White Out, O'Connor In...

Evidently Sunday was the last gallop for the Eventing team before shipping to China. Northern Spy, Heidi White's horse, came up with an iffy leg post-gallop causing decisions to be made that allow Karen O'Connor and Mandiba to compete in their place.

I'm so happy as a huge O'Connor Event Team fan, but I do feel bad for Heidi and her crew. I don't think people realize that the workers behind the scenes (ie, grooms, etc) put just as much into the Olympic journey as the riders. But on the flip side, Karen, Max, and the rest of the OCET team have put a ton of work into the Olympics this year. Not just with Mandiba, but lets not forget Theodore O'Connor, super pony! From Max's blog yesterday: "I think the chestnut pony was helping us out...miss him." We all do. He was an awesome little pony, a complete superstar.

Good luck Phillip/Connaught, Beck/Comet, Gina/McKinlaigh, Karen/Mandiba, and Amy/Poggio!!! Go TEAM USA!!!!

PS - the replacements are: Bruce Davidson & BallyNoe Castle RM, Phillip (again!) & Woodburn, Bonnie Mosser and Merloch

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Karen O'Connor and Mandiba








R.I.P. Super Pony...

Karen O'Connor and "Theodorable" at Rolex 2008