Equestrian Australia (EA) has announced the 2012 National Squads. Megan Jones and her nine-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Kirby Park Allofasudden have been selected for the Eventing National "A" squad. The Elite- and "A" Squad-listed combinations for dressage, eventing, jumping, and para-equestrian will form the Shadow Teams for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Brett Mace, Equestrian Australia's High Performance Manager, explained the composition of the Shadow Teams. "Elite-listed combinations are presently the front-runners for the Olympic and Paralympic teams," he said.  "However, I am sure our "A" Squad members will make the most of every opportunity to claim a place on the team through exceptional performances in the lead-up to London. Through the National Performance Directors and selection panels, we will continue to monitor our combinations at major events prior to nominations being due to the Australian Paralympic Committee and the Australian Olympic Committee in May and June."

Megan Jones is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER) and Barastoc, a KER Team Member. Jones and Kirby Park Allofasudden have had a consistent season and will certainly be looking to catch the selectors' eye at events in the near future.

The three riders representing Australia in endurance at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will be Norbert Radny, Matthew Sample, and Penny Toft, the Australian Endurance Squad recently announced.

The full team includes:
Norbert Radny and West Coast Acharon 
Grooms: Jane Radny, Dr. Narelle Cribb
Crew: Rebecca Radny, Harry O'Brien, Ian Symington 

Matthew Sample and Tarrangower Crescendo(Reserve: Brookleigh Ricardo)
Grooms: Paul Brown, Jessica Landridge 
Crew: Barbara Timms 

Penny Toft and Don 
Grooms: Anne Hall, Alexandra Toft 
Crew: Helen Toft, Jackie Byrnes, Peter Toft 

Chef d' Equipe, Dr. Trish Mackay-Annetts, Assistant: Denise Trollope 
Team Veterinarian: Dr. Robyn Mather 
Crew Manager: Chris Gates 
Farrier: Mark Peel 

Radny and Acharon won their final preparatory ride last week, covering 90 km in 4:53. Sample and Crescendo will compete at the Murrumba 100-km ride August 8, while Toft's final ride will be Charvleville August 21.

The horses are currently booked to fly to the United States on August 29. After clearing quarantine, they'll be housed at Kentucky Equine Research's Versailles, Ky., research farm, allowing the riders to acclimate and condition the horses under local conditions for several weeks before the September 26 endurance event at the Kentucky Horse Park. 

Kentucky Equine Research (KER) is the official equine nutritionist of both the Australian Equestrian Team and the U.S. Equestrian Federation. KER nutritionists work with feed mill owners and managers on six continents to formulate top-quality feeds that complement typical forages found in the locale. Based in Kentucky, the company's second office is located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, to serve that continent as well as Asia.

Kentucky Equine Research (KER) is honored to host the athletes and horses of the U.S. Para-Dressage team prior to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games at its Versailles, Ky., corporate headquarters and research farm. They will also host Australia's team horses following the competition.

KER is an international equine nutrition, research and consultation company serving both the horse producer and the feed industry. Its goal is to advance the industry's knowledge physiology and apply this knowledge to produce healthier, more athletic horses.

On an international stage, KER's founder and president Dr. Joe Pagan has overseen the nutritional needs of world-class horses at several international competitions, including four Olympic Games (1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens, and 2008 Beijing, hosted in Hong Kong) and two World Equestrian Games (WEG, 2002 Jerez, 2006 Aachen).

KER hosted Para-Dressage athlete Mary Jordan earlier this year in support of her efforts to qualify for WEG.

KER is working to finish construction of a great facility to share with the United States Para-Dressage team prior to WEG and the Australian team after WEG. It includes a covered arena with lights, an outdoor arena, and new barn facilities, as well as ample space for turnout and hacking.

 "The folks at KER want to show the southern hospitality Kentuckians are known for during WEG," commented KER Global Marketing Manager Kim Brown. "The Para-Dressage competitors are great ambassadors for the horse industry, reaching out to many people who never thought horses could be a part of their lives, and being an inspiration to us all."

"We are so thankful that Joe and the Kentucky Equine Research facility are lending their facilities to us prior to the World Equestrian Games," said Hope Hand, president of the United States Para-Equestrian Association (USPEA). "The World Equestrian Games will be our first competition as the United States Para-Equestrian Team, so we want to make sure our horses are ready to perform to the best of their ability. The Kentucky Equine Research team is an important factor in our Road to Kentucky."

The Games will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park Sept. 25-Oct. 10, 2010. This is the first time the Games have been held in the United States, and also the first time Para-Dressage has been included.

The Para-Equestrian discipline debuts with Individual Team Tests at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Oct. 5, 2010, at 8:30 a.m. The competition continues through Oct. 9, 2010. Buy tickets.

The USPEA provides programs, clinics, and competition opportunities for athletes with physical disabilities. Riders compete under the USEF rules during their competitions, with many of the athletes competing at the highest level of their sport.

Breaking an amazing medal drought at the World Equestrian Games, despite success at the Olympics, the Australian Eventing Team came in just ahead of the USA for 3rd place. The team was comprised of Ringwould Jaguar & Sonja Johnson, Ben Along Time & Clayton Fredericks, Master Monarch & Andrew Hoy and KER Ambassador Megan Jones & Kirby Park Irish Jester. Congratulations must go out to Clayton Fredericks especially for his individual Silver medal!

Congratulations to all involved in the 2006 WEG! Team Bronze is fantastic!

Congratulations to Megan & Jester and Phillip & Connaught! The Australian Eventing FINAL SIX, competeing in this months World Equestrian Games in Aachen, have been announced:

Megan Jones & Kirby Park Irish Jester
Phillip Dutton & Connaught
Clayton Fredericks & Ben Along Time
Andrew Hoy & Master Monarch
Sonja Johnson & Ringwould Jaguar
Shane Rose & All Luck

All six riders will ride at the World Equestrian Games. Selection of the Team (4 riders) and Individual (2 riders) will be made at a later date. Condolences to the 3 riders who didn't get selected in the final 6. Their journey however is not in vain, they will continue on to compete at Burghley and we wish them all the best.

Look at Megan's website www.kirbypark.com for her regular WEG updates.

The Aussie based team in their team shirts