Jumping at CSIO5* Hickstead started up Thursday with U.S. horses and riders faring well. In the opening speed class, the Royal International Vase, "Master of Faster" Richard Spooner and Oscany Inc's Let's Dance 46 sped to a 2nd place finish with a clear round in 65.58s. Hot on their heels were Reed Kessler and her own Ligist. They also keep the rails in the cups and finished their round in 66.18s. Neither was fast enough to beat the scorching 63.97s effort from Great Britain's own Guy Williams and Bijou van de Vijfhelde, but they’re both happy, and two Americans in the top three of an early class is something fans never hate to see.
For full results from the Royal International Vase click here.
Later on in the day Katie Dinan showed well for the U.S. team by jumping two clear rounds in The Bunn Leisure Trophy class and earning a 6th place (well in the money) finish. She and Grant Road Partners, LLC's Nougat du Vallet jumped off in 35.32s. The winning time of 33.01s came from home country favorite Ben Maher and Aristo Z.
For full results from the Bunn Leisure Trophy click here.
The order of go for Friday's Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Qualifier comeptition was also drawn on Thursday. The U.S. didn't fare as well as they'd hoped in the drawing, coming in at 1. That's familair territory for some of the rider's on Friday's team. At CSIO5* Spruce Meadows McLain Ward and Katie Dinan were members of the pathfinding team, and they helped lead it to a second place finish.
The starting order, which was determined by a draw held at Hickstead Thursday, will be as follows:
1. USA
2. Switzerland
3. France
4. Ireland
5. Ukraine
6. Great Britain
7. The Netherlands
8. Germany
The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup competition gets underway Friday and can be watched live at www.feitv.org. The U.S. will also have a team jumping in Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup competition at Bratislava CSIO3* on Friday. Video from Bratislava will be available on-demand from FEI TV later over the weekend, or sometime next week.
Follow the U.S. Jumping Team here.