Riding for the Team

To win for the USA.Many young athletesgrow up with a goal of reaching the Olympicsand the glories of their sports highest levels. Itis no different for equestrians, whether they rideEnglish, Western, vault, or drive a carriage. Fromplaying with plastic ponies and taking their firstriding lessons, to finding success in the arena,thousands of horse lovers hope they can oneday represent the United States in internationalcompetition. Riding for the Team chronicles the lives ofthose who dreamed about competing for theircountry and made it, sharing inspirational stories from the international governing organizationseight equestrian disciplines: show jumping,dressage, eventing, driving, vaulting, reining, endurance, and para-dressage.

Readers areimmersed in the fascinating histories of the medal-winningriders, drivers, and vaulters who have dominated American equestrian sport over the past28 years, such as McLain Ward, Karen OConnor,Debbie McDonald, and Tim McQuay. Get the inside scoop on legendary horses who havebecome household names, including Flexible,Biko, Verdades, and Gunners Special Nite. Offering exclusive insights, this book givesreaders a behind-the-scenes look at the worldof top-level equestrian sport. Athletes tell theirstories and those of their horses during the yearsthey honed their talent and dedicated their livesto representing their country in the Olympics,World Equestrian Games, World Championships,and Pan American Games. Beautifully illustratedwith breathtaking photographs from prestigiouscompetitions held around the world, Riding for the Teamnot only provides a dazzlingrecord of American equestrian accomplishment,it promises to inspire the next generation ofchampions.