The first ever US based Nation’s Cup for Eventing was held this past weekend at the Land Rover Great Meadow International, in The Plains Virginia. The event venue hosted both the Nation’s Cup and was also the location for the US Olympic Team’s mandatory outing.
The US Nation’s Cup team which consisted of Clark Montgomery aboard Loughen Glen and the other team members on their direct reserve mounts for the Olympics. They competed against Great Britain and Canada in a Nation’s Cup team format and came out the clear winner during the weekend’s competition, with Clark Montgomery leading the event from start to finish on his long time partner, Loughen Glen. The unity of the team was apparent and there is optimism for our first string of horses headed to Ocala for training camp before they ship out to Rio for the 2016 Olympics!

Our 2016 US Olympic Team heading to Rio consists of the following horse & rider combinations:
Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) and Caroline Moran, Simon Roosevelt, and Thomas Tierney’s Fernhill Cubalawn, a 2003 Holsteiner gelding
Direct Reserves: HND Group’s Mighty Nice, 2004 ISH gelding & Ann Jones and Thomas Tierney’s Fernhill Fugitive, 2005 Irish Sport Horse gelding
Lauren Kieffer (Middleburg, VA) and Team Rebecca, LLC’s Veronica, a 2002 KWPN mare
Direct Reserve: Marie Le Menestrel’s Meadowbrook’s Scarlett, a 2007 Thoroughbred cross mare
Boyd Martin (Cochranville, PA) and Blackfoot Mystery Syndicate, LLC’s Blackfoot Mystery, a 2004 Thoroughbred gelding
Direct Reserve: Gloria Callen’s Welcome Shadow, a 2005 Thoroughbred cross mare
Clark Montgomery (Tetbury, England) and Holly and William Becker, Kathryn Kraft, and Jessica Montgomery’s Loughan Glen, a 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding
Traveling reserve:
Maya Black (Clinton, Wash.) and Dawn and Jonathan Dofelmier’s Doesn’t Play Fair, a 2005 Holsteiner gelding
Note: Lynn Symansky and The Donner Syndicate’s Donner, a 2003 Thoroughbred gelding, is the new traveling reserve for the team, as unfortunately Doesn’t Play Fair was injured at Great Meadow.

It’s also interesting to note that Lauren Kieffer’s mount, Veronica, was originally sourced through the keen talent search of Scott Keach, Sharn Wordley and Craig Martin! The horse was originally piloted by Karen O’Connor before being syndicated by Team Rebacca for Lauren Kieffer who is based out of Mrs. Mars’ training facilities.
The team will compete in Rio August 5th – 9th, but before they ship out from Miami to Rio, they will be based for training camp in Ocala at Jacqueline Mars’ beautiful Meredyth South!