Photo Credit: Mike McNally
AACHEN CICO3*
Aachen, Germany
August 12-14, 2015
The following combinations (in alphabetical order) will compose the U.S. Team at the Aachen CICO3*:
Eventing – Team
Photo Credit: Kasey @ Rare Air Photography
Phillip Dutton
Born: September 13, 1963 Residence: West Grove, Pa.
In 2008, after having been the runner-up six times, Dutton finally broke his streak and won his first CCI4* at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event with Connaught. The pair went on the represent the U.S. at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong. 2009 was another successful year for Dutton, with
Fernhill Cubalawn – 2003 Holsteiner gelding owned by Thomas Tierney and Simon Roosevelt
Woodburn claimed second place in the Advanced division
Phillip Dutton represented Australia in three Olympic
luck, Dutton finished the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials
Games and four World Championships before acquiring U.S. citizenship in 2006. Dutton won Team Gold medals at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games with True Blue Girdwood and House Doctor, respectively, and was fifth individually in the 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games with House Doctor. He also represented Australia at the 2004 Olympic Games. Dutton competed Connaught, his 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games mount, at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2007, where they were second and the highest-placed American combination. Dutton and Truluck represented the U.S. in the 2007 Pan American Games and were Individual Silver medalists and members of the Gold medal-winning team.
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at the USEA American Eventing Championships. With TruCCI4* in fourth place. Dutton began 2010 in his usual successful fashion. At the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone, he claimed his third USEF CCI4* National Championship on Woodburn, after they finished the event in second place. He then won the CIC3* at Jersey Fresh and was third in the CIC3*-W at The Event at Rebecca Farm with Truluck. Dutton represented the U.S. in Lexington, Ky., at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games with Woodburn. Two weeks later, he piloted the relatively inexperienced Fernhill Eagle to a second-place finish in the CCI3* at Fair Hill International. In 2011 at Red Hills International, Dutton and Mighty Nice won the CIC2*. At Bromont, he placed third in both the
Eventing – Team CCI3* and the CCI2* with William Penn and Mighty Nice,
placed ninth with Fernhill Fugitive.
respectively. After a summer of success in the states, he
Heading to Toronto, Canada, Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive
traveled to England and completed the Blenheim CCI3*
were members of the Gold medal-winning U.S. Team at the
aboard Mighty Nice. He finished up his year at Fair Hill Inter-
2015 Pan American Games, finishing 10th individually.
national, placing fifth in the CCI3* with William Penn. Dutton started 2012 with a very successful showing at
Having grown up on a farm in Nygan, New South Wales, Dutton was responsible for all aspects of his horses’ care. His
Red Hills International CIC3*-W, winning with Mystery Whis-
introduction to horses came through Pony Club and riding
per and finishing third with Ben. Dutton also finished second
on the farm as a child.
in the CIC2* with Gran Banks. At Jersey Fresh, Dutton won
A native of Australia, Dutton has been based in Penn-
the CCI3* with Mystery Whisper. He then was fourth at
sylvania since 1991 and lives there with his wife, Evie, her
the Bromont CCI3* with Atlas. Over the summer, he and
daughter, Lee Lee, and their twin girls, Mary and Olivia. Philip
Mystery Whisper represented the U.S. at the 2012 Olympic
and Evie run a very busy training and teaching business at
Games in London. Dutton returned to the states and scored
True Prospect Farm, and Dutton’s list of students is a “Who’s
a fourth-place finish at the Richland Park CIC3* with Fernhill
Who” of the stars of the sport. He considers his biggest
Eagle.
accomplishment being able to make a living doing what
He began 2013 with a triumph at the Red Hills International CIC3* with Mighty Nice. On Ben, he was third in the
he enjoys. When he’s not competing or traveling, Dutton spends time with his family and enjoys all sports.
Chattahoochee Hills CIC3* and scored a win at the Bromont CIC3*. He ended 2013 by having an impressive fourth-place finish at the Les Étoiles de Pau CCI4* with Mr. Medicott. After friend Boyd Martin was injured early in the 2014 season, Dutton stepped in to ride several horses for Martin while he healed, and found much success with them. He was third with Shamwari 4 at the Fair Hill CIC3* and the Jersey Fresh CIC3*, and eighth with Trading Aces at the Rolex Kentucky CCI4* presented by Land Rover. With his mount Fernhill Fugitive, Dutton was second in the Jersey Fresh CCI3*. He scored a seventh-place finish at the Luhmühlen CCI4* with Mighty Nice. At the Stuart CIC2*, he went 1-2 with Fernhill Cubalawn and Atlas. Dutton and Atlas then finished fifth in the Plantation Field CIC2*. Dutton and his string of talented horses competed up and down the East Coast in early 2015. At the Cloud 11 ~ Gavilan North LLC Carolina International, Dutton won the CIC3* with I’m Sew Ready and was second in the CIC2* with Mighty Nice. With Fernhill Fugitive, he was fifth in The Fork CIC3*. At the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover CCI4* Dutton brought two first-time CCI4* contenders and placed both in the top ten. With Fernhill Cubalawn, Dutton finished fifth. As the highest-placed American combination, the pair was named the 2015 Rolex/ USEF CCI4* Eventing National Champions, giving Dutton his fourth CCI4* National Championship title. Dutton also 2015 Aachen CICO3*
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Eventing – Team
Photo Credit: Mike McNally
Lauren Kieffer
Born: June 6, 1987 Residence: Middleburg, Va. Veronica – 2002 Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Team Rebecca, LLC 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
Eventing – Team spring, winning the CIC3* with Landmark’s Monte Carlo at Jersey Fresh, where she was also second in the CCI3* with Meadowbrook’s Scarlett. Heading to England for the EquiTrek Bramham International CCI3*, Kieffer and Veronica finished seventh. Back in North America, Kieffer rode Meadowbrook’s Scarlett on the U.S. Team which claimed the Team Gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada. The pair finished seventh individually.
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Eventing – Team
Photo Credit: Ben Radvanyi Photography
Colleen Rutledge Born: February 17, 1977 Residence: Frederick, Md.
Covert Rights – 2006 Thoroughbred Cross gelding owned by Colleen Rutledge Colleen Rutledge first sat on a horse at the age of two and has been riding ever since. She first got started in eventing while riding as a member of the United States Pony Clubs. Rutledge was about eight-years-old when she entered her first eventing competition. Rutledge started off 2011 with a second-place finish in the Fair Hill International CIC3* with Dillon. She competed in her first CCI4* at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone, finishing an impressive 12th place with Shiraz. Next, Rutledge and Dillon were 10th at the Jersey Fresh International CCI3*. Prepping for an overseas trip, she and Shiraz were fifth in the Cosequin Stuart Horse Trials CIC2*. They headed to England, where they completed the challenging Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials CCI4*.
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Rutledge closed out her year with a second-place finish in the Dansko Fair Hill International CCI2* with Dillon. In 2012, Rutledge and Shiraz traveled to Germany to contest the Luhmühlen CCI4*, finishing in 16th place. Back in the States, she rode Covert Rights to a fifth-place finish in the Richland Park CIC2*. They were then ninth in the CIC2* at the Plantation Field International Horse Trials. Rutledge ended her season by completing the Les Étoiles de Pau CCI4* in Pau, France, with Shiraz. Rutledge had another year of strong performances in 2013, beginning with a fourth-place finish with Covert Rights in the Fair Hill International CIC2*. Heading to England, she and Shiraz completed the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials CCI4*, making her the first rider to complete five of the six CCI4* events in the world on the same horse. Back in the U.S., Rutledge rode Covert Rights to a third-place finish in the CCI2* at the Jersey Fresh International. She then moved Covert Rights up to the three-star level with much success, finishing fourth in the Richland Park CIC3* and ninth in the Plantation Field International CIC3*. In 2014, Rutledge rode new mount Escot 6 to a second-
Eventing – Team place finish in the Fair Hill International CIC2*. The pair was then eighth in the Jersey Fresh International CCI2*. In the fall, Rutledge and Covert Rights won the Morven Park CIC3* before finishing 14th in The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International CCI3*. Rutledge began 2015 with a fifth-place finish in the Fair Hill International CIC3* with Escot 6. At the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover CCI4*, she rode Covert Rights to an 11th-place finish in the horse’s first attempt at the level, and Shiraz to a 14th-place finish. At the Jersey Fresh International, Rutledge and Escot 6 earned a seventh-place finish in the CCI3*. She then headed to the Land Rover Great Meadow International presented by Adequan CIC3*and was third with Cover Rights and 14th with Escot 6. When she isn’t competing, Rutledge teaches at her parents’ Turnabout Farm LTD in Mt. Airy, Md.
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Eventing – Team
Photo Credit: Mike McNally
Lynn Symansky Born: March 19, 1983 Residence: Middleburg, Va.
Donner – 2003 Thoroughbred gelding owned by The Donner Syndicate, LLC Lynn Symansky began riding at the age of three and competing at the age of five. She grew up as a member of the United States Pony Club, earning her A-rating, and by the age of 18, she was competing at the Advanced level. In 2003, she was named to the Short List for the Pan American Games. That fall, she and No It Tissant were 10th in the Fair Hill International CCI3*. Symansky competed in her first CCI4* at the 2008 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event with No It Tissant and finished in 19th place and received the Best Conditioned Horse Award. The pair had a repeat performance, coming in 19th once again in the 2009 edition of the CCI4*. Symansky found another talented star in the off-thetrack Thoroughbred gelding, Donner. In 2011, she rode
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him to a fifth-place finish in his first CCI2* at the Jersey Fresh. The pair then took on the CIC3* level, successfully completing the Plantation Field CIC3*. Symansky and Donner represented the U.S. for the first time at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, where the pair finished on its dressage score to contribute to the Team Gold medal. The following year, they had a 13th-place finish in The Fork CIC3* and an 11th-place finish in the Jersey Fresh CCI3*. In 2013, Symansky had a stellar year, kicking things off with a win in The Fork CIC3* with Donner. The pair then finished on its dressage score to earn fifth place in the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover CCI4*. As the second highest-placed American, Symansky claimed the 2013 Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Eventing Reserve Championship title. Donner received the Zeppa International Trophy for Best Turned Out and the Best Conditioned Horse Award. Symansky and Donner’s success continued in the summer and fall. The pair came in 10th at the Richland Park CIC3* and had a successful outing in the CIC3* at the Plantation Field. Symansky and Donner received a Jacqueline B. Mars
Eventing – Team Competition and Training Grant from the USET Foundation to travel to France for the Pau CCI4*, where they finished in 13th place. After a fall in early in their 2014 campaign, which led to Symansky missing a few weeks of riding, she and Donner took home top honors at the Bromont CIC3*. In August, the pair traveled to France and represented the U.S. as part of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. In 2015, Symansky and Donner began their year with a fourth-place finish at The Fork CIC3*. They then headed to the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover CCI4*, where they finished in 12th place. The pair scored second-place honors at the inaugural Land Rover Great Meadow International presented by Adequan.
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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
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
David O’Connor is one of the most famous names in
World Equestrian Games. He took over as the U.S. Interna-
U.S. eventing. Throughout his career, he had top placings
tional Technical Advisor in 2013. At the 2015 Pan American
both nationally and internationally, representing the U.S. on
Games, he coached the U.S. Team to the Gold medal.
numerous occasions. O’Connor won a Team Silver medal at
With his wife, legendary eventer Karen O’Connor, he runs
the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, a Team Bronze medal at
a premier eventing training facility, teaching some of the
the 1998 FEI World Equestrian Games, and Team Gold and
best horses and riders in the country.
Individual Silver medals at the 1999 Pan American Games, 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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