Phillip Dutton And Connaught Lead US Olympic Event Team

July 22, 2008

Two-time gold medalist Phillip Dutton is no stranger to the Olympics after representing his native Australia in three separate Games (not to mention four world championships). He gained his US citizenship in 2006 and this year will ride for the red, white, and blue.

Phillip Dutton is arguably one of the most decorated international event riders competing today. He won team gold for Australia at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic games, an individual fifth place at the 2006 World Equestrian Games, and has been runner up at Rolex Kentucky five times and won the event earlier this spring. He earned the United States Eventing Association’s Leading Rider title in 1998, 2000, and every year since. After becoming a US citizen in 2006, he competed at the Pan-American Games in 2007 where he contributed to the US team gold medal and won the individual silver. In 2005, he was the number one FEI world event rider.

Phillip will tackle the grueling dressage, cross-country, and show jumping phases of the Olympic eventing competition with 15 year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Connaught. Connaught represented Australia under Phillip at the 2006 World Equestrian Games. He won the 2008 Rolex Kentucky four star event earlier this year, and has placed second and fourth in this event in previous years. Connaught is known lovingly around the barn as “Simon.”

Background

Phillip was born in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 the third of four children. Horses were a part of life on his family’s sheep and wheat farm, and he and all of his siblings started out riding in the local Pony Club. His siblings always joked about when Phillip would finally quit the Pony Club–until he won Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996.

Phillip first came to the United States in 1991, only intending to stay for a short while to gain more riding experience. His friend and fellow rider Bruce Davidson helped him find a place to live just outside of Philadelphia, PA.

He never left.

As Phillip says, one thing led to another and more and more people started to help and support him. He married Evie, had twin daughters Mary and Olivia in 2001, and started True Prospect Farm in West Grove, PA. With so much support and all of his friends and family in the US, Phillip made the difficult decision to change his nationality and compete for his adopted home from then on. He and Evie recently started a new operation in Aiken, SC Red Oak Farm.

Between the two farms in Pennsylvania and South Carolina, Phillip coaches many adults and young riders. He coached the US Area II Young Riders in 2000 and 2001 as well as many adult amateurs and riders who were shortlisted for the Olympics.

Phillip is sponsored by Cosequin, Fort Dodge Animal Health, Pennfield Feed, Devoucoux Saddlery, Outback Trading Company, Charles Owen, SSG Riding Gloves, CNS Equine Nasal Strips Surpass, KER (Kentucky Equine Research) and Classic Equine Equip., Inc.

Fun Tidbits

Phillip admits that while he has never braided a horse, he has put shoes on one.

He drinks large quantities of coffee prior to competition.

Phillip also enjoys world affairs, reading, golf, and tennis.

He says that his biggest accomplishment is actually being able to make a living from doing what he loves best.

He continued pursuing his passion for horses while in Sydney at Newtington College and later at agricultural school.

Videos

Phillip Dutton and Connaught at the “Ducks” at 2008 Rolex Kentucky

More 2008 Rolex Kentucky

• Read Olympic equestrian rider profiles, overviews of events and Hong Kong facilities, and other Olympic equestrian news on RegardingHorses.com. Complete coverage of 2008 Olympic Equestrian events.

Posted in 2008 Olympics, Eventing