As the last to go in a nine-horse jump-off, Olympic gold medalist Beezie Madden, Cazenovia, N.Y., knew the time that she had to beat in the Warsteiner Preis, Preis of Europa, in Aachen, Germany.

However, they didn’t need that small advantage, as Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo bested the next fastest time of 50.07 seconds, set by Sweden’s Rolf-Göran Bengtsson and Ninja La Silla, by almost 2 seconds. Their time of 48.27 seconds and a fantastic clear round gave them the win.

“I thought it was a very fair course; there were faults in all areas,” said Madden of Frank Rothenberger’s course. “I think nine in the jump-off is good number, and it was a good class.”

Madden and Via Volo won in a class of 49 competitors.

Gwendolyn Meyer purchased Via Volo in February this year, and the talented mare lost no time proving her value for Coral Reef Ranch. Madden won two major classes at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alta., aboard Via Volo in the past month before traveling to Europe.

“This is the biggest event that she’s been to,” Madden acknowledged. “She felt great. She seemed very comfortable in this ring, so I was pretty confident with her today. She’s gradually climbing her way up.”

Yesterday, in their first class in Aachen, Madden and Via Volo, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Clinton—Run Away), jumped clear and finished 10th in the NetAachen-Preis.

The U.S. show jumping team scored another win when Lauren Hough, Wellington, Fla., and Prezioso S, owned by Highlife Farms, won the Preis der StädteRegion Aachen over 53 other competitors. In the “winning round” format, the clear rounds returned for a second round. Hough and the talented 14-year-old stallion by Pilox were the fastest double clear in 44 seconds flat. They persevered through inclement weather as well.

“He actually likes the mud and rain, so I wasn’t disappointed to have to go in the changing conditions,” said Hough. “I felt quite confident that the ground is really good, and I could take a chance.”

Hough had help from Madden, who went before her and placed seventh on Abigail Wexner’s Mademoiselle. “Beezie and George [Morris, team chef d’equipe,] were really helpful; Beezie had gone before me and told me where I could do less strides than her. It was a really open, galloping jump-off, which suits him. He has a really big step. He’s so handy,” said Hough.

She added, “In 99 percent of the shows he goes to, he comes home with a top three placing in a 1.50m class. Those horses are almost impossible to find. He can jump every day to win. I can’t say enough great things about him. He always wants to please and win.”

The draw for Thursday’s Meydan FEI Nations Cup order-of-go was also decided today. The U.S. team will ride in the seventh spot.

The following horse/rider combinations have been named to represent the United States in the Nations Cup at CHIO Aachen on Friday July 16:

Nicole Shahinian-Simpson and Tristan
Candice King and Skara Glen’s Davos
Lauren Hough and Quick Study
Laura Kraut and Cedric

These four riders will take on nine other teams at the sixth stop on the Meydan FEI Nations Cup Series.

For information, live results and coverage, please visit: www.chioaachen.com.

The United States currently sits in third place in the Meydan FEI Nations Cup standings with 25.5 points following their fifth-placed finish in the fifth Nations Cup at CSIO Falsterbo (Sweden).