Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has named Karen O'Connor and Mandiba to the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, following the withdrawal of Tipperary Liadhnan by Kim Severson (that story is available here: http://usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=6225).

The following horse/rider combinations will represent the U.S. on the Team:

Buck Davidson/34/Riegelsville, PA/BallyNoe Castle RM/10/Irish Thoroughbred/G/Carl and Cassandra Segal
Phillip Dutton/47/West Grove, PA/Woodburn/14/NZ Thoroughbred/G/Ann Jones, Mardie Faucette and Acorn Hill Farm
Boyd Martin/31/West Grove, PA/Neville Bardos/11/Australian Thoroughbred/G/Windurra USA, LLC
Karen O'Connor/52/The Plains, VA/Mandiba/11/Thoroughbred/G/Joan Goswell

The following horse/rider combination has been named to represent the United States as an individual:

Becky Holder/41/Palmetto, GA/Courageous Comet/14/Thoroughbred/G/Tom & Becky Holder

All five American horses looked fit and sound this morning at the horse inspection, where 82 horses were presented. The Ground Jury of Marilyn Payne (USA), Anne-Mette Binder (DEN) and David Lee (IRL) asked for a second look at three horses; two were passed upon re-inspection but sadly Azteca, the lone Mexican entry for Escipion Mendivil will not go forward. Fourteen teams will be competing for Team Gold at the World Eventing Championships.

The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team is led by Chef d'Equipe Captain Mark Phillips, who has led the U.S. Eventing program to a medal at every championship during his tenure began in 1993.

"I think we've got a great team, said Phillips. "All are experienced competitors around the Kentucky Horse Park cross country course. Everyone is out there to put in their personal best performance."

Of these riders, Boyd Martin is riding for the U.S. Team for the first time. An Australian ex-patriate - Martin began riding for the U.S. in 2009. Karen O'Connor has ridden for the U.S. 11 times (on Championship teams) since her first team in 1986, Phillip Dutton has won two Olympic Team Gold medals (another former Aussie, he was on their Gold medal-winning teams in 1996 and 2000) but World Championship top honors have eluded him. Buck Davidson is the son of a two-time World Champion: Bruce Davidson. Becky Holder represented the U.S. on the 2008 Olympic Team in Hong Kong.


ENDS