“The horses traveled well. We have an experienced group and we are looking forward to the weekend,” said Chef d’Equipe David O’Connor. “[Aachen] is truly one of the best horse shows in the world, so it is great to be here.”
Leading off for the U.S. team is Land Rover USEF Competition Grant recipients Symansky (Middleburg, Va.) and Donner, a 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by The Donner Syndicate, LLC. Earlier this year, the pair was fourth in The Fork CIC3* and 12th in the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover. Over the summer, Symansky and Donner were second in the CIC3* at the inaugural Land Rover Great Meadow International presented by Adequan.
Last month, Kieffer (Middleburg, Va.) was a member of the Gold medal team at the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada, riding Meadowbrook’s Scarlett. With Team Rebecca, LLC's Veronica, Kieffer hopes to have an excellent week in Aachen. She and the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare were the 2014 Rolex/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Champions after finishing in second at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover. Recently, the pair finished seventh in the Equi-Trek Bramham International CCI3*. Kieffer and Veronica were awarded a Karen E. Stives Endowment Fund for High Performance Eventing Competition Grant for the Aachen CICO3* and Blenheim CCI3*, through the USET Foundation.
Rutledge (Frederick, Md.) makes her debut representing the U.S. with her own Covert Rights in Aachen. In the nine-year-old Thoroughbred Cross gelding’s debut at the CCI4* level, Rutledge rode him to an 11th-place finish in the 2015 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover. The pair then finished third in the CIC3* at the inaugural Land Rover Great Meadow International presented by Adequan. Rutledge and Covert Rights are in Europe on a Jacqueline B. Mars Competition Grant, through the USET Foundation.
Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and Thomas Tierney and Simon Roosevelt's Fernhill Cubalawn are a solid combination, even though he and the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding have a relatively new partnership. At the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover, he rode Fernhill Cubalawn to a fifth-place finish in the horse’s first attempt at the CCI4* level. As the top-placed American combination, the pair won the Rolex/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Champion title. Dutton is coming off winning a Team Gold medal at the Pan American Games with Fernhill Fugitive, and aims to display the same top form with Fernhill Cubalawn in Aachen. Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn were also awarded a Karen E. Stives Endowment Fund for High Performance Eventing Competition Grant for the Aachen CICO3*, through the USET Foundation.
On Thursday, Symansky and Donner will be the first U.S. pair down centerline at 9:00 a.m. CEST followed by Kieffer and Veronica at 10:30 a.m. Rutledge and Covert Rights will be next at 12:15 p.m., with Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn acting as the anchor combination at 2:37 p.m. The jumping phase will also take place on Thursday, beginning at 5:30 p.m. CEST. The cross-country phase will start at 2:00 p.m. CEST on Friday.
Find out more about the Aachen CICO3*.
The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members. Without the support of these organizations and individuals, it would not be possible to support our athletes. The USEF is especially grateful to individuals who give generously of their time and money to support the equestrian teams.