Aachen, Germany - Six members of the Short List for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Dressage Team took their first steps in competition on Wednesday and Thursday, performing the FEI Grand Prix Test at the prestigious CHIO Aachen, where they are joined by Kathleen Raine. Laura Graves, Adrienne Lyle, Caroline Roffman, and Tina Konyot represented the U.S. in the Lambertz FEI Nations Cup, held as part of the CDIO5* competition, on Thursday, while Shelly Francis, Lisa Wilcox, and Kathleen Raine went down centerline on Wednesday in the HAVENS Horsefeed-Prize.

CDIO5*- Lambertz FEI Nations Cup

The U.S. secured a seventh-place finish on Thursday afternoon in the Lambertz FEI Nations Cup on an overall total of 213.740. Germany proved to be a popular winner on its home turf, finishing on a total of 243.100, with The Netherlands finishing second on a score of 223.380, and Spain earning third place with a team total of 220.600. 

Leading the way for the U.S. on Thursday was Graves (Geneva, Fla.) and her own 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Verdades, with a score of 73.000%. The 2014 Reserve National Champions finished  13th individually.

Finishing in 21st and 22nd, respectively, were Roffman and Lyle. Roffman (Wellington, Fla.) and her own 11-year-old Hannoverian mare, Her Highness O, earned a score of 70.400% from the Ground Jury of Dietrich Plewa, Isabelle Judet, Francis Verbeek-van Rooy, Stephen Clarke, and Susan Hoevenaars. Lyle (Ketchum, Idaho) and Peggy Thomas’ 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Wizard, scored 70.340% on Thursday.

Konyot (Palm City, Fla.) rode her own 16-year-old Danish Warmblood stallion, Calecto V, to a score of 67.560% to finish in 34th place.

Graves, Roffman, and Lyle head on to Saturday's Grand Prix Special for the CDIO5*. 

CDI4*- HAVENS Horsefeed-Prize

Three U.S. riders headed down centerline for the Grand Prix Test in the HAVENS Horsefeed-Prize for the Aachen CDI4* on Wednesday. Lisa Wilcox (Loxahatchee, Fla.) led the American effort with Betty Wells' Denzello by finishing the day in 12th place. She and the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding produced a lovely test to score 69.180%. Shelly Francis and Kathleen Raine had similar performances in front of the judging panel of Francis Verbeek-van Rooy, Susan Hoevenaars, Isabelle Judet, Dietrich Plewa, and Susanne Baarup to tie for 14th place. Francis (Loxahatchee, Fla.) and Patricia Stempel's Doktor, an 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding, had a good test to score 68.240%. With Jennifer Mason, Kathleen Raine, and David Wightman's 14-year-old Hanoverian mare, Breanna, Raine (Murrieta, Calif.) also earned a score of 68.240%.

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl of Germany and Unee BB won the HAVENS Horsefeed-Prize with a score of 73.220%, after coming out on top of a tie with fellow German rider Fabienne Lütkemeier and D´Agostino FRH, who were second. Beata Stremler of Poland and Rubicon D were third with a score of 72.400%.

Wilcox and Raine will move on for the U.S. in the Grand Prix Special on Friday, while Francis heads to the Grand Prix Freestyle on Saturday for the CDI4*. 

Learn more about the CHIO Aachen here.

Follow the U.S. Dressage Team here.