by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 3, 2023
Members of the U.S. gold medal team came close to sweeping the individual show jumping honors at the Pan American Games in Chile Friday, but they wound up settling for silver and bronze.
On the podium: Brazil’s Stephan de Freitas Barcha, center; Kent Farrington, USA, left, and McLain Ward, USA, right. (Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian)
Instead, it was Stephan de Freitas Barcha, ranked number 152 in the world, who took gold by the narrowest of margins, as his fans and supporters from Brazil went nuts.
Brazil’s Stephan de Freitas Barcha had an emotional moment after clinching individual gold in the Pan Ams.
Stephan’s 8.06 penalties was the right number to edge the USA’s Kent Farrington and Landon, who had four faults and a clear today, ending with 9.64 penalties to capture silver.
The medalists had to wait before receiving their awards, however, while Canada protested a 4-fault penalty involving Amy Millar’s knockdown at the double combination on the second of two courses the horses jumped today.
The Canadian side contended the rail fell from Fence 4B only after Amy crossed the finish line, but the ground jury looked at video to determine whether that was the case. In the end, they decided the rail dropped before she finished her round, so she had to keep her 4 faults, which put her sixth with Truman.
McLain Ward of the U.S. got the bronze medal with 15.34 penalties. The U.S. now has a total of 34 medals since the Pan Am Games began in 1951.
But the delay of more than an hour before the awards ceremony meant most of the spectators (except the Brazilians!) had gone home. It was a bit of anti-climax for a wonderful event, of which Chileans should be proud.
This was the second Pan Am Games in a row where Brazil took individual gold. But defending champion Marlon Modolo Zanotelli retired in the second team jumping round on Wednesday after a knockdown and a refusal.
When he looked ahead to the individual competition, Stephan had said, “The first target was the team competition and the bronze medal was not the best feeling because we were fighting for the gold but I am in a good position for the individual.”
Pan Am Games individual show jumping gold medalist Stephan De Freitas Barcha and his magical mare. (Photo courtesy FEI)
And he turned out to be right.
“It is a dream come true,” he said after winning.
“I work every day for a day like this. It has been an unbelievable journey to get here, but now let’s celebrate and for tomorrow, let’s start to focus on Paris.”
Stephan, the two-time Brazilian national champion, was aboard Chevaux Primavera Imperio Egipcio. He had the troublesome red plank down at the last of 10 obstacles in the second individual round on the final day of competition for equestrians at the Games.
He had been clear throughout the event to that point on the 12-year-old Brazilian Sport Horse mare he has ridden for six years. He just finished within the time allowed of 61 seconds, crossing the timers in 60.51 seconds.
Stephan dedicated his win to two people close to him who have passed on.
“It is for a teacher I had since I was 15, and also my friend who I lost at the beginning of the year. I know he was with me in every round supporting me this week and this victory is for Vava, my good friend who was like a brother to me”, he stated..
McLain, who was standing first going into today’s jumping, had eight penalties with Contagious in the first of two rounds today. He got his bronze despite a rail at the next-to-last fence in the second round, as he pushed his Zweibrucker gelding to make that 61-second time allowed. They were even closer than Stephan, finishing in 60.97 seconds, just avoiding time penalties that would have taken McLain off the podium.
McLain Ward and Contagious. (Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian)
Laura Kraut, the third U.S. rider to take part in the individual medal fray, had two rails in the second round with Dorado 212 to finish just off the podium, in fourth place with 15.39 penalties.
The individual medals were a bonus, as the team’s mission at the showgrounds in Quillota was to clinch one of three berths available for nations seeking to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. That they did, finishing at the top of the leaderboard in the process.
“We came here for Wednesday,” said U.S. Coach Robert Ridland, speaking of the day his squad won team gold.
“They were brilliant on Wednesday and today. As the individual medals always are, it’s the icing on the cake.”
He was pleased with the “building partnerships” of Laura with Dorado and Kent with Landon.
Robert noted how much both Dorado and Landon have improved in the last four or five months, through he added Kent has a longer partnership with his mount than Laura does with hers.
Of Kent, Robert said, “He jumped as well as he ever has in his life all week. Some fancy riding on his part and the horse really came through.”
With the Pan Ams behind the U.S. show jumpers, “Now we know what’s next; we get ready for Paris,” emphasized Robert.
“That’s obviously our big priority. We’ll start working on that tomorrow.”
Kent said he was thrilled with the outcome of the competition and his horse, who had the only perfect trip in today’s second round, and had just a toe in the water in the first round.
“When we get into trouble, he battles his way out,” noted Kent, who started riding the 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding three years ago.
Landon gives a pair of suspicious Easter Island statues the eye as he and Kent look around the course. (Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian)
“Big rounds today, real jumping,” he commented.
“I think that shows what the Pan Am Games has become in our sport.”
The top 27 riders started Friday morning, with 20 coming back in the afternoon over a shortened course by designer Marina Azevedo of Brazil, who has done a marvelous job.
Stephan noted, “At every championship I won in Brazil, Marina was building: In Children’s, Juniors, Young Riders and Seniors.”
The theme of the beautifully executed jumps reflected Chile’s character, heritage and history, offering a tour of the country without having to leave the arena.
The flamingos that had decorated the course since jumping began on Tuesday appropriately were gathered at the water jump, unused in the second round. That route included the one-stride double and a triple combination in a grapes and wine theme, with an oxer that was two rather tight strides from another oxer, and then one stride to a vertical.
The next-to-last fence, an oxer over a water tray, caught more than just McLain, as riders pushed to make the time, with some of them also having a mishap at the red plank that followed.
Explaining the faults there, McLain said, “The horses have jumped six rounds now (including the warm-up) and they’re tired. They were massive fences, very delicate. It takes a lot of heart for the horses to dig in deep and pull that out.”
Noting that “championships get your blood up,” he praised his horse, saying “Contagious has been brilliant,” but added, “There’s always a couple of things I can look to do better.”
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 29, 2023
Lars Sederholm. the master of Watertock training center in Englan13d, died Oct. 13. The native of Sweden trained many top riders and trainers, including Yogi Breisner, Richard Meade and David O’Connor.
He is survived by his daughter, Annika.
She said, “He was truly one of a kind, in so many different ways, and had a profound effect on thousands of riders and horses all over the world. May the legacy of his teaching live on, to appreciate that wonderful animal, the horse, and to work with them in the most natural and authentic way we can.”
Those who would like to make a donation in his memory for Alzheimer’s research may do so at https://www.justgiving.com/aruk
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 24, 2023
Jon Garner, known by many members of the public as a commentator at Canada’s Royal Winter Fair, has been named the horse show manager at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Fla.
A part of the show management team there since the facility opened in January 2021, he has been competition manager at Spruce Meadows in Canada and director of sport at Equestrian Canada.
Jon served in the British Army and competed internationally for Great Britain and Canada prior to his arrival at Spruce Meadows. More recently, he was the director for the FEI World Cup Finals in Omaha last spring, and held the same position in 2017.
Appointed along with Jon, Kelly McCabe has been made head show secretary at WEC Ocala. She had served as the office manager at WEC. After competing nationally as a junior and amateur, she worked in horse show offices at Blue Ribbon Horse Shows, Brownland Farm Horse Shows and Maffitt Lake Equestrian Center Horse Shows for more than 14 years.
Her horse show experience also includes serving as the feed and bedding manager for Capital Challenge Horse Show and the awards coordinator for the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show and the National Reining Breeders Classic Million Dollar Reining Horse Show.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 29, 2023
In his debut at the Washington International Horse Show, Rene Dittmer of Germany took an armful of special awards.
Rene Dittmer and Corsica X. (Shawn McMillen Photography)
Not only was he leading international rider and leading foreign rider; his mount, Corsica X (Conor X Corofino II), won the international jumper championship. Rene’s groom, Carolin Kagelmann, earned the international groom’s award, presented in memory of Karen Golding.
On Friday night, Rene collected victories in both the Welcome class and memorably, the costume class, dressed as a stein of beer. He said his girlfriend, Chloe Reid (whose mother, Juliet, is a former chairman of the show) selected that costume.
But he missed out on the featured $450,000 President’s Cup 5-star Longines FEI World Cup qualifier, finishing second to Katie Dinan and Brego R’n B (Namelus R X Gerbinus) in a seven-horse jump-off.
It was Katie’s first 5-star win in a decade, and she made the most of being able to go last over the course designed by Bernardo Costa Cabral, assisted by Nick Granat.
Katie, a New Yorker who has owned Brego for five years, said, “In the jump-off, he showed all of his amazing qualities. He’s got huge scope, quality, bravery, intelligence, and he tries hard. You can’t really ask for more from a horse as a rider. I think he knew he won.
President’s Cup winner Katie Dinan with Brego R’n B. (Shawn McMillen Photography)
For his part, Rene said, “The week could not have started better and kept going. I can’t be more proud of my horse.”
He speculated when he watched Alise Oken, first to go in the jump-off on Gerval, “her seven (strides) was a little short to the last and I was thinking, ‘Should I do seven?’ I caught everything quite well before, and I took the safer option. I’m still happy with my second place today. It was an amazing jump-off.”
Rene Dittmer as a beer. (Shawn McMillen Photography)
He was clocked in 34.40; Katie’s winning time was a handy 33.50.
Third place in 34.74 seconds went to Devin Ryan of Long Valley, N.J., on his longtime partner Eddie Blue (VDL Zirocco Blue X Marlon), who took him to a second place 2018 World Cup Finals finish and to team gold on the 2018 World Equestrian Games squad.
“He was jumping great tonight,” said Devin.
“He jumped the second round and even felt looser and even better. I’m very grateful that I have such a good animal, and he’s still going strong. Hopefully, it keeps on going and he has a few more years in him at this level.”
In contrast to the gray gelding’s stellar persona in the arena, “He’s a bit of a grouch in the barn,” Devin revealed, “but he loves carrots. You become his best friend as soon as you walk in the stall with a carrot for him. He has quite an attitude.”
In other action at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Maryland, where the show has been held for two years, Maddie Tosh won the equitation final on Daktari 38. She is the daughter of top hunter rider Hunt Tosh, who trains her with the North Run crew of Missy Clark, John Brennan and Maggie Gampfer.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 2, 2023
The final equestrian drama of the Pan American Games will play out Friday, with the first round at 10 a.m. Eastern time and the second at 1 p.m. There will be 28 starters in the morning, with the USA’s McLain Ward (Contagious) and Laura Kraut (Dorado 232) first and second in the rankings.
The other U.S. participant, Kent Farrington (Landon) is eighth. Karl Cook is not riding Caracole de la Roque in the competition because only three riders from each country are permitted to take part, and he finished lowest of the four U.S. starters.
The top Canadian is Tiffany Foster (Figor), fifth going into the Friday competition.
Lee McKeever takes McLain Ward’s Contagious through the horse inspection. (Shannon Brinkman photo)
The field will be whittled to 20 for the final round in the afternoon. For the U.S., however, the hardest work is out of the way.
On Wednesday, the team earned the gold medal (Canada got silver and Brazil bronze). More important, the U.S. qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics.(Read the story on the front page of this website for details.)
Click here to see the start list for the first leg of Friday’s individual Pan Am show jumping competition.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 29, 2023
The Canadian team of Mike Winter, Karl Slezak Colleen Loach and Lindsay Traisnel upset the U.S. by 0.1 penalty at the Pan American Games in Chile Sunday to take team gold.
But individual gold went home with Caroline Martin Pamakcu on HSH Blake–fresh off a win with HSH Conor at the MARS Maryland 3-star last weekend. She moved up from second after dressage to take the lead with her cross-country trip.
Smashing through an oxer in the show jumping still couldn’t dislodge her from the top of the podium. Individual silver belonged to Jorge Marcio Carvalho of Brazil (Castle Howard Casanova), whose nation took team bronze. Individual bronze went to Canada’s Lindsay Traisnel. (Bacyrouge).
Jose Marcio Carvalho of Brazil, individual silver; Caroline Panukcu, USA, gold, and Lindsay Traisnel, Canada, bronze.
Caroline’s final score was 30.8 penalties. Jose accumulated 0.8 time penalties to total 32.2 and Lindsay had 1.6 time penalties to finish on 34.2.
The Canadian team score was 115.6 penalties; the USA lost its comfortable lead after cross-country because everyone had rails in the show jumping, leaving the country on 115.7. Brazil wound up on 127.1, and like Canada, qualified for eventing at the 2024 Olympics with their placings.
The U.S. lost its Pan Am lead in show jumping when none of its riders went clean. Liz Halliday had 13.6 penalties in the final phase with Miks Master C to finish seventh (42.4 penalties total); Sydney Elliott was eighth on QC Diamantaire with 9.2 in show jumping (42.5 penalties total) and Sharon White was 10th on Claus 63 with 16.4 show jumping penalties and a total of 47.
“It’s hard in the moment to look back and immediately start analyzing, but we all need to think about it for a couple of days, and with that will come more clarity on what we can do moving forward to not be in this position again,” said U.S. Chef d’Equipe Bobby Costello.
“It’s good that we are all disappointed with silver because it means we want to be better, but are also genuinely happy for our friends, the Canadians, and glad to see both them and Brazil punch their tickets to Paris. As a team, we’re going to have to go away from this, analyze ourselves, and find a way to come back stronger.”
The U.S. eventers already qualified at last year’s World Championships with a team silver. In the discipline of dressage, where the U.S. qualified for the Olympics with a sixth-place finish at the World Championships, the team color was gold at the Pan Ams.
Pan Am show jumping begins this week. The U.S. needs to be one of three countries that qualifies for the Olympics in Chile, since it didn’t make the cut at the World Championships or the Nations Cup final.
Click here for the individual eventing results
Click here for team eventing results
