Dressage-News

PALGRAVE, Ontario, July 14, 2015–Sabine Schut-Kery of the United States dressage team at the Pan American Games received an apology Tuesday that was personally made by the highly respected regional official Carmen Berrera and Trond Asmyr, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) dressage director, for uncertainty that eventually led to her being dropped from the Freestyle that decided individual medals.

The apology came as the FEI and the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) that organizes the Pan Ams issued a statement explaining the series of events that led to Sabine and the small tour horse, Sanceo, and Megan Lane of Canada and her Grand Prix mount, Caravella, being replaced on the start list a day after it was made public.

The two combinations were fourth ranked on their nation’s teams after the Nations Cup. Sabine finished sixth individually in the team competition while Megan was eighth.

PASO rules provide for no more than three pairs from a single country can advance to the individual competition but exceptions can be made. At the 2011 Pan Ams, four American combinations scored high enough to move to the individual medal competition but only three were permitted to do so.

According to the statement, the chefs d’equipe of the teams agreed unanimously to allow four combinations each from Canada and the U.S. to advance. When objections were raised later the chefs further agreed to add two “extra riders.”

However, Venezuela and Mexico changed their position and disagreed with the decision so PASO said it withdrew its exception because there was no longer unanimity.

Sabine of Thousand Oaks, California and Megan came off the list and riders from Venezuela and Mexico, next ranked, were put in their place.