Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot (Shannon Brinkman)
Lexington, KY – The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team looks to close out the spring season on a high note as four talented combinations are set to contest the Saumur CCI3*. Now in its 27th year, the prestigious French competition runs May 23-26. A total of 46 combinations will start in the CCI3*, including American entries Hannah Sue Burnett, Buck Davidson, Will Faudree and Marilyn Little, who have all received Land Rover Competition Grants to contest the Saumur CCI3*.
Throughout the winter and spring the four combinations representing the U.S. in France have benefitted from Training Sessions with USEF Eventing Team Coach David O’Connor. Prior to leaving for Saumur, combinations had the opportunity to train with O’Connor at Jacqueline Mars’ High Acre in The Plains, Virginia.
Burnett (The Plains, VA) brings her 2012 USEF National CCI3* Eventing Champion, Harbour Pilot, to Saumur for her first European competition. The pair is no stranger to success on the international stage having earned Team Gold and Individual Silver medals at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Most recently, Jacqueline Mars’ 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding earned third place in the CIC3* at the Jersey Fresh International Three Day Event.
Joining Burnett in France is her Gold medal-winning teammate from the 2011 Pan American Games, Davidson. The Ocala, Florida resident has a wealth of experience having represented the U.S. three times at international championships. He heads to France on top form having claimed the 2013 Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Eventing Championship at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover. Davidson will ride Sherrie Martin’s nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding, The Apprentice, at the Saumur CCI3*. The pair completed its 2012 season with a fifth place finish in the CCI3* at the Galway Downs International Horse Trials.
This week in France, Faudree (Hoffman, NC) and Jennifer Mosing’s talented Andromaque will look to showcase the form that has propelled them to numerous top finishes already this spring. Two weeks ago at the Jersey Fresh International Three Day Event, the 12-year-old Irish Thoroughbred mare scored a wire-to-wire victory in the CIC3*. The pair began its 2013 campaign by earning wins in Advanced divisions at the Pine Top Spring Advanced Horse Trials and Southern Pines.
“It is really exciting to be here in France. Andromaque feels fantastic,” said Faudree. “We got to walk the course this morning and it looks fun and challenging. I just hope this weekend goes well and all goes to plan.”
Little (Frederick, MD) has a wealth of international experience in the jumper ring having represented the U.S. on numerous Nations Cup teams and in recent years has also ascended the eventing ranks. In Saumur she will ride Raylyn Farms Inc. and Phoebe and Michael Manders’ RF Smoke on the Water. The pair finished its 2012 season earning Reserve Champion honors behind Burnett in the USEF National CCI3* Eventing Championship held at the Dansko Fair Hill International CCI. In March of 2013, the eight-year-old Wurttemburger gelding earned second place honors in the CIC3* at the Red Hills International Horse Trials.
Competition officially gets underway Thursday with the first half of competitors performing their dressage tests. On Thursday Little will ride at her test at 3:58pm CEST and Burnett at 4:28pm CEST, while on Friday Faudree will go down centerline at 10:45am CEST and Davidson at 2:00pm CEST.
To learn more about the Saumur CCI3*, visit: http://www.saumur.org/cci/accueil-gb.html.
Follow the 2013 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team here.
By Helen Murray