Hometown: The Plains, Va. Birthday: 6/6/1987 Sport/Disciplines: Eventing Olympic Years: 2016

Lauren Nicholson (née Kieffer) began riding at the age of 6 and competed in her first horse trials at the age of 12. As a high school graduation present, Kieffer participated in a week-long eventing summer camp with Olympians David and Karen O’Connor, which led to a six-year working student position. Her talent and work ethic helped her reach the top levels of the sport and eventually representing the U.S. in multiple international championships.

Nicholson won team bronze in 2005 and team silver in 2007 at the North American Youth Championship (NAYC) with her own Anglo-Arabian gelding, Snooze Alarm. She made her debut at the CCI5*-L level in 2010, when she and Snooze Alarm completed the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Nicholson continued to have success at the level with Team Rebecca’s Veronica, placing second overall at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2014 and 2016 to win the USEF CCI5*-L National Championship. The pair also had top ten finishes at CCI5*-L competitions at Les Etoiles de Pau (FRA) in 2014, and the MARS Badminton (GBR) in 2018.

Nicholson acquired Snooze Alarm’s full-brother, Vermiculus, as an unbroke young horse and started his career at the beginner novice level in 2012. She brought him up the levels to his first CCI5*-L completion in 2018 at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, where they placed fifth. Since then, they’ve had top ten finishes at the CCI5*-L level in 2019 at Defender Kentucky Three Day Event and Defender Burghley Horse Trials (GBR). In 2022 the pair had a top ten finish at Longines Luhmühlen (GER) and were part of the silver-medal-winning team at the 2022 FEI Eventing World Championship held at Pratoni del Vivaro in Rome, Italy. In 2024 at the Defender Kentucky Three Day Event, Nicholson and Jacqueline Mars’ Vermiculus were the highest placed US combination, finished in the top 5 and were named the USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Champions.