MOLLY SORGE: What about Miss Independent makes you think she’ll be a good horse for the WEG format [which involves at least four rounds–more if they qualify for the individual final]?

LAURA KRAUT: She’s got so much blood, and that’s really nice, because you don’t ever run out of horse. She’s probably my best Nations Cup horse ever, because she is so consistent from one round to the next. I think she has the stamina–God willing we get to jump a bunch of rounds! Not all the horses have the stamina. I’ve ridden quite a few who can go two days, or three but are exhausted. But she’s got the blood to keep going.

If you make it to the final four, where the top four individual riders switch horses and jump a round on each, what horse would you love to ride?
That’s tough, but I’d have to say [Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum’s] Shutterfly. I doubt it will happen, but it’d be fun!

What are your feelings about the U.S. team’s chances?
I’m feeling quietly confident. I couldn’t be happier about who’s on the team, and the horses are going really well. We’ve got as good a shot as any, on any given day. But then again, it’s a lot of luck involved.


How has Chef d’Equipe George Morris helped prepare the team?
Basically, he lets us make our own schedules, and we run it by him and he offers his opinion. He’s certainly not afraid to comment. He’s very supportive. We’re going for one week of training before the WEG, and I think that’ll be fun. He always has something interesting to teach us.

How has Miss Independent developed since the selection trials [in April, where they finished third]?
She’s been fantastic. She had a really easy Florida–I hardly jumped her at all and just tried to keep her fit. Then she jumped super in the trials, and to be honest, she hasn’t shown a lot since then. She did a small show in Germany and then the three Super League shows [Rome (Italy), Lucerne (Switzerland) and Rotterdam (the Netherlands)]. I couldn’t ask her to be any better–she’s been so consistent and she feels great.

How did the Super League shows help her/you prepare for the WEG?
Last year’s Super League shows were really her learning time. I got to know her for two rounds and what it takes to get her jumping well. This year, she came out and really knew what she was doing. I’ve had the time to figure out how much energy she needs.

What team do you think will be the strongest competition?
Obviously, Germany. Great Britain is going to be tough too–they have good horses and great riders. I’ve been over here [in Europe] for a bit, and I can tell you, the Swiss team is going to be dynamite. And you can’t count out the French.

What do you think are each of your teammate’s strengths?
Sapphire and Authentic have proven over and over again that they’ve got the scope and carefulness to be great championship horses. They’ve done it, and they’ve produced. Margie’s horse [Hidden Creek’s Quervo Gold] is a little on the green side, but he’s such a scopey, honest, careful horse, and Margie is a phenomenon, so I think they’ll be great.


How has making the team affected your business and life?
It’s hard to adjust, but we’re used to that. We go away every summer, whether it’s to Spruce Meadows (Alta.) or Lake Placid (N.Y.) or Europe. It’s a different continent, but we’re pretty used to being over here now, so we have the system down. We have 16 horses here in Europe–between mine and my students’.

Who are your grooming/cheering sections?
I have 12 owners coming to watch! (Miss Independent is now owned by a syndicate of owners.) My sister, Mary Elizabeth Kent, and my groom, Catherine Walsh, who has taken care of “Missy” from the beginning, are going of course. I’m not sure if [7-year-old son] Bobby can go, since he’s in school. But I’ll have plenty of support!

Personal Profile
Hometown: Wellington, Fla.
Age: 40

History: Kraut grew up in Camden, S.C., riding hunters and jumpers. Her mother, Carol Kent, was a trainer. Kraut’s big break came when the talented but quirky Simba Run came along, and she traveled to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics as the alternate. Then, she kept her momentum in the big-time and found top mounts Anthem and Liberty. Aboard Liberty, she was on the U.S. team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Anthem was the top-placed U.S. horse at the 2003 FEI Budweiser World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, Nev.

Miss Independent’s Story: Kraut rode Miss Independent for two years for former owner Jessica Pasmore. They competed in 2005 Samsung Super League Nations Cups at La Baule (France), Rome (Italy), Hickstead (England), Dublin (Ireland) and were on the historic winning U.S. team at the Super League Nations Cup at Aachen (Germany).

But when offers to buy the brilliant gray mare came in the fall of 2005, Kraut had to put together a syndicate to buy her and keep the ride. The effort paid off when Miss Independent–in her first big class after a four-month break–won the $65,000 Green Cove Springs CSI-W (Fla.) in January.

“Missy” had a quiet Florida circuit and then placed third in the WEG Selection Trials (Fla.) in April. Kraut rode her in the Super League Nations Cups at Rome, Lucerne (Switzerland), and Rotterdam (the Netherlands)–with never more than one rail in the two rounds–to be assured a place on the U.S. team.

Hobbies: “There are a lot of things that I like to do, but not many I get time to do!” Kraut said. “I like to play tennis and golf and go to the movies. I’ve gone on a couple of trips here in Europe. And every show we’ve been to here is like a vacation. In San Patrignano [Italy], we can sit on the beach all day and show in the evening.”

Favorite horse show: In the U.S., it’s the Syracuse Sporthorse Tournament (N.Y.), and in Europe, it’s Dublin (Ireland).

What Kraut misses most about the U.S. when she’s abroad: Starbucks drive-through and dry cleaners.