Mill Spring, N.C. – Following Wednesday’s first horse inspection, the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Squad is ready for the start of the eventing portion of the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) Tryon 2018, running September 13-16. The team of Will Coleman and Tight Lines, Phillip Dutton and Z, Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg, and Lynn Symansky and Donner, with Lauren Kieffer and Vermiculus competing as an individual combination hope for strong performances on home turf under the guidance of Chef d’Equipe Erik Duvander. The team’s aim is to finish in the top six to secure qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. They have drawn fourth in the order of 16 teams as they compete at this pinnacle of equestrian sport.
Meet the Squad
Will Coleman from Charlottesville, Va., riding Tight Lines, The Conair Syndicate’s 11-year-old French Thoroughbred gelding. Follow Coleman on Facebook (@willcolemanequestrian), Twitter (@colemaneventing), and Instagram (@willcolemanequestrian).
Phillip Dutton from West Grove, Pa., riding Z, the 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding owned by Thomas Tierney, Simon Roosevelt, Suzanne Lacy, Caroline Moran, and Ann Jones. Follow Dutton on Facebook (@phillipduttoneventing), Twitter (@DuttonEventing), and Instagram (@duttoneventing).
Lauren Kieffer from The Plains, Va., riding Vermiculus, Jacqueline Mars’s 11-year-old Anglo-Arabian gelding. Follow Kieffer on Facebook (@laurenkieffereventing), Twitter (@laurenkieffer), and Instagram (@laurenkieffereventing).
Boyd Martin from Cochranville, Pa., riding Tsetserleg, Christine Turner’s 11-year-old Trakehner gelding. Follow Martin on Facebook (@BoydMartinEventing), Twitter (@WindurraUSA), and Instagram (@windurrausa1).
Lynn Symansky from Middleburg, Va., riding Donner, The Donner Syndicate, LLC’s 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. Follow Symansky on Facebook (@LynnSymanskyEquestrian), Twitter (@LynnSymanskyEq), and Instagram (@lynn.symansky.equestrian).
Last Time Out
Coleman and Tight Lines collected second-place finishes in the Richland Park CIC3* and The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International CCI3* in 2017. This year, they were in the top 15 at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4* in April and the Bromont International CIC3* in August.
Dutton and Z won the WEG Test Event/The Fork CIC3* before finishing fourth in the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4* in April. They placed sixth in the Bromont International CIC3* in August.
Kieffer and Vermiculus placed fifth in the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4* in April, followed by a third-place finish in the Loch Moy Farm II CIC2* in July. They placed 15th in the Bromont International CIC3* in August.
Martin and Tsetserleg placed eighth in the WEG Test Event/The Fork CIC3* and 11th in the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4* in April. They were fourth in the Loch Moy Farm II CIC2* in July, followed by a 12th-place finish in the Bromont International CIC3* in August.
Symansky and Donner placed sixth in the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4* in April and 10th in the Bromont International CIC3* in August.
Career Highlights
Coleman: London 2012 Olympian; 2017 The Dutta Corp./USEF CCI3* Eventing National Champions; short-listed for the Guadalajara 2011 Pan American Games
Dutton: Six-time Olympian (2016, 2012, 2008, 2004, 2000, and 1996), including Rio de Janeiro 2016 individual bronze medalist, Sydney 2000 team gold medalist (for Australia), and Atlanta 1996 team gold medalist (for Australia); six-time WEG competitor (2014, 2010, 2006, 2002, 1998, and 1994); two-time Pan American Games competitor (2015 and 2007), including Toronto 2015 team gold medalist and Rio de Janeiro 2007 team gold and individual silver medalist; five-time Land Rover/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Champion (2017, 2015, 2010, 2008, and 2007); 2007 USEF CCI3* Eventing National Champion
Kieffer: Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympian; Toronto 2015 Pan American Games team gold medalist; two-time Land Rover/USEF CCI4* Eventing National Champion (2016 and 2014)
Martin: Two-time Olympian (2016 and 2012); two-time Alltech WEG competitor (2014 and 2010); Toronto 2015 Pan American Games team gold medalist; two-time USEF CCI3* Eventing National Champion (2011 and 2009)
Symansky: Normandy 2014 Alltech WEG competitor; Guadalajara 2011 Pan American Games team gold medalist; eight CCI4* completions with Donner at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, Les Étoiles des Pau, and Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials
Competition Information
Competition begins Thursday, the first day of dressage, at 9:00 a.m. ET in the U.S. Trust Arena and will be streamed live on FEI TV. On Thursday, Coleman and Tight Lines head down centerline at 9:24 a.m., followed by Martin and Tsetserleg at 1:39 p.m. and Kieffer and Vermiculus at 4:25 p.m. On Friday, Symansky and Donner compete at 10:19 a.m., followed by Dutton and Z at 2:42 p.m.
Follow US Equestrian
Stay up to date on the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at WEG by following USA Eventing on Facebook and US Equestrian on Twitter and Instagram, featuring a daily Instagram Story. Use #USAEventing and #Tryon2018.
The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.