Members of the Professional Riders Organization (PRO) took top honors at the Waredaca Horse Trials in Maryland this weekend, with PRO riders winning six divisions. In a crowded field of competitors, PRO founder Phillip Dutton walked away with first-, second- and third-place finishes in Open Intermediate.
Dutton is currently ranked second in the nation behind fellow PRO founder Buck Davidson. Boyd Martin, a PRO board member who also competed at Waredaca, is ranked third. Overall, the top five American riders are either PRO founders or members of its board.
In its 30th year of competition, the Waredaca Horse Trials host three USEF-sanctioned events annually. Owned by Gretchen and Robert Butts, Waredaca draws competitors from across the nation to compete on more than 200 acres in the heart of Maryland.
PRO riders' wins at Waredaca included:
• Phillip Dutton with Wild Tiger in Open Intermediate,
• Phillip Dutton with Vidalia in Open Preliminary A,
• Ryan Wood with Balmoral Mighty Legend in Open Preliminary C,
• Sinead Halpin with Sir Bally Patrick Ricardo in Novice Horse B,
• Boyd Martin with Lillian Pink in Open Novice,
• and Boyd Martin with Little Miss Sunshine in Open Beginner Novice.
Other PRO members who competed at Waredaca include Jennifer Brannigan, Caroline Lendl, Hillary Moses, Bonnie Mosser, Katie Ruppel, Kristin Schmolze, Jennifer Simmons, Allison Springer, Erin Sylvester, Laura VanderVliet, Danny Warrington, Julia Wendell and Sharon White.
PRO was formed in 2009 by a leading group of professional riders who felt they had a special obligation to and interest in strengthening the sport of eventing. In addition to representing the goals and objectives of professional riders, PRO is also dedicated to elevating the level of competition, contributing to ongoing rider education, improving the standards of competition and promoting safety while working to attract new fans, sponsors and participants.
Though formed with professional riders in mind, PRO works with the eventing community to increase spectators' involvement. As eventing grows in popularity, PRO works with both current and prospective fans to raise its profile to that of more mainstream, high-profile sports. Through partnership with sponsors and spectators, PRO works to make eventing more exciting and dynamic as it continues to evolve.
Following his successful finishes at Waredaca, Dutton will head to England to compete at the Burghley Horse Trials CCI**** with Tru Luck.
For more information on PRO, please visit www.professionalriders.org.