The Gene Mische American Invitational, however, is completely different. Being in an NFL facility, Raymond James Stadium, (which has hosted the Super Bowl) IS A  key element contributing to a special experience for riders and fans alike.

Horse show judge Jimmy Lee, who has been to many Invitationals and attended the 41st last night, explained it this way to me:

"Just to walk into such an awesome place in the evening and the way they do the presentation, it's a great course and a lot of people from the community come to watch -- they really make it an event," he pointed out.

"Sometimes we just have a wonderful horse show, but it's just like the wonderful horse show the previous week, and the one we're going to have next week. With these long circuits, it's fun to say to someone, `What show were you champion at?'

`I was champion the fifth week.'

`But what was the name of the show?'"

Odds are, you won't get an answer to that one.

There's no such confusion with the Invitational; even riding in it without getting a ribbon is memorable. As Jimmy  said, "It's a production."

You just get one shot; there's no schooling, no warm-up class. It becomes a real test of horsemanship.

McLain Ward at the X-factor jump on the way to winning the Gene Mische American Invitational with Rothchild.

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

This edition definitely was tough; only McLain Ward, on the hard-fighting Rothchild, and 18-year-old Reed Kessler, his 2012 Olympic teammate on Mika, made it from the starting field of 30 into the tie-breaker.

Steve Stephens, who has designed the Invitational since 1985 (with the exception of one year) put his usual amount of thought into the route he laid out. There were several new fences, including the American Invitational pedestal, raised up on a red X (Steve was inspired by The X-Factor TV show), as well as a vertical/liverpool/vertical triple combination near the end of the course that took a lot of prisoners.

Why is an arrangement like that so difficult here?

Listen: Steve Stephens

So now you understand the circumstances, and why, for McLain, winning his third Invitational since 1998 has special meaning.

"This class is an institution for this country, this sport. I really hope people in the industry rally behind this and keep it going," he said. "It almost died a few years ago. I'm so glad to see (organizer) Michael Morrissey and his group of people and sponsors who have really made great effort to revive it, because it's very, very important to us as athletes.

"This is something unique and special and when I grew up, this was the most important class to win, this is what we coveted. I think that's important for future young riders; my children, one day, I hope."

The show also is a great experience for spectators, who come out in droves to walk the course,

measuring the height of the fences against the top of their heads, spreading their arms in the middle of the oxers to see how wide they are.

The crowd of 8,500 was better than last year and comparable to the number who came to Wellington on Florida's east coast last weekend for the $500,000 grand prix that ended the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. They do look a bit lost in the cavernous facility, though as McLain pointed out, "In anything other than a 65,000-seat stadium, it would look packed. But I think the stadium also makes the atmosphere a bit."

He sees the Invitational's potential for becoming a "destination event," such as Devon or the World Cup Finals in Las Vegas.

"That's what this event should be aimed to be," he commented.

"WEF is so great, but it gets so monotonous by the end, when you use the same jumps every single week. It's beautiful here," said Reed.

"They really put in that extra work to make it special, and it feels special from the moment you get here."

"There are so many things they do so, so well," McLain pointed out, noting that there are always different fences each year, and the organizers and Steve don't simply rest on their laurels.

His most memorable Invitational win, achieved during a 2008 night of rain, was on Sapphire. There will never be another like the mare, who retired last year at Devon in an emotional ceremony.

"For me, every horse is in the shadow of Sapphire. I miss her very much," said McLain, but Rothchild has found a way into his heart.

"It was a little bit of a lucky chance that I got him," McLain said, recalling he had gone to Europe seeking a horse for a student, and tried Rothchild.

"Francois Mathy, who we buy all our horses from, said, `I think it's a very careful horse.'"

McLain had a different opinion.

"I didn't like anything about him. All the way to the airport, I said, `No, no, no.'"

It apparently fell on deaf ears.

"I called my father to say I was home and he said, `By the way, we bought the chestnut horse. Francois says you don't know what you're talking about."

Well, look at how it's turned out. Rothchild is as competitive as his rider, and as he pins his ears back while he's clearing a fence, you can tell he's going for it.

"He's an every day competitor. He can go in a speed class, he can jump the American Invitational, he can jump a Global Tour grand prix, he can jump Nations' Cups," said McLain.

"He's very quietly amassed quite a record. In the end, he's become a very good friend of mine. He gives me everything he has to give me."

Rothchild, who is owned by the Dolan family's Sagamore Farm, also is "an unbelievable character. He's the sweetest horse in the world to deal with," said McLain.

That's when you're in the barn.

At the same time, "he's totally opinionated and it's going to be his way. He does not like other horses. He makes up for lack of classic style with determination. He can kind of do everything, which is a rarity in today's sport. You know, everything's a specialist. This horse is really the blue collar worker, but the blue collar worker won one for the team today."

McLain Ward hoists the Invitational trophy as second-place Reed Kessler and third-place Sharn Wordley look on.

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

Despite the fact that only McLain and Reed were in the jump-off, this was no easy victory, and there were a few others who came close to making the tie breaker. Sharn Wordley, a U.S.-based New Zealander, nearly did qualify but scored a time fault with Eric Lamaze's Olympic mount, Derly Chin de Muze, to wind up third.

And how did he get the ride on this horse?

Simple: "I got engaged to the owner (Ashley Fleischhacker)," he admitted, getting a laugh, as the beautiful blonde held the flowers he got during the awards ceremony.

Sharn had a mishap that put him over the 89-second time allowed.

"My horse drifted quite hard to the right at fence four and I rubbed my foot against the standards and I was kind of discombobulated and I kind of took a bit of time on that corner to get myself organized," said Sharn.

"I knew from then on it was going to be touch-and-go...I tried to catch up as best I could without jeopardizing having a rail. It was my first time doing the Invitational and I love it. It's going to be a focus for me next year. It's just so different...with so much atmosphere...it really is quite challenging."

McLain has gone from being one of the young guns to being the establishment, and they're all coming after him.

(Listen: McLain Ward

Invitational runner-up Reed Kessler on Mika

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

Reed is having a great time as an 18-year-old; becoming the youngest equestrian to compete in the Games last summer, and now nearly winning the Invitational in only her second attempt.

She had the disadvantage of going first in the jump-off, and was faced with the always difficult task of splitting the difference between having a fast time and making sure the fences stayed up.

"McLain is so, so fast; Rothchild, especially," she said.

"So I tried to lay down a really competitive round...to go in my comfort zone with Mika to make sure I put in a clear round. I tried to put enough pressure on without making a mistake."

She accomplished that, but by leaving out one stride and making a smoother approach than Reed did to one fence, McLain was able to better her mark of 43.37 by more than a second by crossing the finish in 42.10.

"It's so huge, it's such a prestigious class. I love walking the course and listening to people like Katie (Prudent, her coach) and Leslie (Howard) talk about the different horses they've won it on and the years where they had this (jump) in the course," said Reed.

"It's just such a historic class and has so many great stories behind it. It's great to say I've been second in the Invitational once," she continued, then smiled.

"I hope I can add a win."

The top three all liked the course, and praised Steve.

"He had some very young and green riders in the class, as well as Olympic horses and riders, he had to find a balance and I thought it was a good balance test," said McLain. Two or three, but under five (in the jump-off) is the right number for this competition."

The first Invitational I attended was in 1984, the year of the Los Angeles Olympics. Leslie Howard won on Albany and I thought it was neat that as I walked toward the stadium entrance yesterday, she was the first person I saw. We reminisced a bit about that experience.

Listen: Leslie Howard

There's always something different and intriguing at the Invitational, aside from the jumping. One area of the grounds is devoted to kids, with a petting zoo, horseless horse show and face painting. A Percheron was pulling what I call a Cinderella carriage (round and enclosed by artistic white metal strips).

Katherine Bateson Chandler did a freestyle demonstration with Alcazar.

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

During a break in the class, 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. dressage team member Katherine Bateson-Chandler performed a freestyle on Jane Clark's  Alcazar, not easy to do with jumps in the way and workmen pounding down divots all around her. But it was good practice for the horse, who will have to compete in a comparable setting (minus the jumps and workmen) if Katherine makes the squad for next summer's WEG in France.

Before everyone left the post-show party, always a relaxed affair and a good way to wind down from an exciting evening, I checked in with Michael Morrissey, head of Stadium Jumping Inc., which runs the show presented by G&C Farm.

Michael was Gene Mische's nephew, and devoted to him. Still is; he is keeping the Invitational going (and believe me, many people wondered if it could continue) in memory of Gene, the impresario who founded the Florida circuit.

Listen: Michael Morrissey

Don't forget to check out facebook.com/equisearch and facebook.com/practicalhorseman for more photos of the Invitational.
This was my last trip to Florida for the year. Like nearly everyone else, I'm heading north for the start of the regular season. I'll be sending postcards daily from the Rolex Kentucky 4-star at the end of the month, so be sure to look for them.

Until then,

The grounds at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center were packed with partisans of the seven countries competing in the USA's only Nations' Cup, the first held in this hemisphere as part of the new Saudi-sponsored Furusiyya series that is geared to truly global participation.

The Tiki Hut restaurant was converted for the evening to "The Irish Embassy," complete with a sign signifying its affiliation, and it seemed everyone was wearing the colors of their nation of choice, whether on

their backs or on their faces. The U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation and U.S. Equestrian Federation held a pep rally, serving all-American hot dogs and hamburgers to gear up support for the home side at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.

The U.S. winning Nations’ Cup team: Kent Farrington, Beezie Madden, coach Robert Ridland, Reed Kessler, Laura Kraut

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

An Olympic veteran who has been involved primarily in show management, course designing and officiating in recent years, Robert admitted to some nerves that were understandable, but he drew comfort from the fact that he was fielding the "A" team. Although that hasn't always been the case at the Cup in Wellington, which was never part of Furusiyya's predecessors, the Eurocentric Top League and the Super League, this time the stops had to be pulled out because the U.S. wants a berth in the new league's finals this September.

The squad of Kent Farrington (Uceko), Reed Kessler (Cylana); her 2012 Olympic teammate, Beezie Madden (Simon) and Beezie's 2008 Olympic gold medal teammate, Laura Kraut (Cedric) did not disappoint, and even reserve rider McLain Ward was at the ingate to offer support. Although Beezie was able to skip the second round because the team had an edge after three riders, it wasn't much of a victory margin. Canada, which had won the Cup five times since its inception here in 2002, wound up with 5 penalties; the U.S. had 4 for its fifth win here.

Who knows? It might have gone the other way if Canada's Mac Cone had a better night. He was eliminated for a stop and a circle in the first round with Amor van de Rostal, and accumulated 17 penalties in the second. Luckily for the Canadians, only the best three scores count.

They were buoyed by the expected double clear from the ageless Captain Canada, Ian Millar on Dixon, and a less-expected double clear from Tiffany Foster -- her first in a Nations' Cup -- with Victor. You'll remember Tiffany from the Olympics, where she was eliminated in a controversial call after officials contended Victor was hypersensitive in one leg. While they didn't blame anyone for that, she was out despite Canadian team protests.

A German effort to defend its 2012 title was impressive, but 11 penalties put that team third.

After the class, I spoke with Robert, who seemed to be experiencing equal measures of joy and relief.

Listen: Robert Ridland

The time allowed of 77 seconds played a big role in how things went, and Robert noted the U.S. had a plan for that.

Since it was "a fairly important factor," he said, the strategy was for all the Americans to make an inside turn from the first fence to the second. "That really made the difference, it gave us the leeway," he commented.

Reed Kessler had two double-clear rounds with Cylana

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

Reed was the only U.S. rider to go double-clear, undoubtedly providing an inspiration to the kids competing today in the children's, junior and Young Rider Nations' Cups that are an innovation at this venue, which should help the pipeline to the top for all the countries participating.

At 18, Reed was the youngest rider ever to compete in the Olympics when she appeared in London last summer. Despite that experience, delivering on her home turf was no easy task.

"It was my fourth Nations' Cup and my first win and my first double-clear, so I'm really excited about that. To ride on the home team in front of the home crowd is a really big honor. I want to do it again," she said in her usual vibrant style.

Her comfort level was affected by the fact that, "I had an all-star group of riders on the team, so I knew I had a lot of depth for me to lean on," she added.

Cylana, Reed declared, "was awesome. This is my favorite thing, when I ride her, to hear the crowd scream. She gets so animated and so wild when she heads to the first fence. She's totally focused, but at the same time, she's like a monster. She couldn't have done better."

Beezie Madden had to make only one trip on Simon as the U.S. clinched victory in the Nations’ Cup.

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

Beezie gave her supporters a heart-stopping moment when Simon loudly hit the box in front of the water jump. Everyone's eyes anxiously went to the scoreboard, but she was clear there and went on to produce a perfect trip. Kent dropped a rail at the last fence in the first round; then Uceko settled down in the second to produce a fault-free performance. Cedric, clean in the first round, had a knockdown from a light brush at the third fence from the end of the course, the first element of a double combination of verticals.

The Irish, highlighted by two fault-free trips on Splendor from Olympic individual bronze medalist Cian O'Connor, could have been in closer contention than fourth place with 11 penalties had Shane Sweetnam's mount, Siri, not been injured during his first trip, which garnered the 8-fault drop score for that round, and was unable to return for a second performance.

Irish Team Manager Robert Splaine said: “The boys all did a good job and Richie’s (Maloney) two single time faults with Ahorn van de Zuuthoeve measured up to a good performance, while Cian O’Connor’s double clear round on Splendor has to be singled out for praise. However, we were put at at a serious disadvantage when Shane’s horse couldn’t return for the second round."

While the top four finishers had strong teams, another threat didn't materialize as Great Britain was unable to field a squad. Although Tim Gredley and Olympic team gold medalist Nick Skelton were on the grounds, they lacked a third because Nick's teammate from the London Games, Ben Maher -- who won two major grands prix already this season at WEF -- had flown to the Masters show in Hong Kong. It was, however, perfect British weather: Very chilly with occasional sprinkles of rain. Foreign visitors who had come to Florida for the usual sunny weather as well as the Cup were unhappily bundled in parkas, as were many other spectators.

With just one more Cup finals qualifier for North America to go, at Spruce Meadows in Canada during June, the U.S. has 100 points to 90 for Canada and 65 for Mexico, which finished last here. Only two North American teams can go to the final, and Mexico would seem to be a real underdog in that department. That nation didn't have all its best combinations on hand, but even with their top guns, they'd have a lot of ground to make up in order to be part of the finals.

The three Latin teams participating, Venezuela (fifth on 34 penalties), Colombia (sixth with 41) and Mexico (seventh with 59) are working hard on raising their standard. I asked course designer Anthony D'Ambrosio how he felt they were progressing.

"A great part of their improvement is the time they spend here for a consecutive 12 weeks," he told me.

"This is a great training situation for any horse and rider, when you come to a place and you can really settle in and the horses can really relax, you can then bring them along faster than you would when you're constantly changing venues and acclimating each and every week to a new place."

He and I also discussed the course and how well it worked out. Designing for a class that combines experienced high-caliber teams with squads from countries that are still developing provides quite a challenge, but Anthony is always up to the task.

Listen: Anthony D'Ambrosio

Lorraine Ferrell and Adrienne Straus meet Uncle Sam at a U.S. pep rally sponsored by the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation and the U.S. Equestrian Federation.

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

I chatted at the victory party, where the Veuve Clicquot champagne was flowing, with the USEF's executive director of sport programs, Jim Wolf. At the Olympics, our conversations consisted mostly of, "so, we didn't win a medal in (fill in the blank), what do you think?," which meant it was nice to finally be able to approach him after a victory.

Listen: Jim Wolf

I think team spirit had a lot to do with the U.S. taking the top prize, not only the pep rally, but also a team dinner that helped the squad and the owners present a united and determined front.

The Cup wasn't the only thing that provided the tension this week. An outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus that began in Ocala and spread caused great concern when a horse at the showgrounds tested positive and the entire FEI tent (where the international competition horses are stabled during the show) had to be put in quarantine. This is one of the biggest weekends of the year at the biggest show in the world, and the all-clear wasn't given until Thursday afternoon, when tests on other horses came back negative.

The man in the pincers on this one was Michael Stone, president of Equestrian Sport Productions, which presents the WEF. With the trouble in the rear view mirror, he and I talked (over the babbling of the auctioneer) at Thursday night's sport horse auction a half-mile from the PBIEC at the Global Dressage grounds.

Listen: Michael Stone

So do you think we've had enough excitement for one weekend? No way; it's the WEF. Tomorrow is a $150,000 grand prix. I'll be interested to see some of the top riders in action again; Cian O'Connor has to be a favorite, and Germany's Daniel Deusser, double-clear in the Cup on Cornet D'Amour, also is impressive. There will be a whole lot more American contenders than just the four team members vying for this one. Come back Sunday night for my next postcard, and I'll tell you all about it. In the meantime, don't forget to go to facebook.com/equisearch for more photos.

Until tomorrow,

I envy you guys, I really do. Shakespeare called jealousy the “green-eyed monster,” and that’s me these days. The reason I am so jealous is that some of you reading this are going to take part in rebuilding our U.S. Eventing Team from the ground up.

I never had that experience. When I joined the team as a rookie in 1966, it was a well-oiled machine—and in many ways a colder, more impersonal environment than we are used to these days. The U.S. Equestrian Team owned many of the horses, and riders were merely plug-and-play cogs. (I might be the only U.S. rider ever to be off the team, on the team and off the team all in the space of four days.) That was the way it was. We just shrugged and did not worry about anybody taking care of our needs. The way I figured it at the time, any fool who joined a team made up of Mike Plumb, Kevin Freeman and Mike Page was going to get a medal. All that fool had to do was show up for work every day, take care of business and learn as much as possible from watching these pluperfect players of the game, all future U.S. Eventing Association Hall of Famers. Remember, this was before Jack LeGoff had even arrived as our coach; he was the icing on the cake for us and a big reason for the U.S. team’s dominance of the international eventing scene for another 15 years.

Ups and Downs
But that was then, and this is now. Any sports franchise goes through highs and lows, and our present situation—no medals at the 2010 World Equestrian Games or 2012 London Olympics—is as low as the U.S. Eventing Team has fallen in a quarter-century. While our decline was as swift as it was precipitous, it is not the only time it has ever happened to us. We finished with team gold and Karen Stives won the individual silver in 1984 at Los Angeles; we were at the top of the eventing tree—­admired, respected and imitated around the world. But we went from the top to the bottom in one Olympic cycle. Only two years later, our team finished in disarray at the 1986 World Championships in Gawler, Australia, and we failed to even finish a team, much less medal, at the Seoul Olympics in 1988. That’s the way Olympic-level sport works: Sometimes you are the birddog; sometimes you are the fire hydrant.

Then the cycle started all over again. First the upside—Dorothy Trapp Crowell’s lone individual silver medal in 1994 with the incomparable Molokai. Next came team silver and Kerry Millikin’s individual bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, then team bronze at WEG in 1998. David O’Conner won the individual gold medal at Sydney in 2000 and led us to a team bronze medal. At the 2002 WEG in Jerez, we won team gold. Then Kim Severson and Winsome Adante won a silver medal and the team won a bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics, the late Amy Tryon and Poggio earned an individual

bronze at the 2006 WEG in Aachen and Gina Miles won an individual silver medal at the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong on McKinlaigh. After that, though, no medals were earned at the 2010 WEG, and our team finished well down the line at the recent London Olympics. We have been riding shotgun down the avalanche, and now we are here at the bottom … again.

Let’s Come Out Swinging
We are in what baseball players call a “slump.” There is no denying it. While it is not what we wanted, it is what we have got, and we need to deal with it. I once asked Troy Glaus, MVP of the 2002 Baseball World Series, how he dealt with slumps. He said two very important things—­listen carefully, folks—to get out of a slump: “You go back to your basics,” and then he said, “You swing your way out of a slump.”

This is pretty important advice from someone who knows something about battling back from adversity, and we need to think about it. To get better, the first thing to do is to recognize we are not good enough. That’s a fact. You have to admit something is wrong before you can fix it.

The next thing to do is to look at your competition and figure out what they are doing that puts them, not you, on the medal ­podium. If you do that, you ­notice that each successful team has a system and their riders all ride in a similar fashion. If form follows function, medals follow form, and we need to match our methodology with sound basics. Taking a look at your competition will tell you how they are currently doing things and will inform your return to your basics.

It seems to me that in many ways we have written the book but lost the plot. In the past, the style with which our eventing teams rode reflected our systematic, sound, clear and consistent basic technique. I realize that any system beats no system, but if we are going to go back to our basics, we must first examine those basics. Before we start exposing our horses and riders to a certain progression of requirements, we should question those requirements …

Kessler, an 18-year-old graduate of the Professional Children's School, was presented with this prestigious award at the USET Foundation Reception on January 25th, in Wellington, Florida.

"The list of riders who have stood in this exact place giving this same speech is a truly exceptional group, and I am honored to join their ranks," stated Kessler. "One year ago, I sat in this audience, wondering how my first Florida show season, free from all the age restrictions, would go. I sat wondering if I would be ready for the approaching Olympic Trials, and most of all, who would make up the team that we would send to London. It did not cross my mind that one year later I would stand here, having been a member of that team. It did not occur to me that my new horse, Cylana, which we were still so unfamiliar with, would carry me to those Games. It is truly amazing what can happen in a year, and when I look back, this will probably be one of the best of my life."

Kessler continued, "Although my name is the one that will be inscribed on the trophy, I can only take a very small percentage of the credit. First. I have to thank the USET Foundation, who has supported me by funding programs like the European Young Riders Tour, without which the Olympics would have been my very first U.S. Nations Cup Team. I also have to thank the ladies behind the scenes that work tirelessly to take care of my horses. A thanks also goes to our vets and blacksmith, who are also critical members of our team."

"It is impossible to name everyone who has touched my career and that of my horses, so thank you to everyone who has helped along the way," acknowledged Kessler. "I would like to thank Andre Dignelli and Patricia Griffith and the whole team at Heritage Farm, who gave me a great foundation from Short Stirrup to Junior Jumpers. After I transitioned from Equitation to Jumpers, I began training with Katie and Henri Prudent. I jokingly call them my fairy godparents, because they transformed an ordinary young girl who loved horses and taught her how to make that passion a career. Their incredible teaching is further evident by the fact that I am their third student to receive this prestigious award. I cannot thank them enough for everything that have taught me and everything they continue to teach me. Next, I'd like to thank my parents, Murray and Terri Kessler. I doubt any parents could bestow any more love and support on their child than my parents have. Way before the grand prixs and the glory, my parents had the same enthusiasm for the sport and dedication to support me in whatever path I chose."

Kessler was the youngest person in Show Jumping history to compete at the Olympic Games. The team from the United States finished in sixth place, facing fierce competition from the other nations. She also represented the United States during the Nations Cup at Spruce Meadows. Later in the year, Kessler was the winner of the $100,000 President's Cup Grand Prix at the Washington International Horse Show, where she was also the Leading Jumper Rider. In 2011, some of Kessler's accomplishments included becoming a member of the U.S. Show Jumping European Young Riders Tour and winning the Young Riders Grand Prix and Young Riders Nations Cup in Lamprechthausen, Austria. She has now begun her professional career at Kessler Show Stables.

Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy Winners
Patrick Guerrand-Hermès established the Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Memorial Award in 1983 in memory of his son, Lionel, who was tragically killed in an automobile accident in 1981 at the age of 18. Lionel trained with the United States Equestrian Team and was talented enough to be considered an Olympic hopeful. A perpetual trophy designed by Patrick Guerrand-Hermès is inscribed annually with the winner's name and permanently displayed at the USET Foundation headquarters in Gladstone, NJ. Previous winners are:

1983 - Mark Leone

1984 - Jeffery Welles

1985 - Holly Mitten

1986 - Gregory A Best

1987 - Susanne Owen

1988 - Christopher Kappler

1989 - Mollie Bliss

1990 - Kim Keenan

1991 - McLain Ward

1992 - Abigail Lufkin

1993 - Mark Combs

1994 - Gabriella Salick

1995 - Megan Johnstone

1996 - Jonathan Elliot

1997 - Alison Firestone

1998 - Bruce Davidson Jr.

1999 - Chad Geeter

2000 - Elise Haas

2001 - Marilyn Little

2002 - Clark Montgomery

2003 - Will Faudree

2004 - Kristin Schmolze

2005 - Brianne Goutal

2006 - Katie Hamilton

2007 - Carolyn Kelly

2008 - Hillary Dobbs

2009 - Laura Noyes

2010 - Jennifer Waxman

2011 - Tiana Coudray

2012 - Lucy Davis

December 13, 2012 -- To reach the highest level of excellence in equestrian sport requires talent, perseverance, a tremendous spirit and often, unwavering courage. In 2012, six horses have shown the world those qualities and more.  On January 18, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will bestow two of them with the prestigious title of Horse of the Year, the highest honor the USEF awards a horse. Again this year both a national and international horse will win.

The six champions have earned their places on the elite list as USEF Horses of Honor, and each will be recognized at the USEF Horse of the Year Awards gala and dinner in January--part of the USEF Annual Meeting--at the Louisville Marriott Downtown in Louisville, Kentucky.

It will be up to you to choose the two special horses, selecting from a range of talents across the Federation's breeds and disciplines. Your vote will help determine the champions that join the pantheon of past winners including 2011 winners Friesian horse Sjoerd and eventer Neville Bardos, reining horse Gunners Special Nite (2010), dressage horse Ravel (2009), driving horse Jamaica (2008), eventer Theodore O'Connor (2007), show jumper Authentic (2006), and dressage horse Brentina (2005).

The 2012 International Horses of Honor are:

Flexible (Cruising x Flex)
1996 Irish Sport Horse Stallion
Owners: Harry and Mollie Chapman

Flexible has done the unthinkable time after time in his storied career. The diminutive 15.3h stallion with a unique jumping style has twice come back from career-threatening injuries and captured top standings at prestigious competitions.  In 2012, with rider Rich Fellers, Flexible ended the U.S.'s 25-year winless drought at the Rolex/FEI World Cup Jumping Finals by out-running the eventual Olympic champions in a jump-off for the ages.

Flexible kept up his winning ways in the 2012 U.S. Show Jumping Observation Events where he claimed victory four times. He won twice in Del Mar (the $50,000 Surfside Grand Prix and the $100,000 Hermes Grand Prix of Del Mar) and then again six weeks later at Spruce Meadows. Fellers and Flexible jumped four clear rounds in two classes, including two jump-offs in Calgary to win the $35,000 Husky Energy Cup and the $200,000 CN Performance Grand Prix. They then earned their ticket to represent the U.S. at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, where they finished in the top ten and were the highest placing American pair.

Sinead Halpin and Manoir De Carneville (Shannon Brinkman)

Manoir de Carneville (Gaub x Carneville)
2000 Selle Francais Gelding
Owner: Carraig LLC

In 2012, Manoir de Carneville and rider Sinead Halpin assumed their place as one of the top combinations in eventing. The pair spent the spring fine tuning their skills by winning an Intermediate section at Southern Pines and then picking up second place in the Advanced at The Fork Horse Trials. In May, they placed second in the CIC3* at Jersey Fresh before traveling to England as a member of the U.S. Eventing Short List for the 2012 Olympic Games. The pair remained in England and trained throughout the summer in preparation for what would be their largest success to date.

In September, Halpin and Manoir de Carneville turned heads at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials besting many legends of the sport. They seized the lead in the dressage, as the only pair to score a sub-40 mark, and then cruised faultlessly over arguably the world's toughest cross-country track. One pole too many in the show jumping meant Manoir de Carneville and Halpin would finish the CCI4* in the runner-up position, but their classy, determined performance over three days of grueling competition solidified their position among the who's who of the sport.

Jonathan Wentz gives NTEC Richter Scale a hug after they complete their test at the 2012 Paralympic Games

© Shannon Brinkman)

NTEC Richter Scale (Unknown Breeding)
1994 Shire Cross Gelding
Owner: Kai Handt

It takes a special kind of horse, one with immense heart and kindness, to compete in para-equestrian dressage and be a champion. In 2012, NTEC Richter Scale demonstrated all those attributes. With rider Jonathan Wentz, the 17.2h draft cross claimed the USEF National Para-Equestrian Reserve Championship and earned a place on the U.S. team at the 2012 Paralympic Games. In London, Wentz and NTEC Richter Scale led the U.S. team to their most successful Championship finish in recent years. The pair twice came devastatingly close to standing on the Individual medal podium, finishing fourth in the Grade 1b Individual Test and fifth in the Grade 1b Freestyle Test.

The picture of consistency and willingness, NTEC Richter Scale excelled on the field of play and off, giving his rider the gift of freedom and movement that could only be enjoyed on horseback. In his all too short life, Wentz achieved many of his lofty goals by partnering with Richter, not the least of which was riding on the world's grandest stage in London.

The 2012 National Horses of Honor are:

CHCourageous Lord

© Howard Schatzberg

^CHCourageous Lord (Roseridge Heir x Lord Have Mercy)
2001 American Saddlebred Gelding
Owner: Fox Grape Farms, Inc.

^CHCourageous Lord made a remarkable transition in 2012. The big moving gelding had spent much of his career competing in the Open Five-Gaited division twice winning the Five Gaited World's Grand Championship at the Kentucky State Fair with Merrill Murray. However, this year ^CHCourageous Lord made the bold move into the Five Gaited Amateur division with his new rider Dr. Owen Weaver.

To begin the year, ^CHCourageous Lord won the Five-Gaited Grand Championship at the Bonnie Blue National Horse Show. The gelding next won the Amateur Five Gaited Championship at the Blue Ridge Classic Horse Show with Weaver again in the irons.  They next travelled to Louisville, KY for their ultimate goal of staking their claim on the Amateur Five Gaited World's Championship. A thrilling two-horse work out ensued between ^CHCourageous Lord and the reigning two-time Amateur Five-Gaited World's Champion of Champions and completely undefeated team of ^CHThe Daily Lottery and Gabe Deknatel. When the judges' cards came in, Weaver and ^CHCourageous Lord were crowned the unanimous 2012 Amateur Five-Gaited World's Champion of Champions. Weaver and ^CHCourageous Lord closed out 2012 with back to back wins at the Kentucky Fall Classic Horse Show in the Amateur Five-Gaited qualifier and Championship, cementing an unforgettable debut show season.

Germ

© Rick Osteen

Germ (Ulbert X Tjalda Fan Lutke Peinjum)
2002 Friesian Gelding
Owner: Koreen Greenberg

Germ (pronounced Harem) continued to make a name for himself with his perfect performance record in 2012. This year the majestic Friesian gelding added eight additional World titles to his impeccable show record at the IFSHA World and Grand Nationals bringing his career total to 21 World and National titles. This brilliant black champion had the crowd cheering, as the judges continued to agree, giving the mark of perfection.

In 2012, Germ won across disciplines and divisions. He won three World Championships in the In Hand competition; including Geldings 6 & over, Baroque Gelding 6 & over and Amateur to Handle Division. Germ also dominated in the Saddle Seat Division, winning in the Amateur Owner ranks and with a junior rider for the first time. The powerful gelding also provided a picture perfect ride in the Saddle Seat Medal Class. Finally, he added to his well-rounded resume with victories in the Show Pleasure Driving Division.  It was hard to take your eyes off Germ as he earned the Open World Championship in the division.

Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy, winners of the 2012 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals Presented by Dietrich Equine Insurance

© Shawn McMillen Photography

Jersey Boy (White Star x Unknown Dam)
2002 Hanoverian Gelding
Owner: SBS Farm

In 2012, Jersey Boy added one of the few titles that had eluded him to his lengthy list of achievements- a USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals presented by Dietrich Equine Insurance title. Since its inception four years ago, the classy Hanoverian gelding has dominated the International Hunter Derby rings.  He also leads the International Hunter Derby lifetime earnings list with a total of $196,640. The quintessential Derby horse, Jersey Boy has won a total of 20 USHJA International Hunter Derby classes, and three International Hunter Derby series titles in his illustrious career.

Jersey Boy set himself apart in 2012 by topping the field at the $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals presented by Dietrich Equine Insurance in August.  He dominated the Handy phase of the two-round championship and ended up with an overall score of 588.25 to clinch the title. Additional wins in 2012, which actually qualify for the 2013 USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship, include the $10,000 International Hunter Derby at the State College Classic, the $15,000 International Hunter Derby at Skidmore College Saratoga Classic, and the Chicago Hunter Derby.

Voting Is Now Open!
Two of these six exceptional horses will be honored as the overall 2012 USEF Horse of the Year, a mark of distinction that will last a lifetime. Now, it is up to you to decide who will receive the top tribute in 2012.

Simply visit http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/hoty/, and type in your email address to access the voting portal. Voting will end at Midnight [ET] on Monday, January 7, 2013.

For more information regarding the Equestrian of the Year program or any of the six Horses of Honor, contact Trisha Watkins, USEF Awards Manager, at 859.225.6944 or tlwatkins@usef.org.

Known as the USEF Equestrians of Honor, eight stars of equestrian sport across breed and discipline recently received a unique competitive trophy. Just one of them will win the distinguished grand prize and be named the "2012 USEF Equestrian of the Year".

Below are the nominees and the distinctive honors they have achieved:

Rich Fellers & Flexible

© Shannon Brinkman/USEF

Rich Fellers
Sherwood, Ore.
Show Jumping

The William C. Steinkraus Trophy is presented to an equestrian competing in the Olympic disciplines of dressage, eventing, or show jumping.

Rich Fellers enjoyed unprecedented success in 2012 both on U.S. soil and abroad. With longtime partner Flexible, he achieved what no American had been able to in 25 years- a victory at the Rolex/FEI World Cup Jumping Final. Fellers and Flexible won the opening speed leg and preceded to produce three clear efforts over four rounds. Still, they remained tied and in a jump-off performance for the ages, Fellers masterfully piloted Flexible to a clear round and stopped the timers .64 seconds faster than the competition.

Fellers then returned to North America to contest the U.S. Show Jumping Observation Events, and claimed victory in all four classes he started. In Del Mar, he and Flexible won the $50,000 Surfside Grand Prix and the $100,000 Hermes Grand Prix of Del Mar. Fellers then traveled to Spruce Meadows, where the pair jumped four clear rounds in two classes, including jump-offs, to win the $35,000 Husky Energy Cup and the $200,000 CN Performance Grand Prix. In August, Fellers made his Olympic debut leading the U.S. team and producing a top-ten finish with Flexible. After returning from London, Fellers travelled to the Thunderbird Equestrian Park and was victorious in the $100,000 Canacord Genuity World Cup.

This is the first time Fellers has been awarded the William C. Steinkraus Trophy.

Jonathan Wentz and NTEC Richter Scale at the 2012 Paralympic Games

© Shannon Brinkman/USEF

Jonathan Wentz
Richardson, Texas
Para-Equestrian

The Becky Grand Hart Trophy is presented to international-level non-Olympic athletes.

Jonathan Wentz achieved a lifelong dream in 2012 by competing on the world's grandest stage at the Paralympic Games. Wentz was born with Cerebal Palsy and began his equine endeavors at age two in order to help combat symptoms of the disease. He was only 13 when he began forming that dream of riding at the Paralympic Games, and in 2008 Wentz took one step closer to it when he began riding at the North Texas Equestrian Center and forming a partnership with coach and supporter Kai Handt. Handt would pair the young man with NTEC Richter Scale. Wentz and NTEC Richter Scale went on to represent the U.S. at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games just two years later. Then, in June of 2012, Wentz saw his dream come true when he and NTEC Richter Scale earned the USEF National Para-Equestrian Reserve Championship at the 2012 Selection Trials, and were named to the U.S. Team to compete in London at the Paralympic Games.

In London, Wentz led the U.S. team's effort in their most successful Championship finish in recent years. He and NTEC Richter Scale came within minutes of standing on the Individual medal podium, only to be edged off by the final riders. They finished fourth in the Grade 1b Individual Test and fifth in the Grade 1b Freestyle Test.

Only weeks after returning from London, Wentz tragically passed away, leaving a void in the hearts of his friends, family and the sport he loved. Wentz is the first athlete to receive the Becky Grand Hart Trophy posthumously.

Gib Marcucci at the Kentucky State Fair World's Championship Horse Show

© Howard Schatzberg

Gilbert "Gib" Marcucci
Monmouth, Iowa
Hackney

The Bill Robinson Trophy is presented to an equestrian competing with horses or ponies across all the breeds in harness or for driving performance in non-international competitions.

Gilbert "Gib" Marcucci has a long history of showing Hackney ponies. Marcucci opened the Gib Marcucci Stables in Monmouth, Iowa in 1960 and has been producing and training top Hackney ponies ever since. In 2012, he once again demonstrated his proficiency at training Hackneys in harness, winning the Hackney Pony Stake and the Hackney Pony World's Grand Championship at the prestigious Kentucky State Fair World's Championship Horse Show.

Marcucci's knowledge and recognition go beyond the U.S. and expand into Canada, Bermuda, Great Britain, Holland and Australia. He is a founding

member of the United Professional Horsemen's Association, past member of

the Mid-West Hackney Association Board of Directors and, a recognized USEF judge that has judged the World's Championship Horse Show four times.

This is the first time Marcucci has been awarded the Bill Robinson Trophy.

Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy

© Shawn McMillen

Jennifer Alfano
Buffalo, N.Y.
Hunter

The Emerson Burr Trophy is presented to a rider in the hunter divisions in any breed over fences.

Jennifer Alfano is no stranger to prestigious wins in the hunter ring and she demonstrated again in 2012 why she is among the best in the game. Alfano has worked for Susie Schoellkopf and SBS Farms Inc. for more than twenty years and teamed up with many of the SBS horses to earn top finishes throughout the United States. With Jersey Boy, Alfano has dominated the USHJA International Hunter Derby circuit for the past four years. This year the pair earned top honors in the $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals presented by Dietrich Equine Insurance, one of the few titles that had eluded them. Additionally, they won championships in Jacksonville, Ocala, Devon, at the State College Classic, and at the Skidmore College Saratoga Classic.

A two-time World Champion Hunter Rider, Alfano has been named Leading Hunter Rider at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, the National Horse Show, and the Ocala HITS winter Circuit in prior years. She currently sits second in the USHJA Lifetime Rider Standings having accumulated $299,650 in International Hunter Derby earnings, $70,000 of which was earned in 2012.

This is the first year she has been awarded the Emerson Burr Trophy.

Matt Siemon

© Mike Ferrara

Matt Siemon
New Carlisle, Ohio
Arabian

The C.J. "June" Cronan Trophy is presented to those excelling in under saddle show breeds.

Matt Siemon has been awarded the C.J. "June" Cronan Trophy in recognition of his stellar performances in the Arabian & Half-Arabian English Pleasure and Park Horse divisions. Seimon was born into a third generation show horse family. With his father Chuck as a mentor and teacher, he has made his mark in the Arabian Horse show arena. Aboard Gregg & Nancy Shafer's Ronde Vu, Siemon rode into the history books winning the Purebred Arabian Park Horse Championship at both the Canadian and U.S. National Championships. This was the second year in a row for the U.S. title. Seimon's entire show string made themselves noticed in 2012, where he rode and drove four horses to four National Championship titles at the Canadian Nationals and amassed three National and two Reserve National Championship titles in addition to seven Top Ten calls at the US Arabian and Half-Arabian National Championships.

2012 is the first year Siemon has been awarded the C.J. "June" Cronan Trophy.

Joe Reser

© Mike Ferrara

Joe Reser
Wakarusa, Ind.
Arabian

The Barbara Worth Oakford Trophy is presented to an equestrian showing in a non-reining Western discipline.

Joe Reser has been renowned as a passionate and goal-driven rider and trainer for many years. The 2012 show season saw Reser earn five National Championships, one Reserve National Championship, and five National Top Ten finishes at the U.S. and Canadian Nationals, along with numerous Regional titles. He again proved his vast horsemanship skills by not only riding to top finishes, but also guiding many clients to equally lofty achievements. In 2012, Reser's amateur clients won nine National and Reserve National Championships and 10 National Top Ten finishes at the U.S., Canadian, and Youth Nationals.

At the 2012 U.S. National Championships, Reser won the Half-Arabian Western Junior Horse class unanimously on IMA Rockin Pop Star owned by Karen and Rick Niles. The Half-Arabian Western Pleasure Futurity was also Reser's aboard Kristi White's IMA Rockin. Throughout the year Reser and Setting Sun Stable's Klint Black +++/ were a force to be reckoned with. The pair scored unanimous wins at two different Regional Championships, then went on to win the Canadian National Championship title and then the 2012 U.S. Reserve National Championship title in the extremely competitive open Western Pleasure division.

2012 is the first time Reser has been awarded the Barbara Worth Oakford Trophy.

Bruce Griffin

© Mystical Photography

Bruce Griffin
Gretna, Va.
Friesian

The Norman K. Dunn Trophy is presented to the equestrian competing at halter or in-hand.

Notably a true horseman, Bruce Griffin has won numerous national awards in a myriad of breeds, but he is a shining star when it comes to sport horse in-hand and halter. In 2012, Griffin added to his legacy by earning many top finishes with acclaimed Friesians in halter and in-hand classes.

Griffin was a force in the show ring in 2012, collecting wins at every turn. He was awarded five World Championships and two Reserve World Championships, three National Championships and two Reserve National Championships at the IFSHA National and World Championship Show. Additionally, he collected Regional Championships at the IFHSA Region 2 Championships, along with scores of other honors.

For his achievements this year Bruce has been awarded the Norman K. Dunn Trophy for the first time.

Wendy Potts
Mansfield, Texas
Arabian / National Show Horse

The Vaughan Smith Trophy is presented to the best rider of any horse or pony breed shown in hunter pleasure, show hack, hunter hack, dressage hack, costume, side saddle, or Western dressage.

Wendy Potts has dominated the Arabian and Half-Arabian Hunter Pleasure and Show Hack divisions for decades compiling a staggering 150 National and Reserve Champion titles. 2012 proved to be no exception to her winning ways. Aboard North By Northwest LLC's Vivienne LR, Potts was crowned the 2012 Canadian National Champion Half-Arab Hunter Pleasure Champion and was the unanimous pick for Champion at the U.S. Nationals, which she won for the second consecutive year. Potts and her students pocketed many other top honors throughout the year, culminating with major wins at the Arabian and Half Arabian Youth Nationals, Canadian Nationals, and U.S. Nationals.

A consummate competitor, Potts excels in the show arena. However, she feels her greatest accomplishment is perhaps the overwhelming and consistent success of her amateur students, many of whom have been loyal clients for more than 15 years. Her desire to see others succeed and her passion for sharing knowledge has earned her consistent recognition year after year as the leading Arabian Hunter Pleasure Trainer in the country.

2012 is the first year that Wendy Potts has been awarded the Vaughn Smith Trophy.

Voting is Now Open!

One of these eight award-winners will be honored as the overall 2012 USEF Equestrian of the Year. Now, it is up to you - USEF members and the USEF Board of Directors - to decide who will receive the top tribute for 2012.

Simply visit http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/eoty/ and type in your USEF membership number to access the voting portal. Voting will end at Midnight [ET] on Monday, January 7, 2013.

For more information regarding the Equestrian of the Year program or any of the eight Equestrians of Honor, contact Trisha Watkins, USEF Awards Manager, at 859.225.6944 or tlwatkins@usef.org.

Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who founded the modern Olympic movement more than a century ago, would hardly recognize the 2012 version. Beginning as a sporting contest that was amateurish in every aspect, the Olympics have grown to become a global phenomenon. For two weeks every Olympic quadrennial, the entire world sits down in front of a TV and watches athletes from around the globe compete. For most of us here in the United States, the notes of John Williams’ “Olympic Fanfare” mean another late night captivated by dazzling feats of athleticism. Usually our conversation the next morning consists of saying, “Did you see … ?” in reference to some new world record or definition of excellence.

Every Olympics, we promise ourselves that this time we are not going to spend two weeks glued to the boob tube, but once again, there we are … hooked. For technologically savvy fans, there are many ways of watching the Games, from live streaming to a smart phone to recording and playing favorite events on a wall-mounted TV that could handle a life-size photo of Sasquatch. The little I have learned about it suggests that every possible means of modern technology was used to view the 2012 Olympic Games, including several unusual and possibly even legal means. The story goes that you bright bulbs in the United States hacked into foreign servers and bootlegged programs that played live when you wanted to see the competition. This confounded the suits in New York, who thought they had decided you would watch glimpses of your favorite sports and athletes between commercials. Don’t you just love technology?

Seeing the Face of Eventing’s Future
Thanks to live streaming, I had the best seat in the house and watched the entire four days of eventing competition. While a lot of story lines caught my attention, the first thing we need to discuss is … how about that Michael Jung? Even New Zealand’s legendary Mark Todd has never dominated the eventing scene the way Germany’s Jung has, winning World, European and Olympic gold in three successive years and all on the same horse. What a story!

And talking about story lines, when two-time individual gold medalist Mark Todd was leaving the dressage arena in London, he looked up at the scoreboard to see if his halo was firmly in place with this particular ground jury. No one ­begrudges Toddie any success these days, but his score was somewhat inflated. A slight wolfish smile went over his face, and I thought, “Uh-oh, he smells blood in the water. He knows he has a real chance at yet another gold medal.” It was not to be: After placing third in the dressage and finishing cross country with only a couple of time faults, Toddie ran out of horse in the stadium jumping before he ran out of jumps—but we got a glimpse of real competitive fire from the greatest horseman we have ever seen … until now.

After Michael won the gold medal by leading wire-to-wire at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, I went on record saying that he had shown us the future of eventing: It’s an era in which competitors will ride at an international level in all three disciplines. At an international event in Germany earlier this year, I commented on how well Michael and his horses looked. A professional show jumper who was standing with me said, “Oh yeah, Michael Jung. He’s that kid who has been coming to our big show-jumping classes and kicking our backsides.”

While it is not unusual to ride well in more than one discipline, it has gone out of style recently. The last instance I can remember is—again—Mark Todd. He won his second individual eventing gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, where he also placed well as a member of his country’s show-jumping team. U.S. Army Gen. Frank Henry won medals in both eventing and Grand Prix dressage at the 1948 London Olympics. My guess is that it will not be long before Michael Jung joins this elite club. I have always maintained that eventing riders need to study each of the Olympic equestrian disciplines. It just had not occurred to me that my prediction would be so remarkably fulfilled, and so soon.

Based on their form coming into the London Olympics, both Sara Algotsson Ostholt, the silver-medal winner from Sweden, and German bronze medalist Sandra Auffarth deserved to be on the individual-medal podium with Michael. Sara, who was one fence away from an individual gold medal, will be replaying her approach to that last fence for the rest of her life, trying desperately to leave it up this time.

Para-Equestrian Dressage, the only equestrian discipline included in the Paralympic Games, has been a regular fixture on the Paralympic event schedule since Atlanta 1996.

In 2006, the FEI became one of the first International Federations to govern and regulate a sport for para-athletes when Para-Equestrian Dressage joined the ranks of the FEI’s seven disciplines. All equine athletes competing in the Paralympic Games are now tested according to the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping Rules.

“All human and equine samples taken during the Paralympic Equestrian events in Greenwich Park have been confirmed negative,” said Ingmar de Vos, FEI Secretary General.

“This is an extremely proud day for the FEI and the international equestrian community - equestrian sport has been clean at both the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Today’s news demonstrates the resounding success of the FEI Clean Sport campaign, which has been fully embraced by the international equestrian community. The International Paralympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency have also gone to great lengths to ensure a clean Games.

“The London 2012 Paralympic Games have been truly astonishing, touching the hearts and minds of millions of people around the world, and key to the success of future Games is this focus on clean sport and fair play.”

Record-breaking Paralympic Games
A total of 78 human and 77 equine athletes from 27 nations competed in London’s Greenwich Park.

London welcomed a record-breaking 4,250 athletes who competed in 503 events over 12 days at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, making them the biggest since the first Paralympic Games took place in Rome in 1960.

Over 120,000 tickets were sold for the six Para-Equestrian Dressage competition days, and with additional tickets sold at the gates of Greenwich Park, the previous ticket sales record of 33,000 at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games was easily surpassed.

In total 2.7 million tickets were sold for the London 2012 Paralympic Games, compared to the previous record of 1.8 million for the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

Pictures of this year's Paralympics were shown to a global audience of over a billion people in over 100 countries, thanks to the International Paralympic Committee’s broadcast partnerships in place around the world and its own broadcast system ParalympicSport.TV.

“The London 2012 Paralympic Games were simply the biggest and the best yet for many reasons,” explained International Paralympic Committee President Sir Philip Craven.

“To ensure the cleanest Games possible, there was the most robust testing programme in place at any Olympic and Paralympic Games, and this has proved to be a winning formula.

“We are delighted that the equestrian events at Greenwich Park were clean. Clean sport is fundamental to the future development of all sports, whether they are already in the Paralympic programme or want to one day join us.

“Clean sport at the Paralympic Games is also the best example we can make to youngsters who dream of representing their country in the future.

“The Para-Equestrian athletes who competed in London have inspired warm welcomes on returning home, and the International Paralympic Committee hopes to see them again at Rio 2016, for the first Olympic and Paralympic Games to take place in South America.”

The number of FEI Para-Equestrian Dressage events has increased by 120% between 2008 and 2011, and as the popularity of the sport grows the number of events being held around the world is steadily increasing.

Bonifatius

© Shannon Brinkman (USEF)

At the Horse Inspection 77 horses were presented from 27 different nations. Two horses, Finland's Rosie and Norway's Ballantine, will be re-inspected tomorrow morning.

The U.S. horses looked to be in beautiful health and were exceptionally well-turned out due to the meticulous care of veterinarian Dr. Stacey Kent and their grooms. Missy Ransehousen serves as Chef d' Equipe for the U.S. team in London.

Rebecca Hart (Unionville, Pa.) is making her second appearance at the Paralympic Games after having represented the U.S. in 2008 at the Games in Hong Kong. She will ride Jessica Ransehousen's 20-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Lord Ludger in Grade II competition. Together the pair won the 2012 USEF National Para-Equestrian Championships and earned Hart her fifth National title. Lord Ludger is groomed by Alexandra Philpin and was presented at today's Horse Inspection by Missy Ransehousen.

The 27-year-old is excited to be representing the U.S. in London, a location that has special significance to the sport.

"This has been a really fabulous experience for Para-Equestrian because this is actually the birthplace of Para-Equestrian as a sport. So it's kind of a homecoming for the sport and it's great to get to represent our country here," said Hart. "Today we had the jog in a beautiful, beautiful backdrop of the Queen's House and always it's good to get that out of the way; all the U.S. horses looked really good. So I'm excited for tomorrow."

Also representing the U.S. in Grade II competition and making her U.S. team debut is Dr. Dale Dedrick of Ann Arbor, Mich. Dedrick will ride her own Bonifatius. With the 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding Dedrick collected Reserve National Champion honors in 2011 and placed fourth in 2012. Meagan Szarek both grooms for Bonifatius and jogged him this morning.

NTEC Richter Scale presented by Kai Handt

© Shannon Brinkman (USEF)

Jonathan Wentz is the second veteran on the U.S. team and brings his partner from the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, NTEC Richter Scale. Wentz and Kai Handt's 18-year-old Shire cross gelding captured their first USEF National Para-Equestrian Championship in 2011 and were the Reserve Champions in 2012. Twenty-one year old Wentz rides in Grade 1b competition. NTEC Richter scale is looked after by Rachael Campbell and was presented today by Kai Handt.

The final member of the U.S. team in London is Donna Ponessa, who will ride Wesley Dunham's 9-year-old Oldenburg mare Western Rose. Ponessa, a Grade 1a competitor, claimed third place honors at the 2012 USEF National Para-Equestrian Championships with her Paralympic partner. Western Rose is cared for by Lisa Miller and was jogged by Wesley Dunham.

Ponessa (New Windsor, N.Y.) is extremely honored to be representing her country and is tremendously grateful to all those that helped her get to London.

"It makes me really proud to be an American. I'm just really, really proud to have made the journey with my support staff and team; it's such a team effort it wasn't done in a vacuum. We accomplished a lot in a relatively short amount of time and I'm pretty overwhelmed about being here."

Competition gets underway Thursday with the Grade II Team Test at 9:00am GMT and later in the afternoon at 2:00pm GMT with the Grade 1b Team Test.

For Results and Orders of Go visit; http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/equestrian/schedule-and-results/

Follow the 2012 U.S. Para-Equestrian Team here.

August 10, 2012 -- The Olympics are the pinnacle of sport. The London Games are the pinnacle of Olympics.

There never has been anything like these two weeks-plus of athletic excitement and beauty, staged so artfully in one of the world's greatest cities. The performances, the records broken, the unforgettable moments in the stadiums have been fabulous. But overshadowing all of that, the way a nation got behind them was inspiring.

The Olympics are supposed to be a time of good will; in ancient Greece, wars stopped during the Games, and I got that sense of harmony here.

Never once did I hear a cross comment, even when there was cause. People involved with the Games were unfailingly polite, helpful and caring when I encountered them. And when I say people involved with the Games, I don't just mean the legions of wonderful volunteer "Games Makers" or organizers. The British sense of pride in the Olympics was pervasive throughout the population. Everyone I met, whether a shopkeeper, a taxi driver or someone from whom I asked directions on the street (there were a lot of those) behaved as if they were playing a part in putting on the Games. And of course, they were. The only other Games I attended where I got a similar feeling of such community was the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, but London carried it to new heights.

In terms of horse sport, this was the ultimate. I am speaking as a veteran of nine Olympics, six World Equestrian Games, five world championships and 20 World Cup finals. I've never seen anything like it. The showcase of Greenwich Park shone beyond words in its beauty and suitability to deliver on the world stage. And this was horse sport at its best, particularly in dressage, as scores continue to rise in reflection of both technical and artistic elegance.

The fact that billions of people watched the Games on TV or streaming video undoubtedly will help the popularity of horse sports, especially since the pictures that came across were for the most part so lovely.

Crowds in the stadium were amazing (© 2012 by Nancy Jaffer)

There was, as I'm sure you know, great controversy over the use of Greenwich Park in the city, as opposed to, say, Windsor, the scene of other equestrian competitions not too far out of town. The neighbors of the oldest royal park (dating back to the 15th century) were miffed at not being able to use it the way they normally did, while environmentalists were concerned that flora and fauna would be harmed. (The rather tame squirrels, however, were thrilled about having thousands more people to feed them.)

Holding the equestrian disciplines in the city, though it may well have cost 10 times the 6 million British pounds (no exact figures are available) originally estimated to put them on was well worth the price in terms of access to the sports and their image. Of course, there are people worried about the cost of the Games, and those who said their businesses didn't get the promised boom as a result of having them, but that will always be the case with projects of this size.

Iconic show jumping fences with British flair included the ornate replica of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben (© 2012 by Nancy Jaffer)

The shame of it is that the fantastic arena, raised above ground so as not to damage anything (but how did the grass like being deprived of sunlight for more than a year?) will be dismantled after the Paralympics conclude in September. The view of the Queen's House and beyond to the city skyline is unlikely ever to be rivaled. All beauty is fleeting, but it is sad to think this now will exist only in our photos and memories.

I've been going back over all that I told you during the Games, and the things on which I didn't comment, because postcards by definition can't involve endless reams of copy.

Here are some random thoughts:

The only downers at the Olympics as far as I could see were ticketing problems and the mascots.  I can't speak authoritatively about the tickets (all media members go in on special passes that remain around our necks for the duration) but I can voice my opinion about the nightmare-inducing mascots, Wenlock and Mandeville.

These "digital age" one-eyed mini-monsters with cab lights on their heads must have been the spawn of Izzy, otherwise known as Whatizit, the blue amorphous creature that was the mascot of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. While there was widespread criticism of Izzy, at least he had two eyes.

Why not choose something cuddly as your symbol, such as Pride the Lion, that was part of a subset of British team souvenirs and promotional items?

There understandably had been great concern about security in London. Surface-to-air missiles were installed at a number of sites (always best to be prepared for the worst) and there was a scandal about the lack of readiness shown by the security firm that had the contract for the Games.

In stepped the military to fill the breach, and they were great. The soldiers who checked us through X-ray and bag search every morning were unfailingly polite and efficient, as well as friendly. Their professional demeanor was many levels above the private security guards we encountered. And they were reasonable. Ticketholders were not allowed to bring in bottles of water any bigger than 100 milliliters. We could bring in larger bottles, as long as we were willing to take a swig from them in front of the soldiers. Why can't TSA learn from this? If someone refuses to drink their own water, you're probably on your way to nabbing a terrorist.

There must have been a curse on North America at these Games. The Canadians probably had it the worst, with only one rider from their eventing team finishing the competition, the elimination of a dressage rider when his horse balked in the arena (how often do you see that happen at this level?) and the elimination of one of their show jumpers for hypersensitivity because of a small cut on his coronary band. The hypersensitivity issue really must be revisited to make it fairer for both horse and rider. With no drop score, however, the three Canadian show jumpers still managed to finish fifth, one place ahead of the U.S. and four ahead of Mexico.

In general, the U.S. had a better time than Canada in terms of drama, but not much. None of the teams were anywhere near the medals, and the highest-placed U.S. rider across the disciplines was World Cup show jumping champ Rich Fellers, eighth on Flexible.