Karen O'Connor

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.

On July 29, 2008, the United States Equestrian Federation announced that O'Connor would join the 2008 Olympic eventing team with the 9-year-old gelding Mandiba. [ [http://www.nbcolympics.com/equestrian/news/newsid=159660.html#karen+oconnor+added+olympic+team Karen O'Connor added to Olympic team, Associatd Press] ]

Accomplishments

; 2008 :
* Rolex Kentucky Three Day
** 6th Theodore O'Connor

; 2007 :
* Rolex Kentucky Three Day
** 3rd Theodore O'Connor
** 15th Upstage
* 2007 Pan American Games
** Theodore O'Connor: Team and individual gold medals

; 2006 :
* FEI World Equestrian Games
** 42nd individually Upstage
* Rolex Kentucky Three Day
** 12th Upstage
* Jersey Fresh CCI***
** 9th Theodore O'Connor

; 2005 :
* Rolex Kentucky Three Day
** 7th Upstage
* Jersey Fresh CCI***
** 3rd Joker's Wild

; 2004 :
* Rolex Kentucky Three Day
** 12th Upstage
** 15th Bally Mar
** 17th Grand Slam

* Fair Hill International CCI***
**8th - Joker's Wild

; 2003 :
*Individual Silver, Pan American Games, Fair Hill, Maryland
**Joker's Wild
*Fair Hill International CCI***
**1st Grand Slam

; 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 :
*Team Bronze World Equestrian Games, Rome, Italy
**Prince Panache
*Badminton CCI****
**5th
*Rolex CCI****
**5th

; 1997 :
*Rolex CCI****
**1st Worth the Trust
*Member USET, European Open Three Day Event Championship, Burghley, Great Britain

; 1996 :
*Team Silver Olympic Games, Atlanta, U.S.A.
**Biko

; 1995 :
*Badminton CCI****
**3rd Biko
*Checkmate CCI***
**3rd
*European Open Three Day Event Championship, Italy
**8th

; 1994 :
*World Equestrian Games, The Hague, Netherlands
**11th individual
*Burghley CCI****
**5th Prince Panache

; 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 :
*Member USET Three Day Squad, Olympic Games, Seoul, Korea

; 1986 :
*Member USET Squad, World Championships, Gawler, Australia

; 1985 :
*Chesterland CCI***
**1st Castlewellan

; 1984 :
*Boekelo CCI***, Holland
**1st The Optimist

; 1979 :
*Badminton CCI****
**10th March Brown

External links

* [http://www.oconnoreventteam.com/new/Karen3-30-08.html Biography] (Official Site)
* [http://www.oconnorattheoaks.com/ New O'Connor Community]
* [http://www.equestrianservicesllc.com/ Equestrian Communities]
* [http://www.TheOaksLakeCity.com/ Equestrian Community Example]