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U.S. Show Jumping Team Begins 2018 Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Season at CSIO5* Ocala

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Feb 16, 2018, 3:19 PM

Ocala, Fla. – The U.S. Show Jumping Team returns to action this week, taking on six countries in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ CSIO5* on Sunday, February 18 at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, Fla. U.S. Show Jumping Chef d’ Equipe Robert Ridland will lead the team of Lauren Hough and Ohlala, Laura Kraut and Confu, Beezie Madden and Darry Lou, and McLain Ward and HH Callas as they compete for a strong start in the North American standings. The U.S. Show Jumping Team will compete second in the order. Devin Ryan and Eddie Blue will serve as the reserve combination.

 

Meet the Team

 

Lauren Hough from Wellington, Fla., riding Ohlala, the Ohlala Group's 14-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare. Follow Hough on Facebook (@laurenhoughofficial), Twitter (@houghjumps), and Instagram (@lauen_hough).

 
 
 
 

 

Laura Kraut from Royal Palm Beach, Fla., riding Confu, St. Bride's Farm's 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding. Follow Kraut on Facebook (@LauraKrautUSA), Twitter (@LauraKraut), and Instagram (@laurakraut).

 
 
 
 

 

Beezie Madden from Cazenovia, N.Y., riding Darry Lou, Abigail Wexner's 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion. Follow Madden on Facebook (@beeziemadden), Twitter (@JohnMaddenSales), and Instagram (@johnmaddensales).

 
 
 
 

 

McLain Ward from Brewster, N.Y., riding HH Callas, Double H Farm's 11-year-old Warmblood mare. Follow Ward on Facebook (@mclain.ward).

 

 

 

 

Last Time Out

The U.S. Show Jumping Team placed second in the 2017 FEI Nations Cup CSIO4* Ocala.

Hough and Ohlala had a strong start to the 2018 competition year, finishing in the top 10 in the FEI NetJets Grand Prix CSI4* at the Winter Equestrian Festival on Saturday.

Kraut and Confu placed second in the $220,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Wellington presented by Sovaro® at the Palm Beach Masters earlier in the month.

Madden and Darry Lou last competed at the CP National Horse Show in Lexington, Ky., placing third in the $130,000 CP Grand Prix International Open Jumpers CSI4*.

Ward and HH Callas earned fifth-place finishes at the Palm Beach Masters in the $220,000 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Wellington presented by Sovaro® and $35,000 Sovaro® Palm Beach Masters Qualifier CSI3*.
 
Career Highlights
 
  • Hough: Member of the silver-medal winning 2017 Longines FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final team, 2017 member of the first all-women’s FEI Nations Cup CSIO5* Dublin gold-medal winning team and recipient of the Aga Kahn Trophy, team and individual bronze medalist at the 2015 Toronto Pan American Games, and member of the 2000 Sydney Olympics U.S. Show Jumping Team
  • Kraut: Member of the silver-medal winning 2017 Longines FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final team, 2017 member of the first all-women’s FEI Nations Cup CSIO5* Dublin gold-medal winning team and recipient of the Aga Kahn Trophy, 2017 recipient of the “Prize of the Federal Minister of the Interior” award at CHIO Aachen, and two-time Olympian, including a team gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games
  • Madden: Member of the silver-medal winning 2017 Longines FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final team, 2017 member of the first all-women’s FEI Nations Cup CSIO5* Dublin gold-medal winning team and recipient of the Aga Kahn Trophy, and four-time Olympian, including team gold medals at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Games, and a team silver medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games
  • Ward: Member of the silver-medal winning 2017 Longines FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final team, first place at the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final, and four-time Olympian, including team gold medals at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Games, and a team silver medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games

Competition Information

Competition begins Sunday, February 18, at 1 p.m. EST at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, Fla. The event will be streamed live on FEI TV.

Follow US Equestrian

Stay up to date on the U.S. Show Jumping Team at CSIO5* Ocala by following US Equestrian on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and USA Show Jumping on Facebook. Use #JoinTheJoy #SupportYourNation and #FEINationsCup.

The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.