Congratulations to the Land Rover US Eventing Team for winning the team gold medal at the Pan American Games, held recently in Toronto, Can. They also qualified the US 3-Day team for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The team (l-r): Marilyn Little (individual gold) & Raylyn Farm Inc. and Phoebe and Michael Manders' RF Scandalous; Boyd Martin (4th individually) & the Pancho Villa Syndicate's Pancho Villa; Phillip Dutton (10th individually) & Annie Jones' Fernhill Fugitive; Lauren Kieffer (7th individually) & Marie Le Menestrel's Meadowbrook's Scarlett.

An important element of the team's success is U.S. Eventing Chef d'Equipe, David O'Connor. The gold medal has very local connections with Kieffer based in Middleburg and O'Connor in The Plains.

The Pan Am 3-Day was closely contested from start to finish. Under great pressure – they had to win in order to secure the USA's Olympic qualification – the team produced four double-clear cross-country rounds and three double-clear show jumping rounds.

In June, the US team and alternates, along with Mexico's 3-Day team, coached by Karen O'Connor, competed in the Land Rover Great Meadow International Pan Am Prep. LRGMI also welcomed a stellar group of horses and riders who contested the CIC3-star. O'Connor continues to work with Great Meadow President Rob Banner to bring international 3-Day to Great Meadow. Plans are in the works for the Land Rover Great Meadow International Olympic Prep for the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team, tentatively scheduled for July 9-10. 2016.