U.S. Show Jumping Team

Westchester Well Represented- The U.S. Show Jumping Team for the London 2012 Olympics was announced late last month and is loaded with local talent. Headlining the team is Armonk native Reed Kessler aboard her mount Cylana. At 17, Kessler will be the youngest member of the foursome competing and making her first Olympic appearance.

Brewster resident, McClain Ward, a veteran of two prior Olympic Games, was also named to the London team. The two-time Olympic Gold Medalist will travel with his mount, Antares F, after retiring his previous partner, Sapphire, earlier this year.

Kessler and Ward will compete alongside teammates Beezie Madden and Rich Fellers. Madden hails from Cazenovia, NY and Fellers from Willsonville, OR. As with Ward, this will mark Madden’s third trip to the Olympic ring, but her first with mount Coral Reef Via Volo. Madden shares Ward’s count of two team gold medals but also has a bronze individual medal, from the Beijing Games, in her trophy case. Fellers will make his Olympic debut, aboard his horse, Flexible.

The horse and rider duos are currently finishing out their time at Spruce Meadows in Canada. The horses will then pack up and ship to Europe to start the acclimation process, before finally landing in London on August 1st.

Look for the local equestrians and their teammates to take to the ring August 4th – 6th at the Greenwich Park venue. Updates will be provided periodically throughout the competition.