In the lead up to this year’s Pan-Am Games in Toronto and Rio 2016 various countries will be working hard with their experienced coaches
New Zealand’s Sir Mark Todd has been working with the Brazilian team for some time and now America’s Karen O'Connor (above) has been appointed the new Coach of the Mexican Eventing Team
Karen, who has represented the USA at five Olympic Games and four World Equestrian Games as well as two Pan American Games, retired from eventing after fracturing two vertebrae in 2012. Her husband David O’Connor is currently the US Chef d’Equipe
"It is with great pleasure that I have been appointed as National trainer of Mexico's Eventing Team” she says “There is tremendous support in Mexico from the army and the civilians alike, for the implementation of a solid program going forward to develop Mexico into a true competitive nation on the world stage. This comes at a very good time for me. I finally feel recovered from my back injury to take on this position. Since David's appointment as U.S. Chef d'Equipe some two years ago, I have had to stand down from all involvement to the USA's HP committees to prevent any perceived conflicts of interest. I had served on all of the standing committees for over 25 years. Letting go of this, has been very frustrating for me. I have been forced therefore to consider other options including other nations.
Sue Ockenden has done tremendous work in developing eventing in Central and South America. Other American and Canadian riders are coaching teams from the Americas and Mark Todd is now coaching Brazil. Wonderful sites in Mexico have been developed and are currently scheduled for CCI** in February, and tentatively CCI 3* in September. There is plenty of talent in Mexico. I look forward to working with all of the riders, and I am very confident in developing their National Program so they can very soon become a competitive nation on the world stage."
