U.S. Jumping athlete Laura Kraut continues to prove that longevity and excellence can ride side by side at the very top of international jumping. With wins and podium finishes across some of the world’s most prestigious events, including her unforgettable victory in this year's Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland CSIO5* in Dublin, and a close second in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen CSIO5*, Kraut has crafted a season in 2025 defined by partnership, precision, and an unwavering belief in her string of horses.
“It’s been a really strong year,” Kraut said. “I think confidence has been the biggest thing for me. When you have a horse like Baloutinue, it gives you that trust and belief that carries into all the others. Confidence is everything, especially when you can have that in the horses you’re riding.”
That confidence has been visible in every round. Whether piloting Baloutinue, a 2010 Hanoverian gelding (Balou du Rouet x Landor S) owned by St. Bride’s Farm, who is also affectionately known as “Balou,” or Bisquetta, a 2014 Belgian Warmblood mare (Bisquet Balou C x Takashi van Berkenbroek) owned by Cherry Knoll Farm Inc., who is known at home as “Biscuit,” Kraut has shown her trademark grittiness, with a masterful blend of both experience and instinct. Her performance in Dublin with Bisquetta, completing the only clear round of the day, was one for the history books. “That was just crazy,” she recalled. “It was really outstanding to have her be the only clear round. I’ve never had that happen. It was so meaningful to win a Rolex Grand Prix like Dublin. It’s not easy to do and it was really fun.”
Kraut’s results this season have built steadily on early momentum. A hard-earned second place finish with Bisquetta in the Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix CSI5* during the finale of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla., set the tone for the remainder year, followed by numerous U.S. Jumping Team successes and other CSIO5* Grand Prix podium finishes only further reaffirmed her position among the sport’s elite.
By October, Kraut climbed to eighth in the FEI World Rankings, becoming the first woman to break into the top ten since her longtime friend and fellow U.S. Jumping teammate Beezie Madden did it 2021. Joining her formidable U.S. compatriots, Kent Farrington and McLain Ward, in the world’s top ten, Kraut’s rise is more than a personal milestone. It inspires her peers and the next generation of equestrian athletes who look to her accomplishments and continued success as motivation within their own careers.
“I have a lot of people tell me, ‘We’re nearly your age, and we’ve decided we’re going to keep going,’” she said. “I love that. It’s not something I set out to do, but if my career inspires someone to keep doing what they love, that’s special.”
Her horses, she says, are the key to keeping her motivated. “Both Balou and Bisquetta are a little quirky, a little funny,” Kraut said fondly. “But what I love most is that they’re both so brave. I can trust them completely; they’ll do anything I ask with a lot of heart. When you’re jumping at the level of Aachen or Dublin, you need that faith in your horse.”
Behind Kraut’s success is a tightly knit team that includes her sister and longtime manager, Mary Elizabeth, and her partner, Nick Skelton, alongside the dedicated team behind her who keep the operation running smoothly. “Without them, none of these results would be possible,” she said. “You start first with the horse, of course, but then it’s the owners; my sister Mary Elizabeth; Julie Welles, who keeps them schooled when I can’t; to Nick who helps me strategize; Alex Tyler-Morris and Margo Thomas who take care of them; our vet and blacksmith -- they’re all part of it.”
This season, Kraut has also placed renewed focus on team competitions, a reflection of her commitment to representing the U.S. on the global stage. “We made up our minds that it was something we were going to concentrate on,” she said. “We collectively, as a team, have had a very strong year. I’ve really enjoyed dedicating more time to that.”
That renewed focus has paid off in remarkable fashion. Kraut helped lead the U.S. Jumping Team to multiple Nations Cup victories in 2025, starting the season with a win at the FEI Jumping Nations Cup Wellington CSIO4*, where she rode Tres Bien Z as part of an all-female American team. She followed that with another triumph in Ocala at the League of Nations CSIO5* on Dorado 212 before joining the winning U.S. squad at the Jumping Nations Cup of Rome CSIO5* aboard Bisquetta. Most recently, Kraut and Bisquetta contributed to a historic Jumping Nations Cup CSIO5* victory at CHIO Aachen, cementing one of the strongest Nations Cup seasons in recent U.S. team history.
Balancing the demands of elite sport with longevity is something Kraut has mastered. Her secret? Keeping her horses, as well as herself, fresh. “The best way to be competitive is to make sure your horses are in good condition and not overused,” she said. “I’m lucky to have a string of horses that can step up when needed. If I only had one, I’d be doing half of what I do now.”
When she’s not in the ring, Kraut’s passion for competition still shines through. She’s an avid sports fan and keeps up with Nick’s sons, accomplished steeplechase trainers Dan and Harry Skelton. “I enjoy following their results -- they’re amazing at what they do,” she said. “It’s fun for me to follow any sort of competition.”
Kraut relishes the opportunity to connect with athletes across disciplines, including tennis, a sport she enjoys watching. During the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, she told the US Equestrian Open Podcast about how she met tennis legend and fellow Olympian Serena Williams, who had come to watch the equestrian competitions. After the jumping, Williams turned to Kraut and said, “This was the most exciting thing I have ever seen.”
As she looks ahead, Kraut’s focus is squarely on the next chapter, including the 2026 World Cup Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, and the 2026 FEI Jumping World Championships in Aachen, Germany, next summer, where she hopes to return two decades after previously representing the U.S. there in 2006. “I have a fantastic group of horses right now, so my motivation is to keep myself fit and strong and get the best out of them,” she said. “I did the World Championships in Aachen in 2006, so to go back 20 years later would be really special.”
With another season of world-class results and the respect of fans and fellow riders alike, Kraut’s list of achievements continues to grow, but she remains an enduring symbol of excellence, partnership, and the timeless joy of the sport.