The jumping community always knew Robert Ridland as a great rider, but now they also see him as the brilliant, strategic mind guiding the U.S. Jumping Team to unprecedented success. Ridland brings several decades of international experience, both as a rider and coach, to the Chef d'Equipe position.

As an athlete, Ridland competed in the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games and won several grand prix competitions throughout his riding career. Ridland has been extensively involved in the governance of the sport, including several terms as a board member of US Equestrian and the United States Equestrian Team Foundation.

Ridland's vast experience as an international course designer helped shaped his analytical approach to the sport. He won the Course Designer of the Year Award twice while building the courses for the U.S. Olympic Trials and numerous international competitions. As an international official, he was the only American to have served as the FEI Technical Delegate for four FEI World Cup Finals. As a television commentator, he worked for many years as the color analyst for ESPN and CBS, as well as two stints for NBC at the Barcelona and Athens Olympic Games.

Since being named the U.S. Jumping Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor in 2013, Ridland has led the U.S. team to team bronze medals at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, and team gold at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon, N.C. Under his guidance the team has medaled at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, 2019 Lima Pan American Games, and most recently secured team gold at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games. The U.S. Jumping Team has earned three consecutive team silver medals in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, and 2024 Paris Olympic Games. 

Katie Dinan began riding at the age of four and, three years later, was active in the competition ring. She found much success as a junior and young rider. Dinan represented Zone 2 on the gold medal-winning team at the USEF Junior Jumper National Championships at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in both 2010 and 2011. She won the young rider individual gold and team bronze medals at the 2011 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North.

Dinan showed she was a solid senior level competitor in 2012, being named to the Long List for the U.S. Jumping Team for the London 2012 Olympic Games and awarded the USET Foundation Maxine Beard Show Jumping Rider Award for her competitive record and future potential to represent the U.S. in international competition. She reached another milestone in 2013 when she competed in her first Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final with Nougat du Vallet. Dinan became a dependable teammate on Nations Cup teams, helping the U.S. team win silver in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by Scotiabank at CSIO5* Spruce Meadows ‘Continental’ Tournament with Nougat du Vallet.

In 2014, Dinan received the USET Foundation Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy as a young rider in one of the Olympic disciplines who exemplifies both sportsmanship and horsemanship. That same year, she partnered with Nougat du Vallet to compete in her second World Cup Final, represent the U.S. team at CHIO Rotterdam, and earn gold in the Furusiyya FEI Nations presented by Longines at CSIO5* Dublin. The following year, Dinan made her third World Cup Final appearance with Stakorado.

Dinan worked with a string of horses over the years, earning results in the top 10 in the U.S. and abroad. With Brego R’N B, Dinan returned to the World Cup Finals in 2022. The pair also were members of the U.S. team in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup of Ireland at CSIO5* Dublin.

Dinan rounded out the 2024 season with a second place finish on Out of the Blue SCF in the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Washington Competing For The President's Cup CSI5*-W, before a strong 2025 campaign, which saw them finish as the highest-placed U.S. combination in the FEI Jumping World Cup Final Basel.

In 2026, the pair finished on the podium at the conclusion of the 2026 FEI Jumping World Cup Final Ft. Worth, marking their highest partnership finish at the individual championship. Dinan and Out of the Blue SCF were named to the 2026 U.S. Jumping Team Short List for the FEI Jumping World Championships and represented the U.S. in St. Gallen and Rotterdam. In the Longines League of Nations team event, the pair helped the Icon Global U.S. Jumping Team secure a second-place podium finish, followed by a top-ten finish in the Grand Prix of Rotterdam CSIO5*. 

Dinan and Out of the Blue SCF were selected to represent the Icon Global U.S. Jumping Team for the 2026 FEI Jumping World Championship in Aachen, Germany. 

Keenan was a standout rider from the start of her career, sweeping the USEF Hunter Pony National Championship in 2007 and 2008, and winning the 2011 $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals at just 14 years old. She went on to claim top equitation titles, including the 2012 North American Junior Equitation Championship and the 2013 USEF Hunter Seat Medal Finals and ASPCA Maclay Finals. As a jumper, she earned team gold at the 2012 and 2013 North American Youth Championships and won the $125,000 Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson. Her success earned her the 2013 Junior Equestrian of the Year title. 

She was selected for the U.S. Jumping Team at the Rome Nations Cup CSIO5*, helping secure fourth-place finish aboard Argan de Beliard. Later, she won the $200,000 Kubota CSI5* Grand Prix in Toronto with Kick On, followed by victories in the $200,000 MLSJ CSI5* Team Competition and $1,000,000 MLSJ FEI 5* Team Final to close out the year. 

In 2025, Keenan was selected to the U.S. Jumping Team for the LLN Ocala CSIO5*, where her double clear with Argan de Beliard contributed to the team’s victory. She represented the U.S. with Kick On for the FEI Jumping World Cup Finals in Basel Switzerland. In their debut for the team, Keenan and Kick On helped the team secure victory in the Rome Nations Cup CSIO5*. Keenan represented the United States at the CHIO Aachen CSIO5* with Argan de Beliard, producing the only double clear to secure the team’s top podium finish. She concluded a successful season as a selected member of the U.S. Jumping Team for the Spruce Meadows Nations Cup CSIO5* with Argan de Beliard. Keenan and Argan de Beliard produced the most clear rounds of any combination on the U.S. Jumping Team in 2025, leading to Keenan's selection to accept the prestigious Whitney Stone Cup in recognition of their outstanding performances.

In 2026, Keenan and her talented string continued to rack up results, which included a CSI4* Grand Prix win with Fasther at WEF, as well as a top ten finish with Kick On in the 2026 FEI Jumping World Cup Final in Ft. Worth, Texas. Keenan was named to the 2026 U.S. Jumping Team Short List for the FEI Jumping World Championships with three different horses and most recently is coming off of top performances in Paris with Fasther at the CSI5* level. 

Laura Kraut’s illustrious career began when she received her first riding lesson at the age of three. Encouraged by their mother, Carol, Kraut and sister Mary Elizabeth took riding lessons together throughout their childhood and still work together today. 

Kraut earned her first major breakthrough in 1992 as an alternate for the Barcelona Olympic Games, later making her Olympic debut in Sydney in 2000 with Liberty. She helped the U.S. win team gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics aboard Cedric, and team silver at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics with Baloutinue. She also represented the U.S. at three FEI World Equestrian Games: Aachen in 2006 with Miss Independent (team silver), Lexington in 2010 with Cedric, and Tryon 2018 with Zeremonie, as part of the gold-medal NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team. 

Kraut is the most decorated team athlete in U.S. history, having competed in more than 90 Nations Cup competitions for the U.S. throughout her career. With Dorado 212, the pair played a pivotal role in helping the team secure their qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. 
 
In 2024, Laura rode to another strong season with Baloutinue, jumping a double clear for the team at the LLN Ocala CSIO5*, where they finished with just a single time-fault in the Grand Prix. The duo produced excellent rounds in LLN Rotterdam CSIO5*, earning fourth overall in the Grand Prix. The duo secured their second consecutive selection to represent the U.S. Jumping Team at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. 
 
Kraut competed at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, marking her fifth Olympic Games and her second with Baloutinue. Alongside teammates McLain Ward (Ilex) and Karl Cook (Caracole de la Roque), Kraut and Baloutinue helped the team secure their third consecutive team silver medal. The pair finished eighth individually.  
 
In 2025, Kraut was part of yet another team win at the LLN Ocala CSIO5* aboard Dorado 212  and finished second in the Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix CSI5* with Bisquetta to close out their winter circuit.  Throughout the year, she delivered consistent results for the U.S. Jumping Team, helping the team earn victories in the Rome Nations Cup CSIO5* and CHIO Aachen Nations Cup CSIO5*, to mark one of the team’s most successful seasons in history. At CHIO Aachen and achieved a standout individual win with Baloutinue in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen, finishing second. She rode Bisquetta to the lone clear round to win the Rolex Grand Prix of Dublin CSIO5*, which was followed by appearances for the team at Spruce Meadows CSIO5* and LLN Final in Barcelona, Spain. To conclude her 2025 season, Kraut topped the $750,000 Coachella Cup Grand Prix CSI5* in Thermal, Calif., with Bisquetta.  

In 2026, Kraut continued to produce results with her main string, which included podium finishes at WEF and Ocala throughout the season in Florida. Kraut was named to the 2026 U.S. Jumping Team Short List for the 2026 FEI Jumping World Championships with four different horses. Her most recent results have included a top ten finish with Bisquetta in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen CSI5*, as well as strong finishes at the Rome CSIO5* and La Baule CSIO5*. 
 
Based in both Florida and the Netherlands, Kraut and her longtime partner, legendary British jumper, Nick Skelton, run a successful training and sales business. 

McLain Ward was introduced to riding before he could walk and has a competitive prowess which only continues to increase with age. In 1990, Ward became the youngest rider ever to win both the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Medal Finals and the USET Talent Derby at age 14. After turning pro, he quickly became the youngest rider to reach the $1 million mark in earnings in 1999, at the age of 24. 

Ward is a six-time Olympian, including as a member of the gold-medal-winning U.S. teams in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 with his longtime mount, Sapphire. With HH Azur, he was part of the U.S. team that took silver at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ward was also a team silver medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games riding Contagious and most recently earned team silver once again, this time aboard Ilex at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.  

He was a member of the gold-medal winning NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team for the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018 riding Clinta, WEG Normandy 2014 team bronze medalist with Rothchild, and a WEG Aachen 2006 team silver medalist with Sapphire, and represented the U.S. in 2022 in Herning with Contagious. As a Pan American Games athlete, Ward was a part of the gold-medal team in Guadalajara 2011 riding Antares F, as well as aboard Contagious at Santiago 2023, where the pair helped the team secure their Paris 2024 qualification. 

In 2025, Ward was selected to the U.S. Jumping Team for the LLN Ocala CSIO5*, where he and Ilex contributed to the team’s top podium finish. He went on the compete for the U.S. in the Rome Nations Cup CSIO5* on Imperial HBF and La Baule Nations Cup CSIO5* on Ilex. He was named to the winning U.S. Jumping Team for the CHIO Aachen CSIO5* with Imperial HBF, and also contributed to a second place finish for the team at the Falsterbo Nations Cup CSIO5* with High Star Hero. A highlight of 2025 was Ward’s win aboard High Star Hero in the FEI Jumping World Cup Qualifier CSI5* at Santa Anita.  

Ward was named to the U.S. Jumping Team for the Wellington Nations Cup CSIO4*, where he and Jordan Molga M contributed to the team's victory. The pair then went on to finish fourth in the Grand Prix CSIO4* the following day. Ward and High Star Hero captured a second place finish in the MLSJ Grand Prix CSI5* in Lexington, Ky., before traveling to Europe for Observation Event competition for the U.S. Jumping Team Short List, where they pair captured a second place finish in La Baule CSIO5*. 

Ward resides in Brewster, New York, with his wife, Lauren, and their two young daughters, Lilly and Madison. 

Natalie Dean started riding horses at a young age and quickly decided to focus her career in the jumping ring. She competed at three FEI North American Youth Championships, winning team bronze in 2017, team silver in 2018, and team silver and individual bronze in 2019. Dean and Don's Diamant were members of the U.S. Young Rider Team who earned gold in the 2019 FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Youth Final CSIOY in Opglabbeek, Belgium.

In 2021, Dean made her debut with the NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team at the Spruce Meadows BMO Nations Cup CSIO5*, riding Chance Ste Hermelle and helping the team to a second-place finish. 

The following year, Dean rode Chance Ste Hermelle in the $150,000 FEI Jumping Nations Cup Wellington CSIO4*, helping the NetJets U.S. Jumping Team to a third-place finish.

In 2023, Dean again competed on the NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team in the $150,000 FEI Jumping Nations Cup Wellington CSIO4*, helping the team to a fifth-place finish while riding Acota M. Dean competed in her first FEI World Cup™ Finals in Omaha, Neb., riding rising star Acota M. Dean continued to build an impressive string of top FEI mounts, earning top finishes around the world.

The 2024 season proved to be a successful year for Dean. She started the year off strong with a win in the $31,020 BrainJuice U25 Grand Prix on Dotcom D'Authuit, followed by a win in the $62,500 FEI Hermès 1.50m CSI4* Grand Prix oboard Oasis van de Bucxtale. With top finishes in many of the major CSI5* Grand Prix classes in Wellington, Dean and Acota M were selected to the U.S. Jumping Team Olympic Short List for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Dean and Acota M represented the U.S. Jumping Team at CHIO Aachen, where she also notched a top placing with Acota M in the RWE Prize of North Rhine-Westphalia, and rode for the team in the prestigious Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup. She finished the year with a win in the $200,000 MLSL FEI 5* Team Competiton in Thermal, Calif. 

Dean has become a familiar face for the Icon Global U.S. Jumping Team in 2025 and 2026, having jumped on teams in Abu Dhabi, Ocala, Rome, Wellington, and La Baule.