Fayston native Laura Graves competed in the 2015 Pan Am Games at the Caledon Equestrian Center in Palgrave, Ontario, this week.
Graves' parents, Freddie and Ron, her aunt, Deb Jones, and grandmother, Gussie Graves, were in attendance to see the dressage rider become the individual gold medal winner and secure a place for the U.S. team at the Olympics in Rio next year.
The competition started Saturday with the Prix St. Georges and then the Grand Prix tests ridden from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in blazing heat. Graves went at 4 p.m. and her ride had expressive half passes and she rode in her usual quiet manner.
Her fellow team member Steffen Peters' horse entered the ring almost out of control; he had to work to get Legolas relaxed. A high score of 78 was rewarded for his effort.
The Canadians set the bar high with solid effective riding. For team USA, Kim Herslow and her accurate rides contributed scores of 75 and 76 for the two tests.
Peters had difficult rides both days, but with his high score of 78-plus percent the first day and Graves' high score of 77-plus percent on the second day, team USA sailed to the top.
