The U.S. jumping team finished atop the podium in the Mercedes-Benz Jumping Nations Cup CSIO5*, held July 3 in Aachen, Germany, after two competitive rounds. The squad completed the night on a total of just 4 faults. 

 “Aachen is the mecca of show jumping. It’s one of the greatest shows in the world. This team was really amazing, and this is what we came here for. It doesn’t get any better than this,” said Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland. “We’re quite pleased with how the past few days have gone, and this Nations’ Cup victory is a great achievement. There’s truly nothing like winning as a team here in Aachen, and I’m extremely proud of each of our combinations and the performances they put on display tonight.” 

This was the seventh time the U.S. team has earned victory in the Mercedes-Benz Jumping Nations Cup. Belgium finished second (8 faults), and Great Britain filled out the podium in third place (10 faults).

Lillie Keenan (New York, New York) and her veteran partner, Argan De Beliard, an 11-year-old Selle Français gelding owned by Chansonette Farm and cared for by Cory Tual, produced the only double-clear effort for the team and finished as just one of five combinations in the entire class to jump clear in both rounds. 

In their Nations Cup debut for the U.S. team, Kent Farrington (Wellington, Florida) and Toulayna, an 11-year-old Zangersheide mare owned by Kent Farrington LLC & Rabbit Root Stables LLC and cared for by Denise Moriarty, produced two strong rounds for the team as the second combination in the team order. The duo notched an impressive clear in Round 1 and added a single rail in Round 2. 

Laura Kraut (Royal Palm Beach, Florida), who anchored the U.S. Jumping Team that captured top honors in the class in 2021, piloted the fiery Bisquetta, an 11-year-old Zangersheide mare owned by Cherry Knoll Farm Inc. and cared for by Margo Thomas, in the electric atmosphere under the lights in the main stadium. The duo jumped two bold and efficient rounds for the team, adding just 4 faults in the first round, and jumping a tidy, quick clear in Round 2 to help keep the team at the top of the leaderboard. 

McLain Ward (Brewster, New York) and Imperial HBF, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Michael Smith and cared for by Virginie Casterman, served as the anchors for the team. After adding 4 faults in their first tour of the course designed by Germany’s Frank Rothenberger, the pair delivered a beautifully executed clear to secure the team’s victory in front of a sold-out crowd.

“For me it is hallowed ground here; it is the pinnacle of the sport,” said Ward. “The atmosphere and the spectators are unparalleled. It is always an honor to win here. I have been on two winning Nation Cup teams, then we had quite a drought, so it is lovely to be in this position here.”

Peter Weinberg, chef d’equipe of the Belgian team, confirmed: “It was an unbelievable evening. We came quite close at the end. But the Americans were fantastic. Our team is a super troop, and we are very proud to have come second.” 

The British team, which has made the winners’ podium three times consecutively and came third for the second time, took it with dignity. “We will keep on trying,” said Chef d’Equipe Di Lampard. 

In dressage, the U.S. team finished eighth in the Lambertz Nations Cup, with Kasey Perry-Glass earning the highest placing among the Americans, finishing equal 16th with 70.78% aboard Heartbeat W.P.

See full results here.