Bradley, Chiacchia and O’Connor Look to Defend Eventing Medals at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The first equestrian discipline at the XV Pan American Games came to a close with three medals for the U.S. The dressage team handily won the Team Gold and Chris Hickey with Regent and Lauren Sammis with Sagacious HF won the individual gold and silver medals.

The dressage squad has passed the torch to the event riders. The six American riders, four of which are former Pan American Games medalists, are looking for a repeat performance of the 2003 Pan Ams which left them with a team Gold Medal and an individual medal sweep.

Darren Chiacchia of Springville, NY, won the individual title at the 2003 Games with Windfall. Riding as an individual then too, Chiacchia put in an impressive effort he hopes to be able to duplicate this year with Adrienne Iorio’s Better I Do It. A late addition to the team, this pair’s best result to date was a fourth place finish at the Fair Hill International CCI*** last October.

“I didn’t actually piece it all together,” said Chiacchia about defending his title. “Mark (Phillips) actually said something to me about it. It’s great to be here, we didn’t know quite what to expect. I’m thrilled to be here and I’m thrilled to be here on a horse that I think has the ability to step up and do it. If you had to pick this team last fall Gus would probably have been a front runner yet I just had some off moments this spring, even though I know the horse was continuing to improve. The results don’t always show that. He’s been really, really good in training and continues to get better.”

Coming in from the alternate position at the last minute is something that Chiacchia believes his experience, he was also on the bronze medal winning team at the 2004 Athens Olympics and was the traveling reserve in 2000, has served him well for.

“I think that would be a really difficult position to be in if you had no team experience,” said Chiacchia. “Because I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved in the program for quite some time now. Mentally you have to be able to be in a lot of different places.”

Two-time Olympic medalist, Karen O’Connor of The Plains, Virginia, stood next to Chiacchia on the podium in 2003. Also riding as an individual, she and Joker’s Wild won the silver medal on the strength of immaculate jumping. This year she is riding the 14.1 hand pony, Theodore O’Connor (owned by the Theodore O’Connor Syndicate) who jumped into the national spotlight with his third place finish at this spring’s CCI**** at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. The O’Connor’s were generous enough to let the team quarantine at their Meredyth South winter base in Ocala, Florida.

“It was fun to have the quarantine in Ocala where my silver medalist horse from four years ago is retired,” said O’Connor. “He was hanging out in the field watching the training sessions.”

The only member of the Gold Medal winning team to return to the Pan American Games is Stephen Bradley of Leesburg, Virginia. Bradley will ride Charlotte Harris’ 14-year-old Russian Thoroughbred From.

From and Bradley’s 2003 mount, Brandenburg’s Joshua have made their careers together, campaigning up through the levels. Brandenburg’s Joshua was only eight when he carried Bradley to a Team Gold medal. Bradley is looking forward to From’s first team experience.

“I’m very excited, every time you get a chance to represent your country it’s an honor and a privilege,” said Bradley. “To be here this time around on Josh’s stable mate, they’re best friends at home and they can compare stories.”

Mara Dean (nee Depuy) made her first Pan American Games appearance in 1995 with the diminutive Hopper. Only 21 at the time, she was on the silver medal winning team in Buenos Aries. Hopper went on to finish sixth at the 1996 Athens Olympics as an individual. Dean made a name with herself with Hopper but is hopes even greater results with her current mount Nicki Henley. Owned by Willow Bend Farm, the 12-year-old Irish-bred gelding has had a very successful spring season. Dean will ride as an individual.

“Twelve years ago I was happy to be here,” said Dean. “Now I’m ready to win. I’m here I think because of Hopper, but this horse is a lot more of a horse than Hopper was.”

Phillip Dutton, who has won two gold medals riding under the Australian flag, will be making his first U.S. team appearance on Ann Jones and Shannon Stimson’s Truluck. The 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding did his first CCI**** competition this spring, placing tenth at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.

“I’m excited about it and it’s a great stepping stone and opportunity,” said Dutton.

Californian Gina Miles’ rounds out the squad with McKinlaigh. The largest horse on the squad, the 13-year-old Irish Thoroughbred has stepped around the world’s biggest courses including during Miles’ first team experience at the 2002 World Equestrian Games. Owned by Thomas Schulz and Laura Coates, McKinlaigh traveled the furthest of any horse on the U.S. squad to get to Brazil.

“I’m very excited,” said Miles. “I think our dressage is improving. He was good at Badminton this spring and I think he has improved since then.”

The dressage portion of the eventing gets underway at 9:00 Friday morning. All of the American horses passed this afternoon’s horse inspection.