Tag Archives: International Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup

US Team Earns Gold and Silver at International Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup

U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team (Erin DesNoyers)

Stellenbosch, South Africa – The U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team traveled to South Africa to compete in the 2016 International Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup at the Mistico Equestrian Centre, July 7-9. The twelve U.S. athletes delivered excellent performances against teams from Canada, Namibia, and South Africa. Under the guidance of coaches David Cater (Dunbarton, N.H.), Pam Roush (Lutz, Fla.), and Kent Swalla (Columbia, Mo.), the Three-Gaited section won Gold and the coveted Three-Gaited World Cup trophy while the Five-Gaited section won Silver.

The stage for the competition was set on Monday when the athletes drew for the horses they would ride during the three-day competition. On Monday and Tuesday, the athletes participated in training sessions where they had 20 minutes to familiarize themselves with horses drawn by each team – a true test of their riding skills. During the competition, the amateur athletes competed for individual scores, which ultimately accumulated toward a total team score. The Three- and Five-Gaited sections rode in two phases held over three days: rail work, where the athletes competed as a group, and then individual workouts.

Competition officially got underway on Thursday afternoon with the railwork phase. In front of the judging panel of Terry Johnson (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada), Cindy Mugnier (Belchertown, Mass.), and Aretha van Rooyen (South Africa), the U.S. Team members confidently rode their unfamiliar mounts and performed well in the first phase. On the second and third day of competition, the U.S. athletes once again produced great efforts in the individual workouts.

“I thought the team performed very well under pressure in the 2016 World Cup. It’s not easy for the riders to perform on horses that they have hardly ridden, and our team did a fabulous job with the horses we paired them each with,” coach David Cater said. “We could not be more proud of the team as a whole and both the Three- and Five-Gaited teams had brilliant performances. More importantly, they came together as a team which made the whole event more meaningful.”

The U.S. Team and supporters were thrilled with the final results announced at Saturday evening’s Award Ceremony. The Three-Gaited section of the U.S. Team received stellar scores to win its Gold medal with South Africa and Canada earning Silver and Bronze, respectively, and Namibia finishing in fourth.

The U.S. Three-Gaited section consisted of:

Aleia Brown (Dayton, Ohio)
Cameron Kay (W. Bloomfield, Mich.)
Courtney McGinnis (Santa Barbara, Calif.)
Faith Robbins (Carmel, Ind.)
Kasey Saccocia (Halifax, Mass.)
Molly Codeanne (Wethersfield, Conn.)

In the Five-Gaited section, the U.S. Team rode well in the challenging competition to win the Silver medal with South Africa earning Gold and Canada collecting Bronze.

The U.S. Five-Gaited section consisted of:

Allie Poovey (Winston Salem, N.C.)
Ashley Brandies (Jesup, Ga.)
Ashley Stewart (Pfafftown, N.C.)
Cailin Bridges (Salisbury, Mass.)
Catherine Wheeler (Keswick, Va.)
Rose Marie Wheeler (Anchorage, Ky.)

The U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team is proudly sponsored by USA Equestrian Trust, United Professional Horsemen’s Association, ModJods, Becker Brothers LLC, Ceil and Kenny Wheeler, Clifton Foundation Inc., Kim and John Stewart/Scriptor Software, Michael and Lori Robbins, The Schaffel Family, and other generous donors.

For more information about the event and a complete list of supporters, visit www.usasaddleseatworldcup.org or contact Lori Nelson, USEF Senior Director of National Affiliate, Competition and Alliance Partner Relationships, at lnelson@usef.org.

On-demand footage of the 2016 International Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup is available via SilverMane Media at www.internationalshowhorse.com.

From the USEF Communications Department