Hutchison Olympic Selector

By January 22, 2012
Rider Susan Hutchison and her horse Cantano sail over a jump in San Juan Capistrano.

Susie Hutchison and Cantano in San Juan Capistrano. (Photo by Michael J. Marten)

Temecula, CA-based rider Susan Hutchison has been named the West Coast representative to the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s 2012 Olympics selection team. Hutchison joins fellow grand prix champions Mark Leone and Chris Kappler to participate in a series of observation events. The trio will be in Wellington, FL, for the March 19-25 selection trials, advising U.S. show jumping team chef d’equipe George Morris as he evaluates horse and rider pairs vying to make the cut for team USA – reigning Gold champions at the past two Olympics.

Hutchison will also monitor the Olympic qualifier at the Del Mar National Horse Show. The show, produced by Dale Harvey, runs May 1-6. The trial will take place over the course of two classes – on Friday, May 4, the Surfside Grand Prix, which has been doubled to $50,000 in prize money and will serve as a qualifier for the $100,000 Grand Prix of Del Mar, Saturday, May 5.

Although top West Coast riders including Richard Spooner, Ashlee Bond and Kirsten Coe are now largely competing on the East Coast, Oregon’s Rich Fellers and the Woodside, CA-based Karl Cook continue to operate from a West Coast base.

Equestrian competition at the 2012 Olympics in London will take place from July 28-Aug. 9 in Greenwich Park. The equestrian schedule starts with Olympic Eventing will unfurl first, with a total of 75 athletes competing July 28-31; Olympic Dressage kicks off Aug. 2 and runs through the 9, with participation from 50 athletes; Olympic Jumping runs Aug. 4-8, with 75 contestants.

The deadline for nominated Olympic show jumping entries is June 17. A complete schedule of the Olympic team observation events is as follows:

Winter Equestrian Festival March 21-24       Wellington, FL

Del Mar National Horse Show May 1-6                Del Mar, CA

Kentucky Spring Horse Show May 8-13             Lexington, KY

Devon Horse Show May 29-June 3   Devon, PA

Spruce Meadows National June 6-10             Calgary, AB

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