Brazil and Canada Dominated in Pan Am Games Show Jumping

The individual final on Sunday was a two round Table A with a maximum height of 1.6 meters. Jorge set shorter courses than in the Nation’s Cup, but the time in the second round would prove to be difficult to make; only five horses finished without time penalties. The scores were so tight that just one rail separated Pedro Veniss in first place from Eric Lamaze in sixth. Veniss took himself out of contention with a rail in the first round, and Ian Millar fell to fourth with a rail in the second.

Lauren Hough, starting the day in fifth place with Casadora, had a twelve fault first round and chose not to compete in the second. At the end of the day the medals would go to the three riders who put in faultless performances over both rounds.

After three days and only one rail to her name, Canada’s Jill Henselwood finally earned Canada a gold medal. Special Ed, the thirteen year old Oldenburg gelding that has carried Henselwood through the World Equestrian Games and World Cup Final as well as numerous Grand Prix wins, has never won a major title. “He’s always been a super horse, but he’s never had a title,” she said. The gold medal is significant for Henselwood too; it’s her first individual medal, and it’s the first time a woman has won the individual gold medal in Pan Am Games show jumping since American Anne Kursinski of the US won in 1983.

Rodrigo Pessoa moved from fourth place to the silver medal on a horse he has been riding only since January. “Rufus has developed very quickly,” he said. “He was great today, with two clear rounds. The future looks very good for him.” Lamaze made the biggest leap to the podium, rising from sixth to the bronze medal with his performance on Hickstead, an eleven year old Dutch Warmblood stallion. “It has been a great week, with excellent courses and footing. This was as competitive a Pan Am Games as I’ve seen,” he said. Although he has competed in two previous Pan Am Games, this was the first time he has reached the podium individually.

The XVI Pan Am Games will take place in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2011.