U.S. Eventers Take Team Gold at Pan Ams

By Joanie Morris October 24, 2011

In a historical first, the five members of the U.S. Eventing team finished on their dressage scores at the 2011 Pan American Games, securing Team Gold. The final team score was 138.6, reflecting zero faults for the ensuing cross country and stadium jumping phases of the three-part competition―a feat never before achieved in a Team Eventing Championship.

U.S. rider Hannah Burnett (Plains, VA) scored Individual Silver riding Harbour Pilot while teammate Bruce “Buck” Davidson on Absolute Liberty won Bronze. Canada’s Jessica Phoenix commandeered the Individual Gold, propelled by her leading dressage score (43.9) and clear cross-country and jumping rounds on Pavarotti.

“The team competition definitely had a bit more pressure. You want to make your team proud and your country proud,” Burnett said, adding of the Jacqueline Mars-owned mount, I’m really honored to be on this horse and this team.”

“I would like to give a really special congratulations to my team,” the United States Equestrian Federation chef d’equipe for eventing Captain Mark Phillips said. “Five people finishing on their dressage score ― that’s never been done before in the history of our sport.”

After winning the dressage competition on Oct. 21, U.S. team members jumped five spectacular fault-free  rounds on Saturday’s cross-country course at Santa Sophia―also a first, as far as anyone could remember―then sealed the victory at the Hipoca Club with double-clear show jumping.

Anchored by Buck Davidson (Ocala, FL), who led the way on Absolute Liberty as the pathfinder, the U.S. Team had a high bar set and never looked back over three days of competition. “We have really good horses, we were well-coached, we have a great staff and we came here with that mission: to put in personal bests,” Davidson said. He added “a big thanks to Mexico. It’s been a great trip!”

When it came to the individual medals, while all five U.S. riders went clear through round one―the team portion―of stadium jumping, as per Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) rules, only three members of any one team can advance to the individual jumping final that determines the individual medal placings. The three U.S. riders that made it in, based on their superior dressage scores, were: Dalton, GA’s Michael Pollard on Hanni (44.5), Burnett and Pilot (45.2) and Ocala, FL’s Buck Davidson and Absolute Liberty (48.9).

The other two team USA riders―Shannon Lilley of Gilroy, CA, riding Ballingowan Pizazz (49.3) and Lynn Symansky of Middleburg, VA, on Donner (52.2)―concluded the team competition in fifth and sixth place.

While Canada’s Phoenix headed into the jumping final ranked number one and managed to hang onto her lead, Pollard, the top-ranked U.S. rider going into the jumping final, had two rails down in the final round, which took him down to fourth place.

The 25-year-old Burnett rode with determination beyond her years and moved up from third to second. Her mount, Harbour Pilot, was produced by David O’Connor, so there were a lot of people with a stake in Mars’ homebred horse. “David trained the horse. There was a lot of pressure. I wanted to do well for them [all],” Burnett said, noting that when it comes down to it, “you just have to go and do your job, and my horse did his job.”
Davidson, the most experienced rider of the five, was rewarded for his efforts with his first Individual medal, a Bronze. Sixth at the 1999 Pan American Games, he and Shannon Will’s 8-year-old homebred mare Absolute Liberty thrived in Mexico. Davidson knew the team medal was the priority, and the Individual honor was a bonus.

“Our goal was to win Team Gold,” Davidson said candidly. “There was more pressure and more joy in winning the Team Gold. We are such a close team. I feel bad for Michael. I almost feel guilty sitting here. You want to come as a team, win as a team and leave as a team, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

Davidson’s father, Bruce Davidson Sr., won Individual Gold at the Pan Ams in 1995. “It’s a great honor to ride for your country,” Davidson said. “I’m very excited for Sharon Will, who bred her and raised her and thought she was something special. She went through a couple of people but she landed in my barn and I’m very thankful.”

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