Ocala, Fla. – A dominant team of veterans will represent the United States this week at the country’s only qualifier for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final in September in Barcelona, Spain. CSIO4* Ocala will host eight teams in the prestigious Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by Edge Brewing Barcelona on Friday. The Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team of Lauren Hough, Beezie Madden, Todd Minikus, and McLain Ward have drawn fifth in the order and will look to earn valuable qualifying points for the Final.

“Considering the circumstances, that this is an Olympic Games year when we have some of our horses getting a start later on this year, we have a very strong team here,” said U.S. Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland. “I think we need a strong team because the eight teams here are a very strong field. I am optimistic about [the Nations Cup], but I think our competition is going to be tough.”

Pathfinding for the U.S. will be Ward (Brewster, N.Y.) aboard longtime partner Rothchild, Sagamore Farm's 2001 Warmblood gelding. Having been a part of multiple medal-winning U.S. Teams, Ward and Rothchild will bring a wealth of experience. The pair is coming off a big win this past weekend in the $380,000 Fidelity Investments® Grand Prix CSI5* at the Winter Equestrian Festival. Last summer at the Pan American Games, Ward piloted Rothchild to Team Bronze and Individual Gold medal wins, marking the first individual medal of his illustrious career.

Following Ward in the order, Hough (Wellington, Fla.) will compete on Paris Sellon’s 2004 Oldenburg gelding, Cornet 39. A relatively new mount for Hough, the pair saw success on both sides of the Atlantic in 2015, including top 10 placings at CSI4*-W Del Mar, CSI5* Cascais, and CSI5* Los Angeles. Highlighting Hough’s year were Team and Individual Bronze medal wins at the Pan American Games with Ohlala. Hough was a member of the Silver medal-winning Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team at the 2015 CSIO4* Ocala. 

Next for the U.S. will be Minikus (Loxahatchee, Fla.), partnering with Jack Snyder’s 2005 Oldenburg mare, Babalou 41. The pair has contributed to multiple medal-winning efforts as members of the Hermès U.S Show Jumping Team, including a third-place finish at the 2015 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup of Great Britain. Taking their first big win of the year, the pair topped the $130,000 Adequan® Grand Prix CSI3* at the Winter Equestrian Festival in January.

Anchoring the U.S. team is stalwart competitor, Madden (Cazenovia, N.Y.), who brings Abigail Wexner’s rising star, Breitling LS, a 2006 Dutch Warmblood, to compete as part of the stallion’s first Nations Cup team. Madden took over the ride on Breitling LS in 2013 and promptly won the Young Horse Final in Valkenswaard. Since then, the horse has successfully continued to climb the ranks. In 2015, the pair won The Bunn Leisure International Stakes at the Royal International Horse Show and placed second in the New Albany Classic Grand Prix. Madden is also a returning member of the Silver medal-winning Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team from the 2015 CSIO4* Ocala. 

The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Ocala presented by Edge Brewing Barcelona begins at 2 p.m. ET Friday and can be viewed live on FEITV.org.