The U.S. Endurance Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 1
The U.S. Endurance Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
The horse/riders combinations named to The U.S. Endurance Team for the
2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will be announced on September
21, 2010. The following combinations make up the Short List/Nominated
Entry.
The endurance competition at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will take place September 26, 2010.
Photo Credit: Robyn
2 The U.S. Endurance Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
Ellen RappTeam MemberBorn: July 19, 1982 Residence: La Motte, IABerjo Smokey – 15-year-old Arabian gelding owned by Jeremy Olson
SA Belshazzar – 13-year-old Shagya-Arabian gelding owned by Jeremy Olson *Substitute
Ellen Rapp is a relative newcomer to the international
world of endurance. At just 28-years-old she is already
making a name for herself.
In February 2010, Rapp represented the US at the 2010
Abu Dhabi Al Wathba President’s Cup in Abu Dhabi in
the United Arab Emirates. In the UAE, she and Jeremy
Olson’s SA Belshazzar finished forty-first out of 106
competitors.
Rapp rode another of Olson’s horses, Berjo Smokey, in
the 2009 competition season. They were second in the
CEI1* at the Goethe Challenge. In October they placed
second in the Kentucky Cup Endurance Ride held in
Lexington, KY. Berjo Smokey has proven he can be very
competitive and is known for his excellent recoveries.
Photo Credit: ©GenieSS, Inc.
The U.S. Endurance Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 3
Heather ReynoldsTeam MemberBorn: August 4, 1977 Residence: Los Gatos, CASsamiam – 9-year-old Arabian gelding owned by Jeremy and Heather Reynolds
Heather Reynolds has been riding in endurance events
for many years and is considered to be one of the top
riders in the sport.
In 1999, Reynolds made a name for herself by winning
the prestigious Haggin Cup in California. In 2001, with
Crystals Charm, “Red,” she had a banner year winning
the Swanton Pacific FEI 100 and the Washoe Valley
FEI 100, Red was awarded the coveted Best Condition
Award at both events. Also in 2001, Reynolds was the in-
dividual Gold medal winner in the Pan American Endur-
ance Championships and again the recipient of the Best
Condition Award.
In 2002, Reynolds and Red received the off continent
horse award in the President’s Cup in Abu Dhabi, UAE
and won the Ft. Howes FEI 100 IAHA National Champi-
onship along with the Best Condition Award. Reynolds
was also on the squad that represented the US at the
FEI World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain.
In 2003, Reynolds won the Tevis and the Haggin Cup
with Master Motion. Master Motion is only the fifth
horse in fifty years to win both events in the same year.
In recent years, Reynolds has found success with A Kutt
Above and Ssamiam. With A Kutt Above, she was fourth
in the CEI2* at the 2010 Sun City competition. With
Ssamiam, she won the 100 mile ride at the Git R Done II
competition held in California in January of 2010.
Reynolds is married to fellow endurance competitor
Jeremy Reynolds. Together they run Reynolds Racing,
a training, coaching and consulting business out of their
home in Los Gatos, CA.
Photo Credit: ©GenieSS, Inc.
4 The U.S. Endurance Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
Margaret SleeperTeam MemberBorn: December 16, 1967 Residence: Frenchtown, NJSyrocco Harmony – 8-year-old Arabian gelding owned by Margaret Sleeper
Syrocco Reveille – 10-year-old Arabian mare owned by Margaret Sleeper *Substitute
Meg Sleeper began riding as a child when at age 11 she
got riding lessons for Christmas. Her father bought her a
horse the following year, an Appaloosa called Tecumseh,
“Tummy”. After that she never looked back, completing
her first Competitive Trail Ride, a 30-mile, with Tummy
in 1980.
A few years later Sleeper and her father were at an auc-
tion to raise money for Blair Academy, where one of the
alumni had donated a two-year-old half Arabian. After
winning the bidding, Sleeper and her father left with
the untrained young horse who they named Chaucer.
Sleeper and Chaucer would learn together and began
taking part in endurance rides in 1986. They did their
first 100 mile ride at Old Dominion in 1989.
Many of the horses Sleeper has competed she has raised
herself and are relatives of Chaucer.
In 2010, Sleeper won the Fun in the Sun FEI 100 mile
ride in a time of seven hours and 44 minutes with Syroc-
co Reveille, who also won the Best Conditioned Award.
Sleeper was a member of the Gold medal-winning US
East team at the 2009 North American Endurance
Challenge in Lexington, KY and was sixth individually on
Syrocco Harmony.
Also in 2009, Sleeper was first in the FEI Vermont 100
mile ride and won best condition on Syrocco Gabriel.
She was a member of the 2008 US team in Malaysia on
Syrocco Reveille.
In 2007, Sleeper finished first individually in the Zone
Team Endurance Challenge (ZTEC), and her horse
Syrocco Troilus also won the Best Condition Award and
helped earn the team Gold. Meg was twenty-second in
2006 at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen,
Germany and second fastest US rider.
She was also on the US East Gold medal team in the
2001 Pan American Endurance championship where she
was seventh individually.
Sleeper has competed twice in the prestigious endur-
ance ride in Dubai in 2001 on Syrocco Troilus and in
2002 with Syrocco Blair.
Outside of endurance, Sleeper is a veterinary cardiolo-
gist working at the Veterinary School at the University
of Pennsylvania. Because of her busy schedule Sleeper’s
husband, Dave Augustine, does the majority of the con-
ditioning and preparation of the horses for their compe-
titions.
Photo Credit: ©GenieSS, Inc.
The U.S. Endurance Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 5
Janice WorthingtonTeam MemberBorn: August 4, 1940 Residence: Scales Mound, ILGolden Lightning – 10-year-old Arabian gelding owned by Janice Worthington
Janice Worthington is one of the most accomplished
endurance riders in the US having logged more than
27,000 miles.
A veteran of the sport, Worthington was a member of
the 1988 Gold medal US World Endurance Champion-
ship team and has competed in numerous North Ameri-
can Endurance Championships.
Worthington finished fourteenth at her first North
American Championship in 1986 and rode to a strong
seventh-place finish in 1987. In 1989 and 1993, she
finished 11th and 13th, respectively. In 1995, Worthing-
ton and her mount, LM Mastermind, were on the Silver
medal winning team and finished eighth individually at
the North American Endurance Championship in Flag-
staff, AZ.
In 1999, she was on the Bronze medal winning team at
the Pan American Endurance Championship in Winni-
peg. She was later named alternate to the 2000 USET
World Endurance Championship squad.
Worthington has continued her success in recent years
on a number of different horses. With Golden Lightning,
she won the CEI2* at Fort Howes in June of 2009. They
went onto to record a third place finish at the Kentucky
Cup in October. In 2010, they started of their season by
placing third in at the Texas Blue Bonnet Classic in the
120km senior division. With Serloki, she was second in
the CEI3* at Fort Howes.
Worthington, along with her partner Grace Ramsey,
raise and train endurance horses at their farm, JG Ranch.
She also enjoys horseback riding with her grandchildren
and listening to classical music.
Photo Credit: ©GenieSS, Inc.
6 The U.S. Endurance Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
Lindsay GrahamIndividualBorn: May 4, 1982 Residence: Napa, CA Monk – 8-year-old Arabian gelding owned by Chris Martin
Lindsay Graham began riding horses as a young child
and soon began competing in hunter/jumper compe-
titions up through college. She was first exposed to
endurance riding in 1993 as crew member for her mom
and the horse Phoenix Affair. In 2004, roughly the time
that she had to retire her horse from jumping, her mom
needed to have surgery on her back. Graham decided
to keep Phoenix going for the year as she continued to
ride in intercollegiate jumper shows. During that year,
Graham became hooked on the sport of endurance rid-
ing and switched over to the sport in its entirety, leaving
jumping in her past.
In the past seven years of endurance riding Graham has
had many incredible experiences. One of her biggest
achievements was a seventh place finish at the pres-
tigious and world renowned 100 mile Tevis Cup Ride,
where Phoenix at age 19, was and still holds the record
for the oldest horse to place in the top ten. Being able
to do so well on a horse that age is a testament of true
horsemanship.
Graham and Phoenix were also key assets to a Silver
medal received by the Pacific North Team in the North
American Endurance Championships in 2005.
More recently, Graham has been aboard a horse named
Monk. Owner Chris Martin was searching for a rider
to campaign his 15.3-hand liver chestnut Arabian geld-
ing for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
Graham and Martin connected at the end of the 2008
season and soon Graham and Monk became quite the
team, smoking the 2009 American Endurance Ride Con-
ference 100 mile National Championship Ride with a first
place finish and winning the Best Condition Award. The
pair also did well in the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestri-
an Games qualifying rides, taking another first place and
two second place finishes along with the Best Condition
Award at their final qualifying event.
Throughout all of this, Graham attended and graduated
from veterinary school at the University of California,
Davis. Graham now practices mostly equine medicine at
Napa Valley Veterinary Hospital in Napa, CA. Graham will
continue to remain in the sport of endurance as both a
competitor and ride veterinarian for years to come.
Photo Credit: Photo Provided by Lindsay Graham
The U.S. Endurance Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 7
Deborah ReichReserve HorseBorn: March 7, 1960 Residence: Croton on Hudson, NYDJB Juniper – 8-year-old Arabian mare owned by Deborah Reich
Deborah Reich has been interested and involved in rid-
ing since she was a child and has always had a particu-
lar fondness for Arabian horses. In 2002, she became
interested in distance riding and competed in her first
endurance competition in 2005.
Reich has collected eighteen top ten placings through-
out her career. She completed her fastest 100 mile ride
in a scorching time of eight hours and seventeen min-
utes. Reich completed her quickest 50 mile ride in a time
of four hours and twenty-three minutes.
Reich has had a strong start to her 2010 season with her
two Arabian horses Pandor and DJB Juniper. In March,
Reich and Pandor were sixth in the 100 mile ride at FITS.
The following month with DJB Juniper, she was second
in the CEI3* at the Biltmore Challenge.
Out of the saddle, Reich enjoys spending time with
her family and their two Jack Russells. Reich also has a
strong interest in land preservation.
Photo Credit: ©GenieSS, Inc.
8 The U.S. Endurance Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
Melody BlittersdorfSubstituteBorn: September 1, 1960 Residence: Cambridge, VTSynthetic – 10-year-old Arabian gelding owned by Melody Blittersdorf
Melody Blittersdorf’s quest to represent the US in in-
ternational endurance competition began with her love
of the Arabian horse. She has been involved in distance
riding for 26 years, and focusing on endurance for nine
years. Her first 50 mile ride was on Samid Ar Ras, “Sam,”
who she bought as a three-year-old.
Blittersdorf competed Sam for 15 seasons and he taught
her a huge amount about the sport. Sam is now 27 years
old and Blittersdorf still cares for him every day.
In December 2003, Blittersdorf purchased the Arabian
gelding Synthetic as a three-year-old. In addition, she
also bought his half brother Empiric.
In January 2008, Blittersdorf and Synthetic began their
pursuit of gaining qualification for the 2010 Alltech FEI
World Equestrian Games. On four separate occasions
they traveled the 3,000 mile round trip journey from
Vermont to Florida. Because of their home base in
northern Vermont gaining fitness steadily for both horse
and rider can be difficult and often necessitates south-
bound travel. During these trips Synthetic demonstrated
a great deal of heart.
All of their hard work throughout the years has paid off.
They won the 120 km Fun-in-the-Sun Endurance Festival
CEI2* on March 6, 2010. In addition, they received the
Best Condition Award.
Synthetic and Blittersdorf are currently training in Cam-
bridge, VT, where Blittersdorf lives with her husband
Jeff, five horses, and two dogs.
Photo Credit: ©GenieSS, Inc. Provided by Melody Blittersdorf
The U.S. Endurance Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 9
Becky HartChef d’Equipe
Born: February 12, 1954 Hometown: San Juan Bautista, CABecky Hart has been riding almost her entire life and
since 1974, her passion has been endurance riding. Hart
is one of the sport’s most successful competitors and
has represented the US in almost every major endurance
event in the world. She’s traveled more than 20,000
competitive miles en route to the American Endurance
Ride Conference Hall of Fame, and twice won both the
grueling Tevis Cup: 100 Miles-One Day Ride and the
Race of Champions. Hart was also the AERC National
Champion twice and is the only rider to have won the
prestigious World Endurance Championship three con-
secutive times. Her many accomplishments earned her
the United States Equestrian Team’s Equestrian of the
Year title.
Hart is a Level III Centered Riding instructor and now
spends the majority of her time training and conducting
clinics and seminars all over the world. In addition, she
has served on the AERC Board of Directors, USEF Board
of Trustees, is an FEI 3-star judge and has coached and
taught world nominated endurance riders for the USEF.
She has served as the US Chef d’Equipe since 2008.
Photo Credit: USEF Archives
10 The U.S. Endurance Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
Vonita BowersTeam Leader
Born: February 25, 1954 Residence: Lexington, KYVonita Bowers began working at the United States
Equestrian Federation in December of 2006 as the
Director of Endurance; she now also serves as Director
of Reining. For 24 years she had a career in the medical
services sector in administration and business manage-
ment. Prior to joining the USEF staff Bowers had served
for 16 years in leadership roles for the American Endur-
ance Ride Conference (AERC) as a member of the Board
of Directors, as a Vice President, and served as President
for two years.
Bowers has accumulated just under 10,000 career
endurance miles and has been in the AERC National Top
Ten and the AERC Central Region Champion. Addition-
ally, she is an FEI licensed official, a past member of the
Endurance Technical Committee, and has been an orga-
nizer of endurance events.
Photo Credit: USEF Archives