After announcing the dissolution of her partnership with Irish rider Darragh Kenny, Ann Thompson has now revealed that USA’s Brian Moggre will be taking over the ride on her wonderful 14-year-old stallion Balou du Reventon (Cornet Obolensky x Continue). Great Britain’s Harry Charles is the new rider of Thompson’s Romeo 88  (Contact vd Heffinck x Orlando), while Lillie Keenan takes over the reins on the 7-year-old Delta de la Rasse (Hunter’s Scendix x Pageno). All horses have previously been competed by Darragh Kenny – both Balou du Reventon and Romeo 88 have been successful at the highest level of the sport. 

A press release from Phelps Media Group details the new partnerships: 

"Ann Thompson and Everlong, LLC are pleased to announce new athletes for Everlong, LLC’s top mounts, including Balou du Reventon, Romeo 88, Gelano and Delta de la Rasse. Handing the reins over to rising show jumping stars Harry Charles, Lillie Keenan and Brian Moggre, Thompson and Everlong, LLC aim to provide these young athletes with the opportunity to excel in their promising show jumping careers.  

“I am looking forward to this next chapter in my support of show jumping not only in the USA but also globally. Because of my commitment to the sport of show jumping, I am honored to welcome each of these three talented athletes from around the world to the Everlong, LLC team,” Thompson said. “The care and well-being of my horses is my top priority, and I feel that with this new Everlong, LLC team of talented young athletes, my horses are appropriately placed and will thrive in their new endeavors."

British show jumper Harry Charles will compete with a few of Thompson’s notable mounts, including Romeo 88 and Gelano. Coming from an equestrian background and a family that has extensive history in the sport, the 21-year-old already has experience successfully competing at the world’s top events. In addition to prevailing at the 5* level as well as competing on Nations Cup teams for Great Britain, Charles is a valuable member of the Global Champions League on the Berlin Eagles team.

“My father [Peter Charles] and I have always been a stable that sells a lot of horses, so to have someone like Ann support us and provide me with horses with no pressure to sell and only focus on the development of each horse and the spirit of the sport, it is a unique and big thing for me,” explained Charles. “These horses, especially a horse like Romeo 88, will fit at the front of my string, then next year we are aiming for the Olympic Games and the European Championships.”

Twenty-four year-old American show jumper Lillie Keenan will be in the irons aboard Delta de la Rasse, an up-and-coming 7-year-old Sell Français gelding. Based out of Wellington, Florida, Keenan has already had numerous successes on the international stage, including representing the United States at the 2017 Aga Khan Nations Cup in Dublin Ireland, hoisting the trophy amongst an all-female team. Most recently, Keenan rode to a second place finish aboard Fasther at the 50th Anniversary of the $213,300 American Gold Cup Grand Prix CSI4*. 

“My parents always assured me opportunities will find you if you are doing your part and treating people the way you want to be treated,” Keenan commented. “This was something that just came together and I can’t thank Ann Thompson enough for believing in me, believing in my program and taking this chance to support my career. To have a woman who is successful and strong in her own right support my career, I think it is so meaningful, but is also an advantage because she has been through the struggles I know I will face.”

On having the opportunity to build a relationship with a younger horse, Keenan commented, “From the day Delta arrived he gave you that feeling of a horse that wanted to please, and that quality is at the top of the list for me when I am scouting horses. There are horses that enjoy work, that give you that feeling that they want to work with you and not against you, and that is something I truly believe you cannot teach. I am really grateful he is younger because the sooner you get a horse the earlier you can develop that partnership, and that is more time you have for them to learn the rider and obviously for you to learn the horse.”

Taking the reins aboard Thompson’s most seasoned mount, Balou du Reventon, will be 19-year-old Brian Moggre. Hailing from Flower Mound, Texas and basing primarily out of Wellington, Florida and Lexington, Kentucky, Moggre’s career took off following a decorated junior career. After turning professional in 2019, Moggre kicked off his campaign as a professional show jumper winning the 2019 FEI Longines World Cup CSI3* at Live Oak International on his top mount MTM Vivre Le Reve, owned by Major Wager LLC. Now training under the tutelage of Emily Smith at Ashland Farms, Moggre hopes to continue climbing the ranks aboard Thompson’s talented 14-year-old Oldenburg stallion.

Moggre said, “The biggest thing is for me to represent Ann Thompson’s horses well and [Balou Du Reventon] really is a superstar, so my main goal is to show everybody that Balou is very special to Ann, and it has been a lot of fun getting to know him. Riding him for the first time was a bit surreal as he is definitely not a horse I thought I would ever get the opportunity to ride! There is no telling what the extent of this horse's career is!”

Moggre added, “Being a young professional in the sport, it is incredible to see Ann support the next generation and also American riders. My main goal is to continue that success for Balou and really do everything as a team. With Ann, we will do everything in Balou’s best interest.”

Moggre, Charles and Keenan look forward to a bright future with Thompson’s horses. With top competitions across the globe set in their sights, Thompson is eager to watch each of these exciting new pairings flourish and support them as they gain valuable experience at national and international events."