Winning at the Pan Ams would be more than a medal for the American squad, because it would be a ticket to the 2016 Rio Games.
The U.S. eventing team's Marilyn Little is standing second individually at the Pan American Games with RF Scandalous, as America leads the rankings going into the final phase of the competition. MONO, Ontario, Canada -- The U.S. team widened its lead slightly in Pan American Games eventing yesterday, after all four of its riders finished fault-free in the cross-country segment as they came closer to completing their special mission here.
"We've still got a big day tomorrow (Sunday), so we don't want to start punching the air just yet," U.S. anchorman Boyd Martin cautioned, referring to this morning's horse inspection and the afternoon's show jumping finale as the three-phase competition wraps up.
"But all the guys were just cool under pressure and rode beautifully and are what I call world-class riders and just did a great job today," he added.
Brazil, which had been in third place after dressage, moved up to second on 136.70 penalties behind the USA's 133, as its four riders had clean slates as well. But the home squad dropped from second by 0.7 penalties to third by 22.3 penalties after team newcomer Kathryn Robinson on Let it Bee had a fall at the hayracks, the second of 26 fences, that eliminated her.
The scoring uses a best three-out-of four format, which meant Canada had to count what had been the drop score, Waylon Roberts' 65.1 penalties on Bill Owen.
Both Canada and Brazil have qualified for the Rio Olympics next year, but the focal point of the U.S. effort is to get a medal here that would put it in the 2016 Games.
Canada had its own quest, to win in front of the hometown crowd, while the Brazilians want to show that they are competitive, and they deserve to be in the Olympics for a reason beyond just hailing from the host country.
Robinson said her accident, in which neither she nor her horse was hurt, " was completely my fault. I was just out of the start blocks going a bit too quick and I just didn't respect that jump. He just hit it in front and sort of crumpled and landed. I came off the front and I think he kind of rolled with me. It was a bit of a blur by that point."
The looping course, by Australian designer Wayne Copping, was built at an equestrian center nestled in a countryside thick with evergreens and farms. The layout wound over nearly three miles, which horses had to negotiate in temperatures that reached the upper 80s, but misting fans and a breeze made it easier to cope with the heat.
Copping used the history and character of the area to inspire such fences as the cedar barn, Canada goose, a maple leaf drop obstacle and and a tribute to woodcutters. The final jump was the "Peru Celebration," in honor of the next Pan Ams, which will be held in Lima four years from now.
Ruy Fonseca of Brazil, who led the individual standings after dressage with Tom Bombadill Too, continues to head the leaderboard after a fault-free tour of the route.
But the USA's Marilyn Little moved up from third to second after Robinson's departure, and enjoys an advantage in the show jumping phase. She has a long history in that discipline before starting to event, and still competes in major show jumping competitions.
Many events have been lost in the show jumping, as some riders lack the background or finesse necessary to leave the poles in the cups. Horses that have gone over the fixed obstacles of cross-country one day sometimes get careless on the next afternoon in an arena where the poles come down.
However, Little emphasized that while she does have a lot of experience in her first discipline, "this is a very different sport. You don't run your horses over hills and bogs and in the water to prepare for a nice careful, clean round (in Grand Prix show jumping).
"But here, that is the preparation and that's what we have," she continued, noting a mount can seem like "a different horse every time on the third day (of an event).
Hopefully, we have a good, fit group of horses that will bring plenty to the table."
The show jumping for individual medals follows the team competition, with the top three less than a 4-penalty knockdown apart.
Fonseca has 38.9 penalties, to 40.3 for Little and 42.1 for defending champion Jessica Phoenix of Canada on Pavarotti. Martin is fourth, still within medal range depending on how things go. He has 44.2 on Pancho Villa.
The competition ends today with show jumping back at the OLG Caledon Equestrian Centre, about a 20-minute drive from Mono, where the medals will be presented.
ON THE RAIL -- The Rolex Central Park Horse Show, which debuted last year in Manhattan, will return in an expanded edition Sept. 23-27. The first session will be devoted to a new addition, Arabians.
Highlights include the $210,000 3-star U.S. Open Grand Prix presented by Rolex on the night of Sept. 25 and a $75,000 dressage freestyle competition presented by the Axel Johnson group, featuring riders from Europe the following evening. The freestyle will be preceded by a puissance. A dressage grand prix will be held on the afternoon of Sept. 25.
Among other attractions are the U.S. Open hunter, Under 25 grand prix and amateur/junior classes.
For information, go to www.centralparkhorseshow.com
The fourth Rutgers University Grad Reunion is set for 3-6 p.m. Aug. 1 at Bucks Mill Park in Colts Neck, N.J. The "grads" are the horses who went through training with students at the university under the supervision of professor Sarah Ralston.
There will be saddle pads for all the RU grads who come. A barbeque and a poker pace also are on the schedule. RSVP to Ralston at Ralstonvmd@msn.com.
N.J. ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE
Today: Windy Hollow Hunt Dressage Show, Sussex County Fairgrounds, Plains Road, Augusta; Woodedge at the Park Show, Horse Park of New Jersey, Route 524, Allentown; Delaware Valley Horsemen's Association Draft, Western and Very Small Equine Show, DVHA Showgrounds, 299 Ringoes-Rosemont Road, Sergeantsville; Bountiful Blessings Dressage Show, 14 Maxim Road, Howell; High Point Equestrian Center Dressage Show, Combined Test and Horse Trials, 20 Birch Tree Road, Montague Township; The Dressage Experience, Burlington County Fairgrounds, Springfield Township.
Tuesday: Fun at the Park, Horse Park of New Jersey, Route 524, Allentown.
Thursday: Thursday Night Dressage Show, Delaware Valley Horsemen's Association Showgrounds, 299 Ringoes-Rosemont Road, Sergeantsville.
Saturday; Silver Bit & Spur Show, Route 523, Whitehouse Station.
July 26: Delaware Valley Horsemen's Association Hunter Show, DVHA Showgrounds, 299 Ringoes-Rosemont Road, Sergeantsville; Smoke Rise Riding Club Show, 1 Talbot Dr., Kinnelon.
Nancy Jaffer: nancyjaffer@comcast.net.