Despite the remnants of Hurricane Jova drenching Guadalajara, Mexico, the U.S. Dressage Team arrived without incident at the Guadalajara Country Club, the venue for the Dressage and Jumping disciplines for the 2011 Pan American Games.
The four horses, Big Tyme, Grandioso, Paragon and Weltino’s Magic arrived on Tuesday afternoon with their grooms, Dr. Rick Mitchell, the team vet, Julie Mitchell, his wife and vet tech, the Canadian horses and their team and a dressage horse from Ecuador. Tim Dutta orchestrated the effort with the help of Tex Sutton Forwarding’s crew and all of the horses arrived in great condition. After a good night’s rest they were happy and bright this morning looking for something to do.
The two-legged athletes arrived Wednesday midday, after navigating USOC Team Processing in Houston on Tuesday. They were all happy to arrive and cleared customs without issue. They came in on the same flight as The U.S. cycling and swimming teams with Chef d’Equipe Eva Salomon, Team Leader Jenny van Wieren and Technical Advisor Anne Gribbons. Steffen Peters (San Diego, CA) is an Olympic veteran at his first Pan American Games, but for Heather Blitz (Wellington, FL), Marisa Festerling (Moorpark, CA) and Cesar Parra (Whitehouse Station, NJ), it was their first trip to USOC Team Processing.
The Zone 4 Finals – North, as you know, have been moved to the Atlanta Fall Classic I (Nov. 9-13) at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers.
The United States Equestrian Federation’s (USEF) delegation packs up and begins to head South of the Border next week – get ready Guadalajara. Dressage lands first on October 11. Eventing follows on the 15th and Jumping comes in on the 21st. Equestrian is represented by 14 athletes who make up 627 athletes heading to Mexico to represent the United States. Of the 79 Olympians represented in the entire U.S. Team – three are from the sport of equestrian.