The 2016 Rio Olympic Team

6/30/2016

The Olympics! They are just a couple months away and yesterday the final riders were announced for the U.S. Olympic team riding in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Watching the Olympics, summer or winter, is a special event. The top athletes in their sport representing their country. I swell with pride and well up with tears just thinking about it. I love watching!

I remember vividly watching the 2000 Sydney Olympics and stumbling across the show jumping playing in prime time (that almost NEVER happens). I was almost 9 and I pointed at the screen and declared "That is what I want to do!" I started riding lessons the following spring and haven't looked back. One day I will cross off doing the Grand Prixs. Until then, I will keep watching and cheering.

Let's meet the horse and rider combos that will be making the journey all the way to Brazil.

Show Jumping

Lucy Davis & Baron

(Los Angeles, California) This will be Lucy Davis' first Olympics and she will be riding Barron a 2004 Belgium Warmblood gelding. Barron is named after Davis' grandfather who was a jockey's agent. Davis is 23 years old and was the youngest rider at 20 to win a Global Champions Tour Grand Prix which she did in Lausanne. Davis also graduated last summer from Stanford University with an Engineering degree.

Kent Farrington & Voyeur

(Wellington, Florida) Another first Olympics for Kent Farrington and his mount Voyeur a 2002 KWPN gelding. Farrington grew up in Chicago and won many equitation finals towards the end of his junior years. He then turned professional and earned over $1 million in prize money his first three years. This amazing accomplishment earned him the Maxine Beard Award in 2001, which recognizes young talent with the potential to represent the U.S.

Beezie Madden & Cortes 'C'

(Cazenovia, New York) Beezie Madden is the Queen of Show Jumping. She is the first woman to pass the $1 million mark in prize money and this will be her fourth consecutive Olympics. This trip she will be riding Cortes 'C' a 2002 Belgium Warmblood gelding. Madden has been representing the U.S. at the highest level for almost three decades and she has won the Equestrian of the Year honor four times in 2006 & 2007 and again in 2013 & 2014. She is the first person to receive back to back honors.

McLain Ward & Azur

(Brewster, New York) McLain Ward will also be making his fourth consecutive Olympic appearance this time aboard Azur a 2006 Belgium Warmblood mare. In 1990 Ward was the youngest rider to win the USET Medal Finals and Talent Derby at the age of 14. Then, as a professional he became the youngest rider to break the $1 million mark at age 24. Early in 2012 Ward suffered from a shattered knee cap and had to spend three months out of the saddle. His first event back was a Grand Prix win and then later that summer he went to the London Olympics.

Dressage

Allison Brock & Rosevelt

(Loxahatchee, Florida) This will be Allison Brock's first Olympics and she will ride Rosevelt a 2002 Hanoverian stallion. Brock grew up in Hawaii and age 17 came to the mainland to train and work for Olympian Sue Blinks. Fritz and Claudine Kundrun, the owners of Rosevelt, saw elite potential in Brock and hired her to be their head trainer and decided to sponsor and develop her into the competitor she is today.

Laura Graves & Verdades

(Geneva, Florida) Another first Olympic appearance for Laura Graves and her horse Verdades a 2002 KWPN gelding. Three years ago Graves left her job as a hairstylist to develop her "unruly" horse Verdades. Under the guidance of many top trainers Graves has risen to the top level and since 2014 has made a huge splash in many international competitions.

Kasey Perry-Glass & Dublet

(Orangevale, California) Also experiencing her first Olympics, Kasey Perry-Glass will be riding Dublet, a 2003 Danish Warmblood gelding. Perry-Glass began her riding career doing eventing, and it wasn't until high school she truly fell in love with the sport of dressage. She then graduated from California State University Sacramento with a degree in business entrepreneurship. Over the past three years Perry-Glass has won a few major competitions shooting her to the top of the sport.

Steffen Peters & Legolas 92

(San Diego, California) Bringing experience to the dressage team, Steffen Peters will be competing in his fourth Olympics aboard Legolas 92, a 2002 Westphalian gelding. Born and raised in Germany, Peters moved to San Diego in 1984 and became a U.S. citizen in 1992. Peters has an incredible show record including in 2008, riding a different horse Ravel, the pair won every single event they entered.

Eventing

Philip Dutton & Fernhill Cubalawn

(West Grove, Pennsylvania) Originally from Australia and representing AUS three times, winning consecutive team gold medals in the Olympics, this will be Phillip Dutton's third Olympics representing the U.S. after becoming a citizen in 2006. This year he is aboard Fernhill Cubalawn a 2003 Holsteiner gelding. Dutton has won the Leading Rider of the Year Title 13 times and held the title for ten consecutive years from 2000-10.

Lauren Kieffer & Veronica

(Ocala, Florida) This will be Lauren Kieffer's first Olympics and she will be aboard Veronica a 2002 Dutch Warmblood mare. Kieffer has spent many years training under eventing legends David and Karen O'Connor. When the O'Connors retired Kieffer got the opportunity to take over the ride of Veronica. In 2013 the pair found their groove and started making waves at the highest competitions. The pair was the highest ranked U.S. competitor at the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event.

Boyd Martin & Blackfoot Mystery

(Cochranville, Pennsylvania) Another Australian born rider Boyd Martin was on the long list for the Olympics for three different years. After moving to the U.S. in 2006 Martin worked for Phillip Dutton before striking out on his own. After dealing with a tragic barn fire in 2010 and personal loss, Martin is back at the top of his game and will be competing in his second Olympics, this year with Blackfoot Mystery a 2004 Thoroughbred gelding.

Clark Montgomery & Loughan Glen

(Tetbury, England) Clark Montgomery will be making his Olympic debut aboard Loughan Glen a 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding. After growing up in Texas, Montgomery moved to the East Coast to train with David and Karen O'Connor and Captain Mark Phillips. With many top finishes in the U.S. and abroad Montgomery decided to relocate his family and business in 2012 to the Cotswolds region of England.

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