United States Eventing Association

The Pan American Games kick off this week in Santiago, Chile, and the U.S. Eventing Team has sent four strong horse and rider combinations plus a traveling reserve. We caught up with all four team riders to learn more about them.

Sydney Elliott
Age: 38
Hometown: Bossier City, Louisiana

QC Diamantaire
Barn Name: Q
Age: 13
Breed: Oldenburg gelding (Diarado x Latana)
Owner: Carol Stephens
Personality: “We have such history together,” said Elliott. “We’ve been together since he was 5. We’re like an old married couple. I know his bad habits, he knows mine, and all the good qualities and everything in between.

“He is an amateur’s dream, family horse through and through,” Elliott added. “Everyone can ride him. But having said that, he is 99 percent perfect, except when he decides he doesn’t want a towel to the face, and nothing will go in his mouth with a syringe. He is interesting. Yesterday we couldn’t get near him with a hoof pick. Couldn’t pick his feet out. But yet, a kid could hang all over him. He’s odd and quirky, but safe. He tells on people. If they’ve mishandled him in any way or looked at him wrong, he lets me know!”
Groom: Elizabeth Crowder
Favorite Treat: Carrots and apples

Liz Halliday
Age: 44
Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky

Miks Master C
Barn Name: Mikki
Age: 11
Breed: U.S.-bred Swedish Warmblood gelding (Mighty Magic x Qui Luma CBF)
Owner: Ocala Horse Properties and Deborah Palmer
Personality: “Mikki is a lovely, kind horse. He’s very generous, he’s very kind, he’s very cuddly and sweet. He’s desperate to do the right thing all the time, which means he nearly offers too much sometimes. He’s so keen to get on with the job and wants to do the best all the time, you sort of have to bring him down a notch, especially on the flat,” said Halliday.

“He can be a handful to bring in from the field,” she added. “He lives out at night, which he loves. He can be a lot to bring, and he is a lot at a show for the same reason, especially when we have him and Deniro Z together. That can be an exciting handful. I can’t have someone lead him to cross-country to get on him.”
Groom: Mia Braundel
Favorite Treat: “He likes all the treats. He has no treats he doesn’t like!” said Halliday.

Sharon White
Age: 49
Hometown: Summit Point, West Virginia

Claus 63
Barn Name: Claus
Age: 11
Breed: Holsteiner gelding (Catoo x Tina II)
Owner: Sharon White
Personality: “He’s a very emotional horse,” said White. “Trying to get him to focus is always my big goal. He manipulates me really easily! All he has to do is look at me. He loves his treats. I can stop him dead in his tracks with a little sugar and a crinkle, crinkle if he gets emotional. It will immediately get his attention. He’s quite an athlete and quite a performer, and a pain in the ass sometimes!”
Groom: Lea Adams-Blackmore
Favorite Treat: Sugar

Caroline Pamukcu
Age: 28
Hometown: Riegelsville, Pennsylvania

HSH Blake
Barn Name: Blake
Age: 8
Breed: Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tolan R x Doughiska Lass)
Owner: Mollie Hoff, Sherrie Martin, Caroline and Deniz Pamukcu
Personality: “We nickname him Princess. He loves being the center of attention,” said Pamukcu. “He needs attention 24/7. If he could live in my living room, he would appreciate it. We jokingly say he’s a house cat. When he was a young horse, I always pull their shoes for a holiday, and every day he would jump out of the field and be in my front lawn sleeping right next to the enclosed pool. Then we’d keep him in a stall, and he’s jump out of his stall to go to the front lawn.”
Groom: Lee Maher
Favorite Treat: Carrots and apples