Hong Kong, China -- Before the 2008 Olympic Games officially begin, the US Eventing riders had another important task at hand: all five American horses sailed through the first horse inspection.

The horses jogged by team, in alphabetical order by horse. Connaught (Phillip Dutton), Courageous Comet (Becky Holder), Mandiba (Karen O'Connor), McKinlaigh (Gina Miles) and Poggio (at Olympic Games number two) all looked very fit and sound when they were presented before the Gound Jury in the main arena at the Sha Tin venue.

These five horses make up one of 11 teams vying for medals out of 72 total horses from 24 countries.

Sadly two horses from South America, Literal and Butterfly (ridden by Chile’s Ricardo Stangher and Brazil's Fabricio Salgado) were both spun.

2004 team bronze medalists: Tryon and Mark Hart’s Poggio, will assume their typical lead-off role tomorrow morning, they will be the first US combination in the ring at 6.58 a.m. Miles and Thom Schulz and Laura Coats’ McKinlaigh will go second for the US, Holder and Courageous Comet (who she owns with her husband Tom) will round out Saturday's session - going in the evening. O'Connor (at her fourth Olympic Games) and Joan Goswell’s Mandiba will go fourth for the US and (two-time gold medalist) Dutton will ride Rolex winner Connaught (owned by Bruce Duchossios) in the anchor spot.

The Olympic experience is not lost on O’Connor despite the fact that she rode in her first Games in 1988.

"It is an honor to represent the country,” she said. “It is a great personal goal to have achieved. I’m really excited and I’m looking forward to the whole competition.”

Times will be posted as soon as they become available. The Welcome Ceremony will begin at 7 pm. A complete report will follow.

ENDS

For more information, please contact Joanie Morris at [email protected].


For more information, please contact Joanie Morris at [email protected].