VideoUS Equestrian on August 1 announced a substitution for the Defender U.S. Eventing Squad ahead of the 2026 FEI Eventing World Championships. This update comes about one month after the initial team announcement on July 6. Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) has formally withdrawn Possante, who will now be replaced by Dutton’s other mount, Denim. Dutton said on social media that Possante, a 2013 KWPN gelding (Namelus R x Wendelien, by Otangelo) owned by The Possante Group, sustained an injury during training and won’t be healed in time for the World Championships in less than two weeks.
The Defender U.S. Eventing Squad for the 2026 FEI Eventing World Championships will now include the following combinations.
Will Coleman (Ocala, Fla.) and Diabolo, a 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Diarado x Roulett M, by Aljano 2) owned by the Diabolo Group, and cared for by Erin Jarboe
Direct Reserves: Off The Record, a 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding (VDL Arkansas x Drumagoland Bay, by ARD Ohio) owned by the Off The Record Syndicate, and Very Dignified, a 2015 Irish Sport Horse mare (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet x Katey’s Gem, by Ricardo Z) owned by Jerome Broussard, Gloria Callen, and Elizabeth Lendrum, both cared for by Erin Jarboe
Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and Denim, a 2015 Holsteiner gelding (Dinken x Celia II, by Ibisco) owned by Anne Jones, Ann Lapides, Caroline Moran, and Neill Sites, and cared for by Emma Yanek
Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and Cooley Nutcracker, a 2014 Irish Sport Horse gelding (BMC Tolan R. x Ballyshan Cleopatro, by Cobra) owned by Liz’s Nutcrackers, and cared for by Stephanie Simpson
Caroline Pamukcu (Springfield, Pa.) and HSH Blake, a 2015 Irish Sport Horse gelding (BMC Tolan R. x Doughiska Lass, by Kannan) owned by Mollie Hoff, Sherrie Martin, Caroline Pamukcu, and Deniz Pamukcu, and cared for by Chloe Teahan
Tamie Smith (Murietta, Calif.) and Lillet 3, a 2016 Holsteiner mare (SIEC Livello x Princess L, by Calido I) owned by Molly and Jennifer Duda, and cared for by Savannah Gwin
Competition Information
The 2026 FEI Eventing World Championships will be the highlight of international eventing competition on this year’s calendar and will be hosted during the first week of the 2026 FEI World Championships Aachen. Competition will begin on Thursday, August 13, with the first day of dressage beginning at 9:30 a.m. GMT+2/3:30 a.m. ET, followed by the second day of dressage on Friday, August 14, also beginning at 9:30 a.m. GMT+2/3:30 a.m. ET. Cross-country will begin at 9:15 a.m. GMT+2/3:15 a.m. ET on Saturday, August 15, before competition concludes on August 16, awarding both team and individual medals following show jumping, which will begin at 12:30 p.m. GMT+2/6:30 a.m. ET.
For More:
Click here to visit the event website.
View the complete competition schedule here.
Once the event is underway next month, click here to check for results.