Olympians Ride in Rose Parade

During the upcoming Rose Parade on Jan. 1, 2008, three Olympic equestrian disciplines will be represented: dressage, show jumping and three-day eventing. But what makes this so special is that 12 Olympians will be riding!

The event marks the first time in the parade’s 119-year history that all three Olympic equestrian disciplines have been showcased. And because 2008 is an Olympic year, during the parade the top-level riders will lead the floral float entered by the Beijing Olympic Games Committee. 

The Olympians are as follows:

Eventing:
Darren Chiacchia–2004 Athens Olympic Games (Team Bronze Medal); 2000 Sydney Olympic Games (alternate/Team Bronze Medal)
Nina Fout–2000 Sydney Olympic Games (Team Bronze Medal)
Kim Severson–2004 Athens Olympic Games (Individual Silver Medal and Team Bronze Medal)
Karen Stives–1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games (Individual Silver Medal and Team Gold Medal)

Dressage:
Sue Blinks—2000 Sydney Olympic Games (Team Bronze Medal)
Debbie McDonald—2004 Athens Olympic Games (Team Bronze Medal)
Steffen Peters–1996 Atlanta Olympic Games (Team Bronze Medal); 2004 Athens Olympic Games (alternate/Team Bronze Medal)
Guenter Seidel–1996 Atlanta Olympic Games (Team Bronze Medal); 2000 Sydney Olympic Games (Team Bronze Medal); 2004 Athens Olympic Games (Team Bronze Medal)

Show Jumping:
Margie Engle—2000 Sydney Olympic Games
Anne Kursinski—1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games (alternate/Team Gold Medal); 1988 Seoul Olympic Games (Team Silver Medal); 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games; 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games (Team Silver Medal)
Beezie Madden–2004 Athens Olympic Games (Team Gold Medal)
Melanie Smith Taylor—1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games (Team Gold Medal)

The parade television broadcast is scheduled at 8 a.m. (PST)/11 a.m. (EST).

Want to get behind-the-scene’s scoop on the Olympians and the horses they’ll be riding? Check out the December issue of Horse Illustrated magazine for an exclusive interview with Bob Drennan, Official West Coast Organizer for the United States Equestrian Team. He tells how he chose the horses that will carry the Olympians, plus he shares what the riders will be doing the night before the big event!

The December issue of Horse Illustrated hits newsstands Nov. 20.