Chef

Robert Costello

Hometown: Southern Pines, N.C. Birthday: 7/26/1965 Sport/Disciplines: Eventing

Robert "Bobby" Costello started as the U.S. Eventing Team Chef d'Equipe and Technical Advisor for the program in 2022. With a decorated career as an international athlete, actively competing up until 2010, Costello was a member of the World Championship Team and placed in the top 10 as an individual at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. As the U.S. Technical Advisor, Costello led the U.S. Eventing Team to several key championship results, including a team silver at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro Italy and a team silver at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.


Competitor

Hallie Coon

Hometown: Ocala, Fla. Birthday: 4/7/1995 Sport/Disciplines: Eventing

In 2024, Coon competed as a member of the Defender U.S. Eventing Team at the FEI Eventing Nations Cup in the Netherlands, where the team finished in second place. Coon and her horse, Cute Girl, achieved notable success, securing third place individually—marking one of the highest placements for a U.S. combination in nearly a decade.

 

Cute Girl

Nickname: Gypsy Owner: Hallie & Helen Coon Gender: Mare Breed: Holsteiner Disciplines: Eventing Sire: Coventry Dam: Caligula Foal Date: 4/4/2014


Competitor

Mary Bess Davis

Hometown: Mansfield, Ga. Birthday: 7/5/1978 Sport/Disciplines: Eventing

Having started riding at a young age, Mary Bess Davis had her first FEI start in 2002. While attending college, Davis produced numerous horses through the ranks in eventing including her first CCI4* partner Mojo Rising. After adding a few additional horses to her FEI string and seeing numerous top ten placing, she was named to the Developing Rider List in 2008. After being sidelined due to an injury, Davis made her return to international competition in 2019, and soon after found her current top horse Imperio Magic. Together they have competed at numerous CCI4* competitions, including riding for the U.S. Eventing Team at the FEI Nations Cup Netherlands CCIO4*-NC-L in 2024.

 

Imperio Magic

Nickname: McColl Owner: Mary Bess Davis Gender: Gelding Breed: Anglo European Sporthorse Disciplines: Eventing Sire: Cassander C Dam: Khadija des Hayettes Foal Date: 4/5/2014


Competitor

Phillip Dutton

Hometown: West Grove, Pa. Birthday: 9/13/1963 Sport/Disciplines: Eventing Olympic Years: 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020

Phillip Dutton is a native of Australia who relocated to the U.S. in 1991 and became an American citizen in 2006. He is a six-time Olympian, winning team gold for his native Australia in 1996 and 2000 and individual bronze for the U.S. in 2016. He was a member of the gold-medal-winning U.S. Eventing Teams at the Pan American Games in 2007 and 2015 and won individual silver in 2007. With Connaught, he was the winner of the 2008 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.

 

Possante

Owner: The Possante Group Gender: Gelding Breed: KWPN Disciplines: Eventing Sire: Namelus R Dam: Wendelien Foal Date: 4/11/2013


Competitor

Cassie Sanger

Hometown: Wilmington, Del. Birthday: 9/10/2004 Sport/Disciplines: Eventing

Cassie Sanger is one of the country’s top young eventers, with 47 FEI career starts. She began riding at eight and quickly built an impressive string of horses, including Redfield Fyre and Fernhill Zoro. Her international breakthrough came in 2023 with a top five finish at the Event at TerraNova CCI4*-S, followed by Nations Cup appearances and podium finishes in Poland and Bromont. She carried that momentum into 2024, earning top finishes as Bramham, Bromont, and the FEI Eventing Nations Cup Netherlands CCIO4*-NC-L. She has been named to the 2025 Eventing Development 25 Program and opened the season with a win at the Carolina International CCI2*-S.

 

Redfield Fyre

Nickname: Yogi Owner: Cassie Sanger Gender: Gelding Breed: KWPN Disciplines: Eventing Sire: Canabis Z Dam: Tiona Foal Date: 6/24/2013