc)

Pan Ams- Top 10

He has the most impressive team finishes of anyone. He’s finished multiple horses in the top 15 at Rolex multiple years. He’s won Fair Hill twice in recent memory and was 2nd behind Jennie and Jan, respectively. Boyd’s CCI record is better than most any other US rider.

[Backstage]

Just because I like numbers…

On 2012, the podium positions/team scores were as follows:

Gold - German - 133.7
Silver - UK - 138.2
Bronze - NZL - 144.40

The US had a 208.6.

Phillip Dutton + Fernhill Cubalawn. 4* results: 2016, 59.40 (7 xc time), 2015, 54.10 (3.2 time on xc). He has run within the time at the CCI3* level. He has never finished under 50pp at the CCI3* or CCI4* level. If the XC is a bit softer and has good conditions, he could be quick enough. With a bit of luck, he could finish high 40s, but low 50s is more likely.

Lauren Kieffer + Veronica. They finished on a 46.7 at Rolex in 2014, and a 52.50 in 2016. They had time penalties (7.2) in 2016, none in 2014. This is a combo that could finish in the low 40s.

Boyd Martin + Blackfoot Mystery. 4* 2016 58.60 (3.6pp time on xc). Dressage was a 52, but previous outings at the 3* level suggest he is capable of more. Just not sure if it can be produced under the OG stress and excitement. He often has a rail or two, so a low to mid 50s score is most likely.

Clark Montgomery + Loughan Glen. Mid-30s dressage is a definite possibility. He has the potential to finish on that score - he won Blenheim on a 33.3 last year, and was 6th at Luhmuhlen on a 37.5 in 2015. Certainly some risk, of course.

If Clark Montgomery and Lauren Kieffer deliver and one of Phillip or Boyd is able to keep the score as close to 50 as possible, you could have something like a 38 + 46 + 53 (Boyd or PD)…137 total. Not good enough for Gold, but could nab Silver or Bronze if things play out similarly to London scoring-wise. Basically, this could be a competitive team if all goes to plan. Which is the tricky part!

The real question is how much lower with the team scores be in 2016. They dropped considerably from 2008 to 2012. Back in 2012, Jung and Sam finished on a 40.6 (their dressage score). They have obviously upped their game since then. Sandra Auffarth finished on a 44.8 in 2012, but have the ability also finish in the 30s. Ingrid Klimke could as well. If all three finish in the 30s, we could see some very low team scores, at least for the gold spot. Al three of these riders were on the Gold team at the Euros, and even with only two of them finishing on scores in the 30s, the team score was 122.7. The UK was FAR behind with 173.3, and France in third with 183.70.

[spencergbennett]

Overall, I think it’s a great team. Lauren and Veronica have been super consistent, and so have Clark and Glen.

Boyd and Phillip are a given with their international experience, and Phillip clearly demonstrated at Rolex that all of his horses are competitive. But I have to agree with what’s already been said about Boyd’s direct alternate Welcome Shadow.

A lot has been said about riders with the ability to perform under such immense pressure, but I think the same needs to be considered for the horses, and I think horses selected ideally would have proven their ability to both travel overseas (exhausting in and of itself) and perform reliably on the international stage. I’m not sure some of the horses selected will be dependable in that way.

Maya Black has had a HELL of a year, and I do not wish to take a SINGLE thing away from her. She’s fantastic. If she performs well, I have no doubt she will be competitive. She and Doesn’t Play Fair are an impressive pair with a great partnership. That being said, however, she leaves a bit to be desired in the experience department, particularly overseas. And I can imagine that experience would be hugely important for the traveling alternate, because it could potentially be an EXTREMELY stressful position to be in. You travel all the way there, thinking you won’t compete, and at a moment’s notice, you could be thrown into the competition. Seems like you’d want to put someone in that position who has shown themselves extremely capable of battling nerves and pressure and laying it down in the toughest situations. Seems like maybe Sinead or Lynn would have been the better option there (in fact, Lynn and Donner were faced with this exact situation at the Pan Ams and managed to finish on their dressage score).

I also think it’s worth noting that Pierre Michelet’s courses are uniquely difficult in that a lot of the combinations require a really bold, positive ride. Again, could prove tricky for someone whose questionable nerves cause them to second-guess their plan mid-line. No one specific comes to mind, just an observation.

That being said, I recognize I have no idea what I’m talking about and that David O’Connor is wise and probably not mortal and I trust his judgment all around. Go team USA

[Larksmom]

Didn’t Boyd and Shadow win or come second at Jersey this year? He has come in the medals at Luhmuelen before as well

[LadyB]

Interesting, I thought Marilyn would’ve been aiming for the Olympic team.

[spencergbennett]

[QUOTE=LadyB;8712942]
Interesting, I thought Marilyn would’ve been aiming for the Olympic team.[/QUOTE]

She and Demi have had a pretty abysmal record lately. She’s been having a lot of success in the jumpers lately, but I think the shifted focus has taken a toll on her success as an eventer.