Tag Archives: Karen O’Connor

O’Connor Leads American Olympic Games Effort; Germany Sweeps Gold

Karen O'Connor and Mr. Medicott (photos: Shannon Brinkman)

Greenwich, UK – The German Olympic Eventing Team was in a class of its own as history was made at Greenwich Park. Michael Jung led a charge that finished with him winning Team and Individual Gold in a flawless effort on Sam. They were the only combination to finish the entire competition without adding anything to their dressage score. That score of 40.6 meant that Jung is the first person ever to be the reigning European, Olympic, and World Champion simultaneously.

Sara Algotsson Ostholt led after the cross country with Wega for Sweden but her Gold medal turned to Silver when they impossibly dislodged the front rail of the last fence of the individual show jumping round. It appeared to happen in slow motion. Sandra Auffarth bookended the German effort, picking up Bronze on Opgun Louvo. Just 4.2 faults separated the top three individuals.

The German invincibility began its display in the Team competition; they finished on a three-day score of 133.7, handling everything the British could throw at them. The Brits gave it a serious effort before a hugely supportive crowd, but they finished up Silver on a score of 138.20. New Zealand rounded out the top three with class performances from all five of their riders. The U.S. Team finished seventh on a score of 208.6.

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US Olympic Eventing Team Rises to Fifth Place Following Cross Country

Phillip Dutton and Mystery Whisper over the last fence. (Photos: Shannon Brinkman)

Greenwich, UK – The U.S. Olympic Eventing Team climbed into fifth place with three strong cross country rounds around Sue Benson’s testing cross country course against the stunning backdrop of Greenwich Park. Germany continues to lead the team effort on a score of 124.7 followed closely by Great Britain (130.2) and Sweden (131.4). New Zealand is on a score of 133.4 in fourth and the USA’s score of 155.2 has them comfortably in fifth ahead of the Australians.

The sellout crowd was incredible and cheered every horse every step of the way.

Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) continues to lead the American effort with the best score of the three scores to count. Riding Jim and Arden Wildasin’s Mystery Whisper, Dutton added just 2.8 time faults to his dressage score and lies 12th individually on a score of 47.10. It is incredibly close however, Germany’s Ingrid Klimke on Butts Abraxxas and Sweden’s Sara Algotsson Ostholt on Wega lead the way, tied on a score of 39.30. New Zealand’s Mark Todd sits third, unforgiving himself for the 6/10th of a second which cost him 0.4 time penalties and the lead. A mistake at the last fence was the culprit.

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US Olympic Eventers Perform Well on First Day of Dressage

Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere (Photos: Shannon Brinkman)

Greenwich, UK – The first day of Eventing Dressage at the 2012 Olympic Games featured three of the five American horses. Boyd Martin was the very first rider in the ring on Otis Barbotiere and made the most of his first Olympic experience, having the best test of the horse’s career so far. The venue is stunning and although the arena proved full of atmosphere, the three U.S. combinations handled the occasion admirably.

Judged by the Ground Jury of Anne-Mette Binder, Nick Burton and Gillian Rolton, Martin felt that their score of 50.7 did not necessarily reflect how much progress the Otis Barbotiere Syndicate’s 9-year-old Selle Francais gelding has made in the last year.

“It was a better test than he did at Kentucky; I could have done better changes at the end,” said Martin. “I managed to get him a bit steadier… I’ve got a lot of confidence in this horse; I haven’t had him a long time. He’s all class. I haven’t had him for a long time but I have a lot of confidence in this horse. He’s a confident horse and a brave horse.”

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2012 Olympic Notes from the Foundation for the Florida Horse Park

On behalf of the Foundation for the Florida Horse Park and the Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park, we wish great CONGRATULATIONS to board member Karen O’Connor and Mr. Medicott for being named to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Eventing Team.

Karen has been a dynamic supporter and adviser to the park for many years, and we are so proud and thrilled to cheer her on in London.

Keep up with this dynamic duo through NBC www.nbcolympics.com, london2012.com/equestrian and the O’Connor Event Team www.oconnoreventteam.com.

Go, Team USA… and go get ’em Karen O’Connor and Mr. Medicott!

Summer Best
FOUNDATION for the Florida Horse Park, Inc.
Executive Director
11008 S. Hwy 475
Ocala, FL 34480
(352) 875-4428
email Summer Best

Karen O’Connor, Boyd Martin, Carol Cohen, and Bernie Traurig Join Mason Phelps Radio

Mason Phelps will host his new radio show on Thursday, January 19, 2012. Photo By: Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports

Wellington, FL – January 10, 2012 – The first segment of Mason Phelps Radio was a huge success last week, and as listeners gear up for the second installment on Thursday, January 19, the guests are lining up to join Phelps in studio. Karen O’Connor, Boyd Martin, Carol Cohen, and Bernie Traurig will join Phelps and co-host Steve Williams this week at 5:00 p.m. EST on W4CY.com. Phelps and his guests will be discussing the most important issues regarding the equestrian community, from exciting upcoming events, to the challenges and obstacles the sport faces.

Olympian Karen O’Connor will be a guest this week as she prepares for Friday night’s PRO DerbyCross event at the Winter Equestrian Festival. Teams are composed of three event riders, a show jumper, and a polo player. The teams compete in a relay event over a course of cross-country and stadium jumping obstacles in the International Arena. Also participating in PRO DerbyCross and joining Phelps will be eventing rider Boyd Martin.

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Land Rover US Eventing Team Ready for CCI4* Challenge at the 2011 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials

Lexington, KY – All 84 horses presented at the first Horse Inspection at the 2011 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials were accepted by the Ground Jury without incident. This includes three American horses: Mandiba, BallyNoe Castle RM, and The Good Witch.

With their riders, Karen O’Connor, who contested her first Badminton in 1979, Buck Davidson, whose father Bruce was the first U.S. winner in 1995, and Jennifer Wooten-DaFoe, who looks to cross Badminton off the list of CCI4*s to complete with her diminutive mare, these horses are trying to do something that has only been done twice before by Americans:

Win.

Karen O’Connor and Mandiba are the most experienced combination having represented the U.S. at both the 2008 Olympic Games and as part of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. O’Connor’s husband David was the second U.S. rider to win the prestigious event, when he took the honor with Custom Made in 1997.

“Mandiba is in great form,” said O’Connor of the 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse. “He has never had a better run up to a CCI4*. He’s fit, he’s well, he’s sound and he is ready and I am really excited about the weekend. It’s all out there for me to give this horse the chance he deserves.”

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