Karen O'Connor

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Karen O'Connor and Upstage at the 2007 Fair Hill CCI***.
Karen O'Connor and Upstage at the 2007 Fair Hill CCI***.
This article is about the American equestrian. For the political science professor, see Karen O'Connor (professor).
Medal record
Equestrian
Olympic Games
Silver 1996 Atlanta Team three-day event
Bronze 2000 Sydney Team three-day event
Equestrian
Pan American Games
Silver 2003 Fair Hill Individual eventing
Gold 2007 Rio de Janeiro Team eventing
Gold 2007 Rio de Janeiro Individual eventing
World Championships
Bronze 1998 Rome Team eventing

Karen Lende O'Connor is an American equestrian. She was born February 17, 1958. Her family includes Joanne and Phillip Lende and brothers Steven and Chip. She grew up in Bolton, Massachusetts.

Karen got her first horse, Midnight, for her 11th birthday, and began eventing through Pony Club. She later owned a Connemara named Erin's Shamrock, who took her to her first Three-Day Event at Radnor. The pair eventually moved up to the Advanced level. Karen began competing internationally in 1979 when she was 21 years old.

In 1993, Karen married longtime boyfriend and fellow equestrian David O'Connor in Virginia. Together they formed the famous O'Connor event team. Karen's latest business venture is a partnership with Equestrian Services, LLC to exclusively offer the world’s first branded equestrian facilities and amenities for residential communities and resorts worldwide.

At the Rolex Kentucky Event 2007, Karen rode a 14.1 American Sport Horse Pony named Theodore O'Connor. It was the first time a pony had competed at the top-level international event, and the pair finished third overall. Karen and "Teddy" won individual and team gold medals at the Pan American Games in 2007. On May 28, 2008, Teddy was euthanized following a freak accident at the O'Connor's farm.


[edit] Accomplishments

2008 
2007 
2006 
2005 


2004 
  • Fair Hill International CCI***
    • 8th - Joker's Wild
2003 
2001 
  • Foxhall Cup CCI***
    • 1st Prince Panache
2000 
  • Team Bronze Olympic Games, Sydney, Australia
    • Prince Panache
  • Rolex Kentucky CCI****
    • 3rd Prince Panache
1999 
  • Rolex Kentucky CCI****
    • 1st Prince Panache
    • 2nd Regal Scot
1998 
1997 
1996 
1995 
1994 
1993 
  • Punchestown CCI***, Ireland
    • 1st Shannon
    • 3rd Enniskerry
1991 
  • Rolex Kentucky CCI***
    • 1st Mr. Maxwell
  • Burghley CCI***
    • 3rd Mr. Maxwell
1989 
  • Fair Hill CCI***
    • 1st Nos Ecus
1988 
1986 
1985 
1984 
  • Boekelo CCI***, Holland
    • 1st The Optimist
1979 

[edit] External links

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