First it was Marilyn Little withdrawing La Contessa from the U.S. show jumping team at this month’s world championships in Aachen, Germany. Then came Phillip Dutton’s substitution of his back-up mount, Denim, for Possante on the U.S. eventing team.
On Saturday the U.S. Equestrian Federation has announced another U.S. world championships team drop-out, Genay Vaughn and Gino. Their place will be taken by Meagan Davis and Toronto Lightfoot.
It’s the second change in less than a week. On Wednesday, Jordan LaPlaca said he was stepping aside from the dressage team, with Kasey Perry-Glass and Heartbeat WP taking the place of himself and Gold Play on the squad.
Jordan LaPlaca and Gold Play.
“In the spirit of staying true to my core convictions as a horseman and as a committed partner to my horse, Gold Play, I have decided to withdraw from this year’s FEI Dressage World Championships. Gold Play is okay and that is the most important thing,” Jordan announced.
“But as a member of the U.S. team, I have to do what is best not only for my horse, but for the entire team as well. This is not the end, just the beginning of great things still to come.”
Jordan, who was fifth in the national Grand Prix Championships in May, is short on experience internationally. Kasey has been a team medalist in both the Olympics and World Equestrian Games. Those honors came with her previous horse, Dublet. Heartbeat has far less milage. He and Casey were fifteenth at the national Grand Prix championships, where they withdrew from the freestyle.
Kasey Perry-Glass and Heartbeat WP.
This is a building year for the U.S. dressage team, as it looks toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Team members will get experience at the world championships next week, but there is no chance of a U.S. medal in the discipline there.
The country is short on proven horse power at the top level. Jane, a veteran of the Paris Olympics with Marcus Orlob, has been rehabbing from injury for most of this year and was not a contender for the world championships team. The top-ranked U.S. horse internationally, Indian Rock, has been resting since the national championships, where he dropped out before the freestyle.
Things could be worse. Canada had only two entries for the world championships eventing. Now Michael Winter has withdrawn after his Olympic veteran, El Mundo, sustained an injury during his prep work and can’t compete. Now Jessica Winter and the Fluorescent Adolescent are Canada’s only represntatives in the discipline at the championships.
Mike explained about his horse, known as Roberto, “The care and well-being of Roberto, and of all our equine partners, is paramount. The most important thing is that Roberto is here at home, being well-cared for.
“Not because of what he has done for us, or what he may still do, but because he is a valued partner entrusted to our care. We have a responsibility to make the best decisions we can for him, always with his long-term welfare at heart and with the goal of creating the best possible outcomes throughout his career and his life.”