Lexington, Ky. – In 2015, Land Rover, the official automotive partner of the United States Equestrian Federation, continued its unwavering support of the U.S. eventing program. Fourteen athlete-and-horse combinations received funding to compete at 11 prestigious competitions in both Europe and the U.S. The combinations delivered fantastic performances to garner top placings on the international stage.

Jersey Fresh International CCI3*

Matt Brown (Petaluma, Calif.) kicked the year off for grant recipients at Jersey Fresh International CCI3* with Mary McKee’s Happenstance. In the second CCI3* of his career, Brown had a smooth dressage test with the 2006 Holsteiner gelding to score 47.7, a double clear cross-country round, and a single rail and time fault in show jumping to finish fifth on a score of 52.7.

Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials CCI3*

Lauren Kieffer (Middleburg, Va.) and Team Rebecca, LLC's Veronica began their summer abroad in Europe by finishing in seventh place in the Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials CCI3*. Kieffer and the 2002 Dutch Warmblood mare started off the competition with a dressage score of 44.7 and added only 4.4 cross-country time penalties to finish on a score of 49.1.

Luhmühlen CCI4* presented by DHL
At the Luhmühlen CCI4* presented by DHL, Clark Montgomery (Tetbury, England) and Jessica Montgomery, Kathryn Kraft, and Holly and William Becker's Loughan Glen finished in an impressive sixth place. Montgomery and the 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding added only four-tenths time of a penalty point to their score for being a second over the optimum time in the cross-country phase to end on a score of 37.50.

The Event at Rebecca Farm CCI3*

Back in the states, Kurt Martin (Middleburg, Va.) and his own Delux Z, a 2005 Irish Sport Horse gelding, had a fantastic showing at the inaugural CCI3* at 2015 The Event at Rebecca Farm. They claimed top honors by finishing on their dressage score of 47.0.

Aachen CICO3*

Lynn Symansky (Middleburg, Va.) and The Donner Syndicate, LLC's Donner earned valuable experience in Europe over the summer. Symansky and the 2003 Thoroughbred gelding first headed to the Aachen CICO3* and helped the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team earn the Bronze medal in a star-studded field.

Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials CCI4*

Symansky and Donner then competed at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials CCI4* and had a respectable performance in their first appearance at the renowned competition to finish in 14th place.

Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials CCI3*

The U.S. contingent had an excellent showing at the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials CCI3*, with two Land Rover/USEF eventing competition grant recipients finishing in the top 12. Emily Beshear (Somerset, Va.) gave Deep Purple Eventing's Shame On The Moon a great ride in the 2006 Trakehner/Thoroughbred mare’s European debut to finish in seventh place with a score of 47.7. Will Coleman (Gordonsville, Ga.) and The Four Star Eventing Group's OBOS O’Reilly, a 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding, had a strong showing to finish in 11th place on a score of 51.1. Additionally, Elisa Wallace (Jasper, Ga.) and David and Jill Hopcroft's Simply Priceless, a 2001 Thoroughbred gelding, made their European debut at Blenheim and showed much promise for the future, finishing in 29th place with a score of 61.7.

Military Boekelo-Enschede CCIO3*

Buck Davidson (Ocala, Fla.) and Sherrie Martin and Carl Segal's Copper Beach, a 2006 Irish Sport Horse gelding, helped the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team earn the Silver medal in the Military Boekelo-Enschede CCIO3* Nations Cup competition. Marilyn Little (Frederick, Md.) and Raylyn Farms, Inc.'s RF Quarterman, a 2008 Oldenburg gelding, earned valuable experience in the electric atmosphere of Boekelo.

Les Étoiles de Pau CCI4*

Jennie Brannigan (Kennett Square, Pa.) and Nina Gardner's Cambalda, a 2002 Irish Thoroughbred gelding, were able test their skills against some of the world’s top athletes, highlighted by a fluid dressage test that put them in the top 10 after the dressage phase.

The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International CCI3*

During fall three-day events in the U.S., Land Rover/USEF eventing competition grant recipients scored top finishes. Tamra Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) and Alexandra Ahearn, Ellen Ahearn, and Eric Markell's Mai Baum made their trip from the West Coast to The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International CCI3* worthwhile by claiming the win. Smith and the 2006 German Sport Horse gelding led from start to finish adding only two show jumping time penalties to their dressage score of 38.5 to finish on a score of 40.5, earning The Dutta Corp./USEF Three-Star Eventing National Championship and USEF National Developing Rider Championship titles.

Galway Downs International CCI3*

Kieffer and Marie Le Menestrel's Meadowbrook’s Scarlett and Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and Ann Jones, Bridget Colman, and Caroline Moran's Mr. Candyman had impressive results at the Galway Downs International CCI3*. Kieffer and the 2007 Thoroughbred Cross mare had a lovely dressage test, a bit of time on cross-country, and a single rail in show jumping to finish in third place with a score of 49.8. Dutton and the 2007 Holsteiner gelding added nothing to their dressage score of 50.9 to finish in fourth place.

Learn more about Land Rover USA.

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 provide such support to the athletes named to these grants. The USEF is especially grateful to individuals who give generously of their time and money to support the equestrian teams.