Aachen, Germany – World no. 2 Kimberly Palmer (Half Moon Bay, Calif.) led The U.S. Vaulting Team with a podium (3rd) placing in the Technical Test on Friday and a fourth-place finish in the Freestyle on Saturday, with marks totaling 8.326 for fourth overall at the 2026 FEI Vaulting World Championship hosted in Aachen, Germany, from August 11-16, 2026.
Palmer broke the 8.0 threshold twice with an 8.470 in the Technical Test and 8.497 for Freestyle in Allianz Park Stadium. She impressed atop the back of Rosenstolz 99, a 2007 Rhinelander gelding (Rosencharmeur x Findermark), owned by Claudia Petersohn and Claudia Spadavecchia and lunged by Laura Carnabuci (ITA).
“It's really special to be here, to be in this huge arena with all the spectators, and I heard a huge squad of people cheering—That was really empowering,” said Palmer of how the Aachen atmosphere played into her fifth World Championship appearance.
“I've been working with Laura and Rosenstolz for about five years now,” continued Palmer, 31. “I was paired with another one of her horses, and then she allowed me to vault him at the end of 2021. I was really excited for Freestyle this week, and just wanted to show my best, and how hard I've been training.”
Caroline Morse (Los Gatos, Calif.) and Grasshopper AF, a 2009 American Warmblood gelding (Glacier Bay x Prime Asset XX), owned by Caroline and Jana Morse and lunged by Sarah Twohig (USA), finished 13th on a score of 7.800 after an 8.048 in the Freestyle.
Rounding out the female individual placings, Kylynn Ghafouri (Murrieta, Calif.) and San Felice Z, a 2010 Zangersheide gelding (Stakkato's Highlight x Landfuerst) owned by RVV Equus e.V. and lunged by Christina Ender (GER), tallied a 7.698 to end 15th.
On the male side, Daniel Janes (Standwood, Wa.) ended 11th (7.932) with Caretes Auhoern, a 2009 Holsteiner gelding (Caretino 2 x Colman) owned by IPG Wettenberg e.V. and Jana LEIB and lunged by Jana Leib (GER). Following in 16th, Jace Brooks (Eagle Mountain, Utah) posted a final 7.402 on Oslo vd Bisschop, a 2012 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Joop III x Kashmir van Schuttershof) owned by Moritz Wolf and Susanne Wunderle and lunged by Jonathan Schumacher (GER).
Pas de Deux competition opened on Friday with a seventh-place finish for father-daughter duo Gracie Griffiths (Elk Ridge, Utah) and Todd Griffiths (Elk Ridge, Utah) on a final score of 7.518 with Gozer, a 2011 gelding owned by RVV Equus e.V.
Janes returned for the Pas de Deux partnered with Emily Rose (Santa Cruz, Calif.) with Eldoctro, a 2009 KWPN gelding (VDL Indoctro x LBH Calvados), lunged by Carolyn Bland (GBR). Unfortunately, an oversight with Janes and Rose’s tack and equipment led to a disappointing elimination on Friday for Eldoctro’s ear bonnet being secured to the noseband, a violation of the FEI Vaulting Tack and Equipment Regulations.
The Pacific Coast Squad returned with Eldoctro on Saturday with a sixth-place overall finish in the Freestyle Test. The team roster included Francesca Foster (Las Vegas, Nev.); Clea Limbrey (Redwood City, Calif.); Nina Limbrey (Redwood City, Calif.); Emma Milito (Brighton, Colo.); Maria McLean (Santa Cruz, Calif.); and Evalyn Rotter (Redwood City, Calif.).
The FEI Vaulting World Championship concludes on Sunday with the final Pas de Deux and Team competition.
Results
Final Female | Final Male | Squads Free
Competition Information
The competition kicks off with the first group of Compulsory Tests on Thursday, August 13, beginning at 3:00 a.m. ET/9:00 a.m. GMT+2, followed by Technical Tests on Friday, August 14, starting at 2:30 a.m. ET/8:30 a.m. GMT+2, and the first round of Pas de Deux competition beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. GMT+2. Free Tests for the Individual Female, Individual Male, and Squads will take place on Saturday, August 15, at 3:00 a.m. ET/9:00 a.m. GMT+2. Championship competition will conclude on Sunday, August 16, with the Pas de Deux Final at 4:00 a.m. ET/10:00 a.m. GMT+2, followed by the Official Team Competition starting at 6:00 a.m. ET/12:00 p.m. GMT+2.
Schedule | Watch | Results | US Equestrian’s Content Hub
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