Mark Watring (born May 2, 1963), is a Puerto Rican equestrian who in 2003, won a gold medal in the Pan American Games.

Early years

Watring was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, where he was raised. Watring's father was a soldier stationed at

Ramey Air Force Base Ramey Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. It was named after United States Army Air Forces Brigadier General Howard Knox Ramey. Following its closure, it was redeveloped into Rafael Hernandez Airpo ...

in Aguadilla. It was there that his father and mother met and were later married. He learned at a young age how to ride horses and did not know that someday he would represent Puerto Rico in the

Olympics The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a var ...

.Two-Time Olympian, Pan American Games and Central American Gold Medalist
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Equestrian competitions

In 1984, Watring qualified and participated at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California in eventing. In 2001, Watring was named the American Grand Prix Association's (AGA) "Rookie of the Year". On May 27, 2002 Watring won the $35,000 Lexus of Glendale Memorial Grand Prix prize money, at the Memorial Day Classic Horse Show aboard his horse "Sapphire". Watring bested a field of 25 starters with a double clear rounds and the fastest time in the jump off of 41.176 seconds. This win moved Watring and his mount "Sapphire", into fourth place standing for "AGA Rider" and "Horse of the Year".Breeding’s New Frontier Mark Watring’s Sapphire is cloned

2004 Olympic Games

On August 16, 2003 Watring represented the United States in the

Pan American Games The Pan American Games (also known colloquially as the Pan Am Games) is a continental multi-sport event in the Americas featuring summer sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The competition is held ...

celebrated in the Dominican Republic. The United States won the Gold Medal with a final total of 13.66 penalties compared to the 21.87 posted by Mexico. When presented the Gold Medal, Watring unfurled and waved the

Puerto Rican Flag The flag of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Bandera de Puerto Rico) represents and symbolizes Puerto Rico and its people. The origins of the current flag of Puerto Rico, adopted by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in 1952, can be traced to 1868, whe ...

. This win secured a berth in the

2004 Olympic Game The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, ) and also known as Athens 2004 ( el, Αθήνα 2004), ...

s in

Athens, Greece Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...

. On February 15, 2004, Watring and his mount "Sapphire" came in third place in the Bayer/USET Grand Prix, Indio Desert circuit III. He won $9,700 in prize money. Watring participated and represented Puerto Rico in the showjumping event in the

2004 Olympic Games The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, ) and also known as Athens 2004 ( el, Αθήνα 2004), ...

Later years

Watring currently rides and trains in Southern California where he also teaches both children and adults. His wife Jenny is the captain of the Foxfield Drill team. The team rides without bridles or saddles. The Drill Team did an exhibition in the

1984 Olympic Games The 1984 Olympics may refer to: *The 1984 Winter Olympics, which were held in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia *The 1984 Summer Olympics The 1984 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXIII Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1984) were an intern ...

and continues to do exhibitions all over the country, including in

Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as The Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh and Eighth avenues from 31st to 33rd Street, above Pennsylva ...

. In 2008, Watring announced that he planned in cloning his horse "Sapphire". If his venture to clone Sapphire is successful, it will be the first cloned show jumper born in the United States. "

Monies won

Total Money Won: * 2004 AGA Series $1,050 * 2004 Adjusted AGA Serties $4,400 * 2002/2003 AGA Season $19,620 * 2001/2002 AGA Tour $13,000

References

External links

*
Mark Watring

Mark Watring Stables Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watring, Mark 1963 births Living people Puerto Rican male equestrians Show jumping riders Olympic equestrians for Puerto Rico Equestrians at the 1984 Summer Olympics Equestrians at the 2004 Summer Olympics Equestrians at the 2003 Pan American Games Equestrians at the 2007 Pan American Games Equestrians at the 2011 Pan American Games People from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico Puerto Rican people of German descent Pan American Games gold medalists for Puerto Rico Pan American Games medalists in equestrian Central American and Caribbean Games gold medalists for Puerto Rico Central American and Caribbean Games silver medalists for Puerto Rico Competitors at the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games Competitors at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games Competitors at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games Central American and Caribbean Games medalists in equestrian Medalists at the 2003 Pan American Games