The Inaugural West Coast High Performance Fundraiser took placeon Thursday, April 23, 2015 at the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club. Grand Meadows attended and supported this wonderful event.

Thank you Christine Traurig and Sean Caddell for organizing the first ever West Coast High Performance fundraiser to support Team USA in its pursuit of standing on the podium in the 2016 Olympics.

The event was an elegant buffet dinner and a live auction. All proceeds from the dinner and auction will go to the United States Equestrian Team Foundation to be used to defray the high costs of preparing for the Olympic trials and the Olympic games, August 5-21, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

Everyone I know is talking about Vegas. Ok, so the World Cup in particular, which is right around the corner. And that’s great. And pretty close. But what I am really excited about is the Pan American Games. Truly, here at Grand Meadows we can’t contain our enthusiasm.

We are so excited that one of our Sponsored Riders, Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo, have become serious competitors for a spot on the Pam Am Dressage to compete at the 2015 Pan Am Games to be held July 10 through 26 in Toronto, Canada.  We are contemplating a field trip! The equestrian events will be held at the Caledon Equestrian Park in Palgrave.

This year Dressage will be held first from July 11 to 14, Eventing July 17 to 19, and Show Jumping July 21 to 25.

Although the U.S. teams have not been decided, our Dressage Team is going to have some big shoes to fill. In 2011, Americans set the record by earning the highest Dressage scores in the history of the games, and winning all Individual and Team Medals under Coach Anne Gribbons. Overall, the USA has brought home the most medals in 14 of the 16 games!

This first Pan Am games was held in 1951 in Buenos Aires and the Equestrian Competition has always been included. The Equestrian portion of the Games is run under the direction of the Federation Equestrian International (FEI), while the Games themselves are governed by the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO).

To participate in the Games, a country must have established a National Olympic Committee (NOC) recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and affiliated with the PASO.  All competitors must be nationals of the country they represent.

Forty-one nations from North, South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean, will send more than 7,000 athletes to compete in 36 different sports – the same sports that are recognized in the Summer Olympics held the following year. They may also contain sports not recognized in the Olympics if sanctioned by the PASO. Only 12 athletes from each country can compete in a Pan Am Games across the board of the different sports. This will be the third time Canada has hosted a Pan Am games, but the first for Toronto.

To read more About the Pan Am Games for 2015 please visit these links:

• Pan Am Games
• Federal Equestrian International
• Pan Am Sports Organization
• Interesting coverage of the 1999 Pan Am Games for Equestrians in Winnipeg

Congratulations to Amanda Johnson, who not only just completed her Trainer’s credentials, but also took High Point, riding Diego Del Rey at The CDS Pomona Spring Fling show with a score of 69.688%. Go, Amanda! Amanda is a remarkable young woman who is disciplined, intuitive, creative, intelligent and highly motivated. Amanda works as an intern for Grand Meadows – we are proud of her accomplishments and glad to have her on our team!

Grand Meadows VIP rider and trainer Tina Caldwell was on hand at last weekend’s Dressage Affaire and was captured in this photo with her groom, Mario Gonzales winning a whole new kind of award!

Crackerjack Productions, who manages this fun SoCal show, partnered with Shapley’s Grooming Products and Pro Equine Grooms to sponsor a class for Professional Grooms! With $350 in prizes, ribbons – and of course, bragging rights – it was a chance for those hard working behind-the-scenes-beloved grooms of ours to gain their moments in the sun.

Mario was honored for his outstanding care and preparation of Tina’s show horses, for which he presented his finest work with this gleaming, braided, groomed to the nines athlete and his magic ringside kit. Congratulations, Mario!

We are thankful to the owners in Tina’s barn, who trust Grand Meadows daily supplements to be part of their horses’ success – gleaming from the inside out!