Olympic Triumph in Tokyo

Delayed for a year due to the pandemic, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games saw the United States Equestrian Team bring home two team silver medals and a lifetime’s worth of memories from a most unusual competition.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games took place under unprecedented circumstances. After a year’s delay, the competition—including dressage, jumping, and eventing—took place largely without spectators and with strict COVID protocols. But this didn’t stop the United States’ equestrian athletes, grooms, and Team staff. They rose to the challenge, bringing home team silver medals for dressage and jumping, as well as a top-10 finish in eventing. The U.S. Dressage Team’s silver came with a special historic element: it was the first Olympic team silver medal in dressage since 1948. The opportunity was soon to present itself again for the U.S. Equestrian Team to fight for medals: as this issue headed to press, the U.S. Para Dressage Paralympic Team members were on their way to the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. US Equestrian will offer coverage of their experience in the all-digital winter issue of the magazine, which will post to usef.org/media/equestrian-magazine in November.

For more on the Tokyo 2020 Games, visit the Tokyo Hub at usef.org/events/olympicgames, where you can learn more about the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, watch replays of equestrian competition from NBC and NBCSN, see special USEF Network coverage, and check out US Equestrian’s social media coverage.

As the curtain prepares to fall on this unique Tokyo 2020 Games, it is clear that the most important things have not changed: our equestrian Olympians continue to inspire us, to strive for excellence, and to make memories for all of us.

DRESSAGE

Sabine Schut-Kery and Alice Womble’s Sanceo recorded their third personal best score of the week with their 84.300% in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle.

Steffen Peters and his mount Suppenkasper, owned by Akiko Yamazaki and Four Winds Farm, went viral for their “dance moves” during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, drawing a new audience to their sport.

Adrienne Lyle made a solid start for the U.S. Dressage Team in the FEI Grand Prix Special with Betsy Juliano LLC’s Salvino, setting the stage for the team silver medal.

“This historic Olympic silver medal is a testament to all of the hard work everyone involved in this program has built upon over the last several years. I am thrilled with our team and the continued momentum we’ve seen year over year at this level.”

—U.S. Dressage Team Chef d’Equipe Debbie McDonald

Silver medalists Steffen Peters, Adrienne Lyle, and Sabine Schut-Kery talk about their success with (left) Al Roker and Craig Melvin of “The Today Show.”

Suppenkasper, groom Eddie Garcia, and rider Steffen Peters during the medal ceremony.

Phillip Dutton and Z tackle the Lone Tree Moguls on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games’ crosscountry course.

The U.S. Eventing Team’s horses arrive at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics equestrian venue on July 20, led by (left) Alex Ahearn, Ellen Ahearn, and Eric Markell’s traveling reserve Mai Baum with Bridget London and (right) Debi Crowley, Doug Payne, and Jessica Payne’s Vandiver with Team Leader Jenni Autry.

The U.S. Eventing Team poses at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics equestrian venue.

EVENTING

Doug Payne and Vandiver gallop past the Olympic rings during the jumping phase of the eventing competition.

Eventing athlete Phillip Dutton, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games’ most seasoned competitor at 57, in the dressage ring with Z, owned by Evie Dutton, Ann Jones, Suzanne Lacy, Caroline Moran, Simon Roosevelt, and Thomas Tierney.

“Everyone has fronted up for the U.S. team and done everything within their power to support our success. I have a great belief in the future of the U.S., as I know we are on the right track.”

—U.S. Eventing Team Chef d’Equipe Erik Duvander

Boyd Martin and Christine, Thomas, and Tommie Turner’s Tsetserleg soar over the Mt. Fuji Drop during the cross-country phase of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics eventing competition.

Jessica Springsteen and Stone Hill Farm’s Don Juan van de Donkhoeve clear one of the jumping competition’s beautiful obstacles on their way to a U.S. team silver.

Groom Lee McKeever (left) and U.S. Jumping Team member Kent Farrington (right) congratulate McLain Ward and Beechwood Stables LLC’s Contagious as they exit the ring.

Kent Farrington on his and Robin Parsky’s Gazelle, 2020 USEF International Horse of the Year, during the individual qualifying round.

JUMPING

“It’s what you dream of,” U.S. Jumping Team Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland said of the team’s silver medal success. “We came up with a plan a long time ago and the emphasis was always going to be on the team competition.”

“It just became magical. It was sweet revenge for Sweden and it’s a great rivalry. They were amazing and we pushed them to the limit and that’s what has made us proud.”

—U.S. Jumping Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland

Laura Kraut plants a congratulatory kiss on St. Bride’s Farm’s Baloutinue’s nose.

U.S. Jumping Team members (left to right) Jessica Springsteen, McLain Ward, and Laura Kraut were wreathed in glory after winning the team silver medal.