Photo Credit: Kasey @ Rare Air Photography
BOEKELO CCIO3*
Boekelo, The Netherlands
October 8-11, 2015
The following athlete-and-horse combinations (in alphabetical order) will compose the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at the Boekelo CCIO3*:
Eventing – Team
Photo Credit: Mike McNally
Matthew Brown Born: June 28, 1976 Residence: Petaluma, Calif.
Super Socks BCF - 2006 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Blossom Creek Matthew Brown began riding at six-years-old with with BHS instructor Andrea Pfeiffer. He continued his career as a young rider, competing through the Advanced level of eventing with his horse Maximum Speed and representing Area VI at the 1993 North American Young Riders Championships in the CCI2*. In order to broaden his education, Brown traveled East in 1996 to train and assist U.S. Team veteran Denny Emerson at his Tamarack Hill Farm in Vermont. Upon his return from Vermont, Brown continued to gain education and experience under the expert coaching of clinicians including Pierre Cousyn, Beth Ball, Steffen Peters, Christine Traurig, Beth Clarke, Axel Steiner, and Sue Blinks. It was also during this time that Brown was greatly influenced by the horsemanship of George Kharl.
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Brown spent time on Kharl’s Montana Ranch learning a new approach to horses, in which observation, patience, and clear communication became the foundation of his training and relationships with his equine partners. In 2003, Brown met Cecily Clark, and together they started East West Training Stables in 2004. Matt has competed with much success through the three-star level of eventing, as well as enjoying successes in the dressage ring, earning many high point awards on horses from Training through Fourth Level. In 2013, Brown finished first and third at the Galway Downs CCI3* with BCF Belicoso and Super Socks BCF, respectively. His success continued into 2014, as he and Happenstance won the CIC2* at Galway Downs and the CCI2* at The Event at Rebecca Farm. Additionally, he and BCF Belicoso were the winners of the Twin Rivers CIC3* and then Brown and Super Socks BCF went onto win the CIC3* at The Event at Rebecca Farm. He finished the year off with solid performances at The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International with Super Socks BCF in the CCI3* and Happenstance in the CCI2*. Brown remains in top form in 2015. He and Happenstance
Eventing – Team won the Fresno County Horse Park CIC2*. At the Galway Downs CIC2*, Brown was second with BCF Belicoso. Heading to the East Coast, he was first with Super Socks BCF and fourth with Happenstance in the Fair Hill International CIC3*. Brown collected top placings at the Jersey Fresh International CCI3*, finishing fifth with Happenstance and 10th with BCF Belicoso. Brown and Super Socks BCF were fifth in the Bromont International CCI3*. The pair was then third in the Advanced division at the Richland Park Horse Trials. Brown also studies extensively in the self-defense art of Kenpo Karate, achieving the rank of Shodan (black belt) in 2000. Matt incorporates the philosophies, body awareness, and balancing techniques that he has learned in the martial arts to enrich his riding and training.
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Eventing – Team
Photo Credit: Kasey @ Rare Air Photography
Buck Davidson Born: February 11, 1976 Residence: Ocala, Fla.
Copper Beach - 2006 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Sherrie Martin and Carl Segal The Davidson name is legendary in the eventing world, and Buck has focused on following in the footsteps of his father Bruce, an Olympic medalist and the only person to ever win back-to-back World Championships. Though much of his younger years were devoted primarily to baseball, a sports-related injury changed his focus. Always a rider, Davidson began his career as a fox hunter and timber jockey. Davidson had an impressive history as a young rider. He won the Markham Trophy as the highest placing Young Rider in a USET Championship three times, and was the 1996 Young Rider of the Year. In his CCI4* debut in 1998, he placed sixth at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event on Trans Am A Flirt. The two following years he placed 10th
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and then fourth at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event with Pajama Game, and in 1999 the pair made their U.S. team debut at the Pan American Games. In 2005, Hyperlite provided Davidson with his very first CCI3* victory at Jersey Fresh. Ballynoe Castle RM (or Reggie as he is called, after fellow super jock Reggie Miller) has been a star in Davidson’s barn for many years, upon importing him as a young horse, Davidson has always maintained that Reggie is all class. In 2008, Davidson’s faith in the horse was rewarded with an immaculate performance at the CCI3* at Jersey Fresh International where they were second, leading to the pair being named as alternates to the U.S. Olympic Team. In 2009, Davidson had a banner year, winning horse trials at every level and collecting a number of strong finishes at the international level. With My Boy Bobby, Davidson won the CIC3* divisions at both The Fork and Wits End. The pair was third in the Rolex Kentucky CCI4*, making Davidson the top-placed American, winning him his second Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Championship. Not to be outdone by his stablemate, Ballynoe Castle RM capped off the first half of the season with a top-15 finish in his first CCI4* at Kentucky.
Eventing – Team He followed up this good result with a pair of second-place
tional CCI3* with Copper Beach. In August, he and Ballynoe
CIC3* finishes at Maui Jim and Wits End. In September,
Castle RM made their second World Championship appear-
Davidson and Reggie traveled to the Land Rover Burghley
ance as members of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at
Horse Trials CCI4* where they were once again in the top 15.
the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Returning to the
In 2010 Davidson made his World Championship debut
U.S., Davidson finished second with Copper Beach and third
as part of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team with Ballynoe
with Ballynoe Castle RM in the CIC3* division at the Planta-
Castle RM at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games ion
tion Field International, also winning the CIC2* with Be Mine.
Lexington, Ky.
At The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International, Davidson rode The
Davidson competed across the country as well as overseas
Apprentice to a fifth-place finish in the CCI3*. He then had an
in 2011. He and Ballynoe Castle RM completed the Badmin-
impressive second-place finish at the Galway Downs CCI3*
ton CCI4* and were the highest-placed American pair in 21st
with Copper Beach.
place. In the summer, the pair won the CIC3* at Richland
Davidson began 2015 with a fifth-place finish in the Red
Park and Advanced divisions at both the Millbrook Horse Tri-
Hills International CIC2* with Be Mine. He was second in
als and the Morven Park Fall Horse Trials. They also finished
The Fork CIC3* with Ballynoe Castle RM. Davison had a
second in the CIC3* at The Event at Rebecca Farm and
winning weekend at the Jersey Fresh International, win-
at the Nutrena/USEA American Eventing Championships
ning the CCI3* with Ballynoe Castle RM and the CIC2* with
in the Advanced division. Davidson also piloted Absolute
Copper Beach. He and Petite Flower finished in fifth place
Liberty to Team Gold and Individual Bronze at the 2011 Pan
in the CIC3* division at the Land Rover Great Meadow
American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
International presented by Adequan. Davidson partnered
Davidson suffered a broken collarbone in February of
with Copper Beach and The Apprentice at the Cosequin
2012, but that did not slow him down. He proved he was
Stuart Horse Trials CIC2*, finishing second and fifth, respec-
back at 100% at Jersey Fresh International in early May,
tively. He and The Apprentice traveled west to The Event
earning a fourth-place finish in the CCI3* with Ballynoe
at Rebecca Farm where they finished third in the inaugural
Castle RM. Later in the year, the pair also earned third-place
CCI3* division. Back east, Davidson scored top placings at
finishes in the CIC3* divisions at Richland Park and Planta-
the Richland Park Horse Trials, finishing first with Ballynoe
tion Field International Horse Trials.
Castle RM and ninth with Copper Beach in the CIC3* divi-
2013 saw Davidson earn top finishes on multiple horses.
sion.
With Ballynoe Castle RM, he earned two third-place finishes in CIC3* competition at Red Hills International and The Fork before finishing in fourth place at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4*, in addition to completing the event with Mar de Amor and Park Trader. He then completed the season with a second-place finish at The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International CCI3* with Park Trader and a win with Petite Flower at the Galway Downs International CCI3*. Davidson enjoyed a successful start to his 2014 season earning second- and fourth-place finishes with Ballynoe Castle RM in the CIC3* divisions at the Cloud Eleven~Gavilan North LLC Carolina International and The Fork, respectively. He earned a third-place result with Ballynoe Castle RM and a 12th-place finish with Park Trader at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover. The following month Davidson went onto win the Jersey Fresh Interna2015 Boekelo CCIO3*
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Eventing – Team
Photo Credit: Kasey @ Rare Air Photography
Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp
Born: December 4, 1978 Residence: East Sussex, UK HHS Cooley - 2004 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Deborah Halliday Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp began riding when she was eight-years-old in California, focusing on both dressage and eventing. She was a member of the local Pony Club and competed in and qualified for the national championships on multiple occasions. Halliday-Sharp first moved to England in 2000 to work for William Fox-Pitt and remained there when she realized it was the best location for her to reach her goals. During her first two years there, she progressed quickly from Pre-Novice level to Advanced and International three-star competition, and also gained her British Horse Society stages 1-4 and teaching qualification. Her breakout year came in 2013. At the Brightling Park
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CIC2*, Halliday-Sharp was second with Fernhill By Night. She found success at the Ballindenisk CIC3*, finishing seventh with HHS Cooley and 12th with Fernhill By Night. She represented the U.S. for the first time at the Boekelo CCIO3* with Fernhill By Night. Halliday-Sharp closed out her year with a third-place finish at the Galway Downs CCI3* with HHS Cooley. Halliday-Sharp kicked off 2014 with wins at the CIC2* divisions at Vale Sabroso and Barroca d’Alva aboard Fernhill By Night. She was then seventh at the Ballindenisk CICO3* with HHS Cooley. At the Cappoquin CIC3*, Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night came in eighth. The pair then had an impressive second-place finish at the Ballindenisk CIC3*. They represented the U.S. once again at the Boekelo CCIO3* and had a respectable finish. Returning to the U.S. for the beginning of the 2015 season, Halliday-Sharp won the Advanced AA division with Fernhill By Night and was second in the Advanced AB division with HHS Cooley at Pine Top Advanced Horse Trials. She and HHS Cooley then scored a second-place finish in the Red Hills International CIC3*. Heading back to Europe, Halliday-Sharp won the Brightling Park CIC2* with Fernhill
Eventing – Team By Night upon her return. The pair was then eighth in the Hartpury CIC3*. Halliday-Sharp rode HHS Cooley to a thirdplace finish in the Ballindenisk CIC3*.
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Eventing – Team
Photo Credit: StockImageServices.com
Marilyn Little
Born: December 1, 1981 Residence: Frederick, Md. RF Scandalous - 2005 Oldenburg mare owned by Robin Parsky, Jacqueline Mars, and Phoebe Manders or RF Quarterman - 2008 Oldenburg gelding owned by Raylyn Farms, Inc. After much success competing at the international Grand Prix level in show jumping, Marilyn Little took up the sport of eventing in the fall of 2010. In 2011, Little went from competing at Preliminary to the Advanced and CCI3* levels. She started the year by winning the Preliminary Rider division aboard Udonna at the Rocking Horse Winter II Horse Trials. The pair then moved up to Intermediate and finished third in the Open Intermediate division at Red Hills International. Little competed at the Advanced level for the first time at Five Points Horse Trials, winning the division on RF Rovano Rex. At Plantation Field Horse Trials, Little won her first international eventing com-
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petition, winning the CIC3* with RF Rovano Rex. Little kicked off 2012 by winning the CIC2* with RF Smoke on the Water and finished second in the CIC3* with RF Rovano Rex at Red Hill International. Her success continued at The Fork where she had two third-place finishes at the competition, in the CIC3* with RF Demeter and in the CIC2* with RF Smoke on the Water. Little competed in her first CCI4* competition at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone, finishing in an impressive ninth-place with RF Demeter. At the Bromont Three-Day Event, she and RF Smoke on the Water finished in fourth place in the CCI2*. Little traveled overseas at the end of the summer and came in eighth at the Malmo CIC3*-W with RF Smoke on the Water. Returning to the U.S., the pair was fifth in the Plantation Field CIC3*. At the Fair Hill International CCI3* Little had a great showing, earning second place with RF Smoke on the Water and fourth place with RF Demeter. 2013 began with more top finishes for Little, as she scored a second-place finish with RF Smoke on the Water in the CIC3* and second- and third-place finishes with RF Azarah and RF Black Pearl, respectively, in the CIC2* at Red
Eventing – Team Hills International. At The Fork, Little rode RF Demeter to
and the CCI2* with RF Overdressed. She was then named to
fourth place in the CIC3* and RF Black Pearl to second in
the U.S. Team for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto,
the CIC2*. She and RF Demeter earned another fourth-place
Canada, where she and RF Scandalous claimed Team and
finish at the Jersey Fresh International CIC3*.
Individual Gold medals. In the fall, she had a remarkable
Going overseas, Little maintained her top form. At the
performance at the Poplar Place CIC3*, claiming the top four
Saumur CCI3* she and RF Smoke on the Water were eighth.
places with RF Demeter, RF Overdressed, RF West Indie,
Little partnered with RF Demeter at the Luhmuhlen CCI4*,
and RF Quarterman. Little and RF Scandalous were second
where they had an impressive seventh-place finish. She
in the Plantation Field International CIC3*.
found success once again at Blair Castle, ending up fifth in the CIC3* with RF Demeter and third in the CCI2* with RF Tabasco. Little’s next stop was Breda where she was second in the CIC3* with RF Demeter and won the CIC2* with RF Tabasco. She and RF Demeter teamed up and earned another second-place finish at the Schenefeld CIC3*, then had a strong performance at the Pau CCI4* to close out the year. Little began 2014 in a winning fashion, taking home top honors at the Cloud 11 ~ Gavilan North LLC Carolina International CIC3* with RF Demeter and finishing eighth with RF Smoke on the Water. She was second and eighth in The Fork CIC3* with RF Demeter and RF Smoke on the Water, respectively. At the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover, Little maintained her fine form, finishing fifth and sixth with RF Smoke on the Water and RF Demeter, respectively. With RF Demeter, she successfully completed the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials CCI4*. In the fall, Little found success with her up-and-coming horses. She rode RF West Indie to a third-place finish and RF Quarterman to seventh in the Plantation Field CIC2*. Little and RF West Indie then improved to second place at the Morven Park CIC2*. At The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International, Little and RF Quarterman earned third place in the CCI2*. She then scored a CCI2* win with RF West Indie at Galway Downs International. In the spring of 2015, Little marked six wins on three horses in FEI competition. With RF Scandalous, Little was unbeatable, winning the Pine Top Farm CIC2* in February, Red Hills International CIC2* and Cloud 11~Gavilan North LLC Carolina International CIC2* in March, and the Ocala Horse Properties International CCI2* in April. Subsequently, she and RF Quarterman were fourth in the Red Hills International CIC3*. With RF Demeter, she finished third in The Fork CIC3*. At Bromont, Little won the CCI3* with RF Demeter 2015 Boekelo CCIO3*
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Alternates
Photo Credit: Kasey @ Rare Air Photography
Lauren Kieffer
Born: June 6, 1987 Residence: Middleburg, Va. Landmark’s Monte Carlo - 2006 Irish Thoroughbred Cross gelding owned by Jacqueline Mars Lauren Kieffer grew up in a rural community in Southern Illinois and began riding at the age of six and competing in eventing at 12. When she was 18, she began training with and working for David and Karen O’Connor. Kieffer rose to the upper levels of the sport and has scored numerous top placings. Kieffer reached a milestone in her career in 2010, completing her first CCI4* at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event with her longtime partner Snooze Alarm. She began 2013 by winning The Fork CIC2* with Czechmate, as well as finishing fourth with Lucky Devil. With new partner Veronica, Kieffer won the Ocala Horse Properties International CCI2*. At Jersey Fresh International, she won the CIC2* with Veronica and was fifth in both the CIC3*
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with RF Cosima and the CCI2* with Czechmate. Kieffer and Veronica continued their winning streak, claiming top honors in the Chattahoochee Hills CIC3*. Next at Bromont, she was third in the CIC3* with RF Cosima and ninth in the CCI3* with Veronica. The pair then won an Advanced division at Plantation Field Horse Trials before representing the U.S. at the Boekelo CCIO3* in The Netherlands. Kieffer had a great year in 2014, kicking things off with a win in an Advanced division at the Carolina International Horse Trials with RF Cosima. With Veronica, Kieffer scored a second-place finish in the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover. As the top-American, she was named the Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Champion. At the Jersey Fresh International, Kieffer rode Meadowbrook’s Scarlett to the win in the CIC2*. She finished 1-2 in the Bromont CCI2* with Meadowbrook’s Scarlett and Landmark’s Monte Carlo, respectively. In the fall, Kieffer and Veronica traveled overseas to tackle the Les Étoiles de Pau CCI4*, where they finished in ninth place. The 2015 season began with a win in March for Kieffer and Czechmate in the CIC3* at Red Hills International. Kieffer racked up several top ten placings throughout the
Alternates spring, winning the CIC3* with Landmark’s Monte Carlo at Jersey Fresh International, where she was also second in the CCI3* with Meadowbrook’s Scarlett. Heading to England for the Equi-Trek Bramham International CCI3*, Kieffer and Veronica finished seventh. Back in the North America, Kieffer represented the U.S. for the first time in championship competition at the 2015 Pan American Games. She and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett helped the U.S. Team win the Team Gold medal, finishing seventh individually. Kieffer represented the U.S. again at the Aachen CICO3* with Veronica, aiding the team to a Bronze medal finish and finishing 15th individually. The pair had a great sixth-place finish at the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials CCI3*.
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Alternates
Photo Credit: Jenni Autry/Eventing Nation
Jonathan Holling Born: February 18, 1977 Residence: Ocala, Fla.
Downtown Harrison – 2004 Trakehner/Thoroughbred gelding owned by Constance Holling Growing up in the mid-west, Jonathan Holling started riding show hunters but was driven away from the ring by some intimidating girls. He began eventing as a result. His first Advanced experience was on a horse called Prairie Schooner and they progressed through the Young Rider program together, winning the 1997 Bromont CCI1* in the process. Holling’s first taste of the big time came with Lion King, the horse he says has been most influential to his career. Lion King jumped around the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4* and the Burghley CCI4* in 2003. In 2006, he was fifth at Jersey Fresh CCI3*, sixth at the Fair Hill International CCI3*, and completed the World Cup Final in Sweden. Two highlights of Holling’s career came in 2007: winning
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the CIC3*-W at Red Hills International with Lion King, beating a very competitive field, and finishing eighth with Direct Merger at the horse’s first CCI4* at Rolex Kentucky. In recent years, Holling has partnered with Downtown Harrison, a horse he broke and trained himself to much success. In 2011, they were third in CIC2* at Poplar Place March Horse Trials. The pair improved to a second-place finish at Chattahoochee Hills CIC2*. At Bromont International, the pair was seventh in the CCI2*. Holling and Downtown Harrison were selected to represent the U.S. at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico after finishing eighth in the Mandatory Outing at Richland Park. However, the pair had to withdraw due to an injury. Holling scored top results in 2012. Downtown Harrison’s return to international competition was extremely successful, finishing second in the Fair Hill International CIC3* before claiming the win in the Bromont International CCI3*. The pair was then on the U.S. Team at the Boekelo CCIO3*. Holling closed out his year with a third-place finish in the Chattahoochee Hills CCI2* with Proper Timing. In 2013, Holling collected solid three-star results with Proper Timing and Zatopek B, including a seventh-place
Alternates finish with Zatopek B at the Chattahoochee Hills CIC3*. The following year, he delivered top performances yet again. Holling and Proper Timing won the Chattahoochee Hills CIC3*. The pair was then 10th in the Bromont International CCI3*. With Zatopek B, Holling was seventh in The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International CCI3* Holling began 2015 with s sixth-place finish with Proper Timing in the Chattahoochee Hills CIC3*. With Downtown Harrison, he was fifth in the Poplar Place CIC3*. Holling and his wife, Jennifer, run the successful Holling Eventing business out of Ocala, Fla. They also have a son, Caiden. Holling is the USEA Area IV Young Rider coach, and two Team Gold medals have been won under his guidance. He has served on the USEA Board of Governors and is a partner in Equiventures, LLC which organizes horse trials at the Florida Horse Park.
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Chef d’Equipe
Photo Credit: USEF Archives
David O’Connor
O’Connor made the switch from being an international competitor to being a leader of equestrian sport. He served
Chef d’Equipe
as the USEF president from 2004-2012. O’Connor also
Born: January 18, 1962 Residence: The Plains, Va.
dian Eventing Team from 2006-2012, coaching Canada
David O’Connor is one of the most famous names in
served as the International Technical Advisor to the Canato Individual Gold and Team Silver medals at the 2011 Pan American Games, as well as Team Silver medals at the 2007 Pan American Games and the 2010 Alltech/FEI World Equestrian Games. He took over as the U.S. International
U.S. eventing. Throughout his career, he had top placings
Technial Advisor in 2013. Under his guidance, the U.S.
both nationally and internationally, representing the U.S. on
Team won the Team Gold medal at the 2015 Pan American
numerous occasions. O’Connor won a Team Silver medal at
Games.
the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, a Team Bronze medal at
With his wife, legendary eventer Karen O’Connor, he runs
the 1998 FEI World Equestrian Games, and Team Gold and
a premier eventing training facility, teaching some of the
Individual Silver medals at the 1999 Pan American Games,
best horses and riders in the country.
all with his legendary mount Giltedge. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics Games, O’Connor won Individual Gold with Custom Made, as well as a Team Bronze medal with Giltedge. At the 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games, he and Giltedge won a Team Gold medal. O’Connor retired from international competition in 2004.
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