It will be her third Olympics, she medaled in the first two
Beezie Madden and Via Volo are #2 on the jumping Olympic team short list
/ John Madden Sales
Beezie Madden will be riding in her third Olympic Games, in London this summer.
The US Equestrian Federation has posted its jumping team short list, with Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo number two. Her second horse, Simon, is ranked number 6, and her third horse, Cortes C, is number two on the alternates' list. Right now there are fourteen on the short list, and that will be cut to the final team of four riders on July 8th.
We spoke with Madden, who is at Spruce Meadows in Calgary Canada, where the Olympic observation trials wrapped up on Saturday. She says that the top 7 or 8 riders are all there, so the Olympic selection committee has changed plans to allow them to remain there through early July, with the final choices being made on that show's big finals. Originally, they were to go to a horse show in the Netherlands for the 'finals.'
Madden is not the only rider with local ties on the team: Mario Deslauriers is ranked #13. He trains with John Madden Sales (Beezie's husband) and rides for Jane Clark of Cooperstown. And, Jessica Springsteen is an alternate. Syracuse Sporthorse Tournament goers watched her ride (and her father Bruce in the stands) for several years.
For more on Beezie's horses, see our previous story.
