USEF Release: July 26 2007
Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation announced a change to the horse-and-rider combinations it will be sending to Hong Kong for the test event at the Sha Tin race course in preparation for the 2008 Olympics. The test event will be held at the CCI** level August 11-13, 2007.
Buck Davidson, 30, from Ocala, FL, will ride Cassandra Segal’s 7-year-old Irish Thoroughbred Ballynoe Castle RM. This combination was second at the Jersey Fresh CCI** in June and were the winners of the Red Hills CIC** in March.
Four-star rider, Laine Ashker, 23, of Crozier, VA will replace Kim Severson, who withdrew her horse, Tsunami, for a minor veterinary reason.
Ashker will ride Anthony Patch, an 8-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. Anthony Patch has been consistent at the Intermediate level over the past two seasons, including winning the Open Intermediate at the Ocala Horse Trials this spring.
Running a test event before an Olympic Games has become common, especially in places that are unaccustomed to running a CCI. The venue for the Olympics is being built at the Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong and multiple countries from around the world have been invited to send horses.
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