Aachen, Germany – The cross-country phase for the Defender U.S. Eventing Squad concluded in front of 35,000 spectators at the 2026 FEI Eventing World Championships, hosted in Aachen, Germany, from August 13-16, 2026. Course Designer Giuseppe Della Chiesa’s track proved a true championship test, shaking up the standings across the day, as combinations tackled the technical track. Will Coleman and Diabolo moved up to sixth individually and are the highest placed U.S. combination heading into the final day of competition tomorrow.
The Defender U.S. Eventing Team moved into fifth place at the conclusion of today’s demanding cross-country test and will look ahead to
tomorrow’s final phase.
“Today proved to be as influential as expected. Caroline had an unfortunate moment at the drop bank complex. Phillip, Boyd, and Will all posted clear rounds on cross country and Will's double clear helped keep the team in a fighting position,” said Chef d’Equipe Leslie Law as he recapped the day. TThere is all to play for tomorrow in trying to win a medal.”
Only six combinations crossed the finish flags within the optimum time of 9 minutes 50 seconds. Will Coleman (Free Union, Va.) and the Diabolo Group’s Diabolo “Dabs”, a 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Diarado x Aljano 2) cared for by Erin Jarboe, rounded out the day as the only U.S. combination to go double clear on Saturday in an impressive showing from start to finish.
“Dabs was amazing; I give him all the credit—he's such an amazing horse,” Coleman described as he came out of the cool down area with a big smile. “I can't say enough good things about him as a horse and as a partner.”
As the team’s anchor, Coleman was last to leave the start box for the team with immense pressure to produce a counting score. When asked about his role as anchor, he replied, “This is a team game and I learned something from each and every one of those guys that went in front of me.”
Coleman was complimentary of the team’s morale and support, noting that every combination came back with valuable information to allow him to execute with Dabs in the final portion of combinations of the day. “Phillip set us off on a great note with a fabulous round,” continued Coleman. “Caroline didn't have the day that we all know that she can have, but she still came back with a positive attitude and gave us all as much insight as she could. She’s been an excellent teammate every step of the way here.”
Coleman continued about his fellow U.S. athletes, “Tamie is competing as our individual here, but it doesn't matter—she's part of our team and has just been incredible all week. Boyd showed me the way and gave our team a chance. It was up to me to bring us home a clear and I was really relieved that we did that.”
As the team’s pathfinder, Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and the 2015 Holsteiner gelding Denim (Dinken x Ibisco) owned by Ann Jones, Ann Lapides, Caroline Moran, and Neill Sites and cared for by Emma Yanek, were first out of the start box for the Defender U.S. Eventing Team to set the tone and bring information back to the remaining combinations. The duo finished a solid clear round over fences, adding 12.4 time penalties to their score, to settle them in 33rd place individually on a score of 45.
“He doesn't have a high top speed, so I was just trying to keep it as even as I could all the way around,” said Dutton. “My main priority was for me to get a clear round and put that in the bank, and then hopefully everybody could build on it from there.”
Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and Liz’s Nutcrackers’ Cooley Nutcracker, a 2014 Irish Sport Horse gelding (BMC Tolan R. x Cobra), cared for by Stephanie Simpson, built on the strong round delivered by Dutton and Denim to keep the team in the hunt in the third rotation of team combinations. After consulting with Chef d’Equipe Leslie Law and the rest of the team, Martin and “Bali” secured the team’s much-needed clear round, adding only 6.4 time penalties to sit on 37.3 overnight, and hold 23rd individually.
Individual U.S. combination Tamie Smith (Murietta, Calif.) and Lillet 3 (SIEC Livello x Calido I), owned by Molly and Jennifer Duda and cared for by Savannah Gwin, impressed in their championship debut and sit in 18th, adding only eight time penalties to their overnight score to hold tightly to a position inside top twenty on a score of 35. They currently are the second-highest placed U.S. combination individually.
“She fought for me the whole time—I rode her like a seasoned horse and she acted like one,” Smith explained about the 2016 Holsteiner mare. “The crowd is so in your face here and close to the ropes, and I didn't know how she'd take that just being ten. When I first went out of the box, she was a little bit like ‘whoa’ this is amazing and I just kept patting her and telling her she was a good girl.”
Caroline Pamukcu (Springfield, Pa.) and HSH Blake, a 2015 Irish Sport Horse gelding (BMC Tolan R x Kannan) owned by Mollie Hoff, Sherrie Martin, Caroline Pamukcu, and Deniz Pamukcu and cared for by Chloe Teahan, did not have the day they were hoping for and parted ways on the C element of the Longines Challenge for an elimination.
The Defender U.S. Eventing Squad will show jump tomorrow, Sunday, August 16, beginning at 1:00 p.m. GMT+2/7:00 a.m. ET and the top 25 will jump at 3:30 p.m. GMT+2/9:30 a.m. ET with competition concluding with team and individual medals awarded for the FEI Eventing World Championships.
Results
Results | Team Standings
Schedule | | Results | US Equestrian’s Content Hub
The 2026 U.S. FEI Eventing World Championship Squad is generously supported by the Jacqueline B. Mars International Training & Competition Grant, awarded by the United States Equestrian Team Foundation.
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