Presenting the US Eventing Olympic Team

From John: Eventing Nation has confirmed from multiple sources in England that the Eventing High Performance committee has approved the following selection for eventing Team USA’s Olympic team:

Will Coleman and Twizzel

Karen O’Connor and Mr. Medicott

Phillip Dutton and Mystery Whisper

Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister

Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere

Alternates: As for the alternates, all of the US short listers plus Buck Davidson with Ballynoecastle RM, Will Faudree with Pawlow, and Phillip with Fernhill Eagle have been named as alternates.  The list of alternates, ranked alphabetically:

Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle RM
Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice
Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Eagle
Will Faudree and Andromaque
Will Faudree and Pawlow
Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville
Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos
Boyd Martin and Remington XXV
Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen
Allison Springer and Arthur

The US riders were informed of the team selection in a rider meeting that started at 12:30pm ET.  The rationale behind naming so many alternates, as told to the riders, is that each alternate would substitute for a different member of the team.  For example, if Mystery Whisper drops out, Mighty Nice or Fernhill Eagle would take his place.  Ringwood Magister would be substituted by probably Loughan Glen or Arthur, Otis by Neville or Remi, Mr. Medicott or Twizzel by Manoir De Carneville, Missy, or Reggie.  Most of the alternates who are in England will likely head to Burghley.

Please note that this list still has not yet been approved/finalized by the USEF Executive Committee, which meets later this evening to put the final USEF stamp of approval on the team.  The riders have been informed of the team and I would be shocked if the Executive Committee made any changes.  Go Team USA!

1:30pm Update: The list has been made official by a USEF Press Release, although the release still says that the list is pending the approval of the USEF Executive Committee and the United States Olympic Committee’s Board of Directors.  In my opinion, there’s basically no chance the Exectutive Committee will make any change considering that an official USEF press release has been sent out.  [USEF Release]