Posted Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Ocala Winter Horse Trials 1 at The Florida Horse Park
Text and Photos By Shaneen Kohler

A Who's Who List of International Eventing Start the 2006 Season

With a competitor list that numbered 335, up from 141 at the debut event held at the Florida Horse Park, the Ocala Winter I Horse Trials was proof that the eventing community has accepted this site. Even though the park is still experiencing growing pains, riders are thrilled to be given the opportunity to compete here. The Jan. 20-22 event lured multiple Olympic-level riders to the park and half of the riders who competed at the debut event, Nov. 5-6, came back to compete at this event, the second three-day event to be held at the park. A total of $5,000 was up for grabs in prize money, donated by U-Dump Trailers, with first place winning $150, second winning $75 and third winning $50. There were 18 divisions.

Some of the notable riders who competed at the event included Darren Chiacchia, John Williams, Matt Ryan, Bruce Davidson, Buck Davidson, Jonathan and Jennifer Holling, Peter Gray, Tabitha Lee, Nicole Shinton and Sonya Crampton.

Darren Chiacchia of Ocala, Fla. competed seven horses at the event and had a winning ride with Abby Road in Open Training-C. Because of the high number of competitors, the Open Training Level was split into three sections, A, B and C. Chiacchia was part of the bronze medal winning team at the 2004 Athens Olympics, topped the leader board at the 2004 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and won an individual gold medal at the 2003 Pan American Games. Windfall II, a Trakehner, is the horse who has carried him to these victories.

John Williams of Southern Pines, N.C. a long time USET Team member was part of the bronze medal winning team at the 2004 Athens Olympics, won the Advanced Division at the 2003 Pine Top Farm Advanced Horse Trials and was part of the 2002 World Equestrian Games when the team won a gold. He also designs courses, including ones at Rocking Horse in Altoona, Fla.

Matt Ryan of Dickerson, Md. is a triple Olympic gold medallist, competing for Australia. At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, he earned the individual gold and the team gold. He competed at the 2005 Badminton Horse Trials and was third at Burghley in1996. Hi family is well known in the industry, as well. At the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, his father competed in carriage driving, his brother in eventing and his sister-in-law in dressage.

Bruce Davidson of Unionville, Pa. has earned two silver and two gold medals at the Olympics, receiving his first at the age of 22. He is a two-time world champion and it was his win at the 1974 World Championships that gave the United States the opportunity to host the 1978 World Championships. The Kentucky Horse Park was born and later the Rolex Kentucky three-Day Event.

Bruce ‘Buck’ Davidson Jr. of Ocala, Fla. was named United States Equestrian Team Athlete of the Month for April 2003 after he won the USET Pinnacle Trophy at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event as the highest-placed American finisher. He finished fourth at The Ocala Winter Horse Trials I at the Florida Horse Park aboard Mystic Mike, a 10-year-old American Thoroughbred gelding.

Jonathan and Jennifer Holling of Ocala, Fla. have a combined 26 years of riding and training experience. Jonathan has been long listed for the United States Equestrian Team on two separate occasions and has been a regular on the winter training list. Jonathan and Lion King II are East Coast alternates this year. Jennifer is currently long listed for the Canadian eventing team.

Other riders representing Canada were at the Ocala Winter I Horse Trials, as well. Riders short listed for the Canadian team included Peter Gray of Ocala, who is also the former coach of the Canadian eventing team; Tabitha Lee of Canada and Sonya Crampton of Virginia. Nicole Shinton of Canada is long listed on the Canadian eventing team.