Those are some cool blinkers on that horse fly, don’t you think?

I just thought I should post this before I think that I never want to see a horsefly again.

…but I never studied law!”

— Bugs Bunny

Mrs. Esther Stace (why can't I find the horse's name?) riding sidesaddle over a 6'6" fence at the Sydney Royal Show in Australia in 1915.

The American Invitational has hosted show jumping’s winningest pairs. Rodney Jenkins and Idle Dice.  Greg Best and Gem Twist.  Ian Millar and Big Ben. Melanie Smith and Calypso.  Lisa Jacquin and For the Moment.  Beezie Madden and Authentic.

Chris Kappler and Katie Monahan (now Prudent) were both three-time winners.  Molly Ashe (now Cawley) won twice on Kroon Gravin.  Michele McEvoy (now Grubb) was the first two-time winner ever, with back-to-back wins on Sundancer in 1975 and 1974.

That’s the year that Doc Severinsen, leader of the Tonight Show orchestra, and his daughter Nancy performed together at the event in Tampa.

Doc 'n Nancy 1974

Did you know that Michele McEvoy was trained by Carl Knee (who coached the Canadian Equestrian Team at the 1976 Montreal Olympics) and so was Allen Severinsen, Doc’s son?  Small world, isn’t it?  Allen is now a racing trainer, with 4459 starts and earnings of $7,870,025.

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