U.S. Three-Gaited Team Wins Gold (2010 Saddle Seat World Cup)
Three-Gaited World Cup and Silver in the Five-Gaited World Cup events. The event was held October 6-8, 2010 at the historic Shelby County Fairgrounds in Shelbyville, Kentucky.
Both the three- and five-gaited U.S. teams headed to the competition looking to win back the coveted gold medals and World Cups. Three-gaited Team USA was a dominant force early in the event, and finished strong to capture the gold. However, strong performances from a deep South African team in the
five-gaited division led to the silver for Team USA. South Africa earned the silver in the three-gaited event, while Canada took the bronze in both the three- and five-gaited events. Team Great Britain captured fourth place honors in both three- and five-gaited competition, while Team Germany turned in
brilliant debut performances for their first ever World Cup appearances.
The event was scored by a three-judge panel. American judge Gary Garone was joined by colleagues Terry Johnson of Canada and Hugo Visser of South Africa. The format of the competition calls for all riders to compete on horses they have never ridden before, with each rider getting just two half-hour practice sessions to get to know the horses they ride in the
event.
The members of the 2010 US Saddle Seat World Cup Teams are:
THREE-GAITED
Nick Maupin (Sussex, WI)
Brittany McGinnis (Fishers, IN)
Jessica Moctezuma (Hardwick, NJ)
Alexis Muniz (Coconut Creek, FL)
Abby Mutrux (University City, MO)
Taylor Newton (Alternate) (Lizton, IN)
Coach/Manager: Jimmy & Helen Robertson (Shelbyville, KY)
FIVE-GAITED
Brittany Baird (Hinsdale, IL)
Jacqueline Beck (Aliso Viejo, CA)
Drew Taylor Hewitt (Bermuda Run, NC)
Ali Judah (Louisville, KY)
Scooter Scheurich (New Orleans, LA)
Alexis Pearson (Alternate) (Salisb ury, MA)
Coach/Manager: Barbe Smith & James Nichols (New Orleans, LA); Kent Swalla (Columbia, MO)
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For more information on the U.S. team selection process or the international event—please contact U.S. Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup Executive Secretary Christy O’Donnell (e-mail at
[email protected] or telephone at 813-760-0465).
The mission of the US Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup is to expand the presence of Saddle Seat Equitation on both national and international levels through team-based competition
and promotion of the discipline by our athletes and officials.