Glory in Gold for U.S. Jumping Team in CSIO4* Nations Cup, Presented by Florida Coast Equipment
The U.S. Jumping Team earned their tenth team victory in Wellington on Saturday in the $150,000 CSIO4* Nations Cup, presented by Florida Coast Equipment. Nine nations brought forth teams to compete in the ‘Saturday Night Lights’ highlight event of Week 8 at Wellington International’s Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), which runs through March 30 in Wellington, FL.
During the 24-year history of the event at WEF, the U.S. last won in 2021. Teams from Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Israel, Mexico and Venezuela joined the home nation in the opening round with the top eight teams returning for round two. After a disappointing first round, Israel did not advance.
Heading into the second round, Natalie Dean on Marigold Sporthorses’ Acota M, Carly Anthony riding Heavenly W for owner Portfolio Horses, Charlotte Jacobs aboard Playboy JT Z owned by North Star and Laura Kraut in the irons of St. Brides Farm’s Tres Bien Z were the only ones sitting on a score of zero after three clear rounds.
Ireland on four, Belgium with nine and Canada holding on with 10 faults remained in the hunt between rounds.
Returning to again impress over tracks built by USA’s Nick Granat and Steve Stephens, the up-and-coming members of the all-female U.S. team—Anthony (34), Jacobs (30) and Dean (25)—kept the team on five faults after a rail from Dean and time fault from Jacobs. In the end, the effort was enough to seal the victory and prevent anchor rider Kraut from needing to return in the second round.
“Very rarely does the anchor rider on any winning team get to sit it out,” said Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland, who recently announced he will continue in the role through 2028. “We put together a team that we felt was very competitive; that’s the number-one thing. With this Nations Cup in particular, it has always been an opportunity for the up-and-coming—whether it’s horses or a rider.”
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Glory in Gold for U.S. Jumping Team in CSIO4* Nations Cup, Presented by Florida Coast Equipment
