It takes a lot of people to keep our U.S. show on the road, so the first Barn Notes will be fairly basic introductions of the Dressage staff:

Barn Manager Dougie Hannum first travelled with the U.S. Team in 1966 as a show jumping groom and he hasn't missed much over the last four decades. The first team horse he looked after was called Ilan, he belonged to James Paxton but Frank Chapot rode him on the team and Dougie was part of the deal. He was around when a jumping horse named Sloopy had to take a boat to Germany from the U.S. because he was so frightened on the plane they wouldn't let him fly. That was in 1972. If its broken, Dougie can fix it. If a horse needs some phyiso work, he's your guy. 

Veterinarian Dr. Rick Mitchell started his tenure with the U.S. teams with the show jumpers - he was an acredited vet at the 1992 Olympics but his first official team trip in 1995 was to the Pan American Games. This is his fourth Pan Ams, he has done three Olympic Games, his first of which was in 1996. His first with the dressage team was in 2008. His wife Julie works alongside him as a tech and administrator. They are a fantastic team.

Farrier Steve Tiechman did his first Team work in 1997 at the Open European Championships for Eventing and then the World Championships in Rome in 1998. He has pulled off some miracles in his days, including putting an open shoe on backwards to serve as a bar shoe in a pinch at a horse inspection. It was the first and last time he travelled to another country without bar shoes. 

This is a terrific group of grooms, although it is the first Games for three of them. Only Grandioso's groom Jenny has done team trips before but only for Colombia. She is amazed by the support of the US Federation and Olympic Committee. We would be lost without this group. 

Today was day two of exercise for all the horses, they are fresh and happy - all of them are going well. 

Grandioso was looking for carrots and Gatorade. Magic was getting a lot of grooming from Eddie. Paragon was snoozing in his magnetic blanket and Big Tyme was banging on his door begging for more attention. 

The horse inspection has been changed to 9:00 AM on October 15th, and tomorrow night is Opening Ceremonies.