When? The first day of the team dressage competition (small tour contestants do the Prix St. Georges and large tour the Grand Prix) will take place on July 11. The next day, July 12, riders will complete their quest for team medals with the Intermediaire I and Grand Prix Special, and that’s also the second individual qualifier. The top 50 percent from the small tour and big tour go forward to the final day of dressage competition, the individual freestyle tests, on July 14. 

Where?  All of the dressage will take place at the OLG Caledon Pan Am Equestrian Park in Caledon, Ontario. 

That’s the main stadium at the venue, all set for dressage! Photo by StockImageServices.com

The stakes: The U.S. team really needs a win here to earn qualification for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. Of course, Canada will be seeking the same thing, as they’re also missing an Olympic qualification for those games. 

The U.S. team can finish behind any already-qualified nation (Brazil, for instance, since they earn their qualification thanks to hosting the 2016 Games), but if the riders are second to Canada (or any other unqualified nation), the only way left for Olympic qualification is through individual FEI rankings. That’s not ideal.  

The favorites: It looks like it’ll be a battle between the U.S. and Canada for the top two team places. Comparing the top scores of our riders to theirs, the U.S. appears poised to come out on top. But no one’s feeling cocky yet, including U.S. Dressage Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover who wrote about his expectations for the competition in the Chronicle’s July 6 Pan American Preview Issue and said: “Canada is putting together the best possible team they can. They’ve had some nice scores through the season. But I think when it comes down to it, our team is a winning team—against really anybody.”

Steffen Peters won gold with Weltino’s Magic at the last Pan Am Games, and he’s a favorite for an individual medal this time, too. Photo by Mollie Bailey

The best FEI scores of U.S. riders:

Steffen Peters and Legolas 92 (Grand Prix): 77.80 percent

Laura Graves and Verdades (Grand Prix): 76.68 percent

Kimberly Herslow and Rosmarin (Prix St. Georges): 73.78 percent

Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo (Prix St. Georges): 73.59 percent

The best FEI scores of Canadian riders:

Belinda Trussell and Anton (Grand Prix): 72.06 percent

Megan Lane and Caravella (Grand Prix): 71.64 percent

Brittany Fraser and All In (Prix St. Georges): 74.47 percent 

Chris Van Martels and Zilverstar (Prix St. Georges): 73.39 percent 

Canada’s Brittany Fraser and All In will help their team fight for an Olympic qualifying spot. Photo by Lisa Slade.

The new U.S. team members: This is the first international championship for Herslow and Schut-Kery. Peters is a veteran of numerous teams for the United States, and Graves cut her teeth at last year’s 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (France) and at this year’s Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final in Las Vegas. 

The new format: This year’s Pan American Games is the first time in many years the competition has featured large tour and small tour pairs; it was only small tour at the 2011 Pan Ams in Mexico. 

Countries can choose how they want to mix their teams. If you have a four-member team, you can have four small tour combinations (though then you’re not eligible for an Olympic qualification slot if earned), two small tour and two big tour, or three small tour and one big tour.

However, those large tour pairs earn a coefficient of 1.5 percent for each score. (For example: A Grand Prix score of 60.00 percent will be scored as a 61.50 percent.) 

The other teams: In addition to the United States and Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico and Venezuela are all fielding teams, though a few (Venezeuala and Costa Rica) are three-member teams. 

In addition there will be individual riders from Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Bermuda and Honduras. (Check out the nominated entries on the FEI website.)

Will there be live streaming? We don’t think so?! As far as we can tell, live streaming of the Pan American Games is being handled by CBC Sports and according to their live-streaming schedule, the only equestrian discipline scheduled to be streamed online is the show jumping on July 21, 23 and 25. 

So how will you follow the action? The Chronicle has two reporters on-site in Caledon to bring you all the results, photos, behind-the-scenes details and fun from the Pan Ams. Make sure to follow us on Facebook and check in at www.coth.com for insightful stories and fantastic photos. 

The U.S. chef’s words: “We’re very cognizant of the fact that we have to win this,” said Dover in the Chronicle’s July 6 Pan American Games issue. You can read all of his predictions for the competition in the print magazine. “Even if it were not as vital to win, you go into a competition like this feeling pressure to do great for yourself and your country and your sponsors, so pressure comes with it anyway. But I think our riders have proven again and again that they’re more than up for the challenge. 

“Will we still be biting our nails and twirling our hair? Probably. But I’m very, very hopeful.”