“United States Wins Consecutive Longines FEI Nations Cup Stage in San Juan Capistrano, USA”

At the Longines Nations Cup in San Juan Capistrano, California, Robert Ridland presented a solid team consisting of Lillie Keenan with Argan de Beliard, Karl Cook on Kalinka van’t Zorgvliet, Laura Kraut associated with Dorado and McLain Ward perched on Contagious. On the course at 1.60 m from Venezuelan Leopoldo Palacios, the quartet of Stars and Stripes finished with a total score of twelve points, notably carried by the double zero of McLain Ward and his chestnut. The team silver medalist couple at the Tokyo Olympics signed the only double clear round of the day. Ireland finished second with seventeen points and Mexico third with thirty-three points.

“Qualifying for the Nations Cup for Barcelona is a major priority, as it is one of the two remaining ways to qualify for the Olympics. We took our ‘A’ team at the start of the year and split it into two. We sent the first half to Mexico [et sommes venus ici] with the other half”explained Robert Ridland, the team leader of the United States.

“I think Leopoldo came up with a very tough course. When I walked it, I have to say I was a bit surprised by the height”said McLain Ward. “After all, it’s a 5* Nations Cup. The consequences of this qualification are enormous, and this is the way things should happen”he added.

Laura Kraut is the only rider to have also competed in the Nations Cup in San Miguel de Allende, where she scored a triple zero with her Tokyo Olympics mount, Baloutinue. At San Juan Capistrano, she exhibited Dorado, a ten-year-old gelding making her Nations Cup debut. “I am delighted with his behavior”said Laura Kraut. “In the first round he was impressed. I agree with McLain that the course was much more difficult than I expected and caught me off guard”.

The United States had a comfortable lead heading into the second round, more than a foul ahead of Canada, who suffered a second round more difficult. Ireland took advantage, neither Andrew Bourns, David Blake, and Conor Swail having touched a bar in this act, respectively on Sea Topblue, Claude and Nadal Hero & DB. The second couple mentioned left the track with a time point exceeded.

With their victory, the United States increased their lead in the North, Central America and Caribbean division to 200 points. Mexico is second with 170 points, and Canada is third with 150 points. The division will wrap up in Vancouver, Canada on June 4.

The results

The general classification