The U.S. team following the Opening Ceremonies (R. Millin)

Parys, South Africa – On Thursday, December 6, competition got underway at the Saddle Seat World Cup. Riders in the Three- and Five-Gaited sections of the U.S. team competed in the initial stages of the rail and pattern work. Both sections of U.S. riders had strong performances on the first day of competition. The Five-Gaited section riders Hunter Chancellor (Evansville, IN), Angela Darrow (Hartland, WI), Drew Taylor Hewitt (Bermuda Run, NC), Ali Judah (Louisville, KY), and team captain Nick Maupin (Sussex, WI) put up impressive numbers with their pattern work.  Brooke Boyer (Johnston, IA), Emily Chapman (Tucson, AZ), Brooke Jacobs (Georgetown, KY), Alexandra Lawson (North Salem, IN), and team captain Abigail Mutrux (St. Louis, MO) of the Three-Gaited section also scored outstanding numbers in their pattern work. 

In the Saddle Seat World Cup, the rail work scores are not announced, leaving riders and spectators guessing about the lead between countries at the end of the day. 

The Five-Gaited section competed again today and continued to demonstrate confidence and ability in the tough competition setting.  The Three-Gaited section will finish out the competition on Saturday, December 8.  Riders will not know the overall scores until the Closing Ceremonies being held on Saturday at 5:30pm local time.

Video footage of the Saddle Seat World Cup is available here.