WEG 2014 U.S. Dressage Team

 With the WEG almost here, it's time to look at the dressage U.S. Team and see what horse and rider combinations will represent our country in these coming weeks. Let's take a look!

 For the first horse and rider combination, we have Laura Graves, currently training in Florida, on her 2002 Dutch warmblood gelding, Verdades. In 2002, Laura's mom bought Verdades as a yearling from Holland after only watching sales video. In 2013, the pair started competing in Grand Prix. Earlier this year, Laura and Verdades competed in the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida. There she met Olympic dressage rider Debbie McDonald, who became her trainer. Laura believes that without the help of Debbie, she would not have made it to WEG. Soon, Laura made it to the U.S. WEG qualifying competition. Though she placed out of the top fifteen that would be invited to qualify for the team, several riders dropped out and she earned a spot. After that, she travelled to Gladstone for another competition, where she placed 2nd behind Steffen Peters on Legolas. With that high placing, Laura earned her spot on the WEG Dressage Team.

 Next on the team is Steffen Peters on Legolas 92, a 2002 Westphalian gelding. Steffen has been competing for the past eight, earning an impressive record. He placed fourth in the 2006 Aachen WEG on Floriano. For the 2008 Olympics he placed fourth on Ravel, a year later becoming the second U.S. rider to win the World Cup, also riding Ravel. In his previous WEG in Kentucky(2010), he won two individual medals on the same horse. In 2011 he earned double gold on Weltino's Magic. Most recently, he won the national championships at Gladstone on Legolas, qualifying for WEG.

Laura Grave and Verdades credit

Our next rider is Adrienne Lyle, who will be riding Peggy Thomas' 1999 Oldenburg gelding, Wizard. Originally, Debbie McDonald rode Wizard, but upon recognizing the talent of young working student Adrienne, she handed the reins over the Wizard's present rider. according to Adrienne, the pair clicked and in 2008, they won the Brentina Cup. In 2009, the pair competed in Grand Prix for the first time-neither of them had done it before. I love this pair because it shows you don't need an top rider to get a horse to that level, or vice versa.

 The final team member is Tina Konyot and Calecto V, her 1998 Danish warmblood stallion. Tina has competed in the WEG before, in 2010 in Kentucky, and is experienced at competing at this level. She also competed in the Olympics in London. She has qualified for 2014 WEG, her second one.

US WEG 2014 Eventing Team

 The World Equestrian Games, held in Normandy this year, is just around the corner, running August 23rd to September 7th. For those of you who don't know, the World Equestrian Games is like the Olympics for horses. In addition to the Olympic disciplines of dressage, eventing, and show jumping, other popular disciplines are included. They are combined driving, endurance, reining, vaulting, and para-dressage. Over a thousand horse and rider pairs will compete, and more than 60 countries will be represented. Most of the competitions will take place in Caen, the capital of Normandy.

 Eventing
  On the US WEG Eventing are Phillip Dutton on Trading Aces, Boyd Martin on Shamwari 4, Lynn Symansky on Donner, Kim Severson on Fernhill Fearless, Buck Davidson on Ballynoe Castle RM, and Sinead Halpin on Manoir de Carneville. 

 Phillip Dutton is an Australian rider competing for Team USA. As of this year, he has been selected to ride in every WEG and Olympic since 1994. However, after this year's Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event, Dutton's mount, Mr. Medicott, aggravated an old tendon, making it impossible for the horse to compete in 2014's World Equestrian Games. With one of his best horse unable to compete, Phillip would have trouble qualifying for the Worlds. The horse he ended up making it to the Worlds on is Trading Aces, a 2004 Irish Sport gelding that Boyd Martin rides. Phillip had ridden Trading Aces in Rolex earlier this year when Boyd was sidelined due to a broken leg. Since Boyd ended up qualifying on Shamwari 4 after a third place finish at Luhmuhlen on that horse, Phillip was able to join this year's WEG Team on Trading Aces. Phillip is also an alternate with his horse, Mighty Nice.

Boyd Martin and Shamwari 4 by Shannon Brinkman credit

 The second rider on 2014's WEG Team is Boyd Martin, also from Australia, riding Shamwari 4, a 2002 Hanoverian gelding that place 20th for Team Sweden at London in 2012. Boyd placed third at Luhmuhlen on Shamwari 4, qualifying for the WEG. At the WEG Prep Trial, Boyd rode Shamwari carefully so the horse would be ready for WEG, placing fifth overall. Boyd believes that Shamwari is one of the world's greatest event horses and is ready for the WEG.

 Next is Lynn Symansky on Donner, a 2003 Thoroughbred gelding that she bought in 2008. Since then, the pair has moved up to CCI4 level and has qualified for 2014's WEG. Lynn didn't ride Donner in this year's Rolex so she could keep him sound for WEG, but she did compete in Jersey Fresh, where she unfortunately fell off her eventing partner during cross country, getting her leg stepped on by the horse as well. Lynn ended up competing at Bromont several weeks later, despite her injuries, and will compete in the Games later this month.

 Kim Severson will be competing in the WEG on her 2000 Irish Sport Horse gelding, Fernhill Fearless. Fernhill went to the London 2012 with another rider but was given to Kim last year, beginning there partnership together. Since then, the pair has placed 11th at Rolex, earning them a spot on the 2014 WEG Team.

 Buck Davidson also qualified and will the the horse Ballynoe Castle RM, a 2000 Irish Thoroughbred gelding. He has previously competed in the 2010 WEG, also with Ballynoe Castle, as well as the 2011 Pan American Games upon another horse. 

 Finally, Sinead Halpin will be competing on the Selle Francais gelding, Manoir de Carneville. Sinead failed to make the London Olympic team, so she is happy to have qualified for Normandy's WEG on the horse she only started riding last year. 

Best of luck to the U.S. WEG eventing team. It seems like the is great and has amazing talent among both horses and riders. Stay tuned for more on WEG.