Xalapa, Mexico –The Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team took an emphatic win today in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup at CSIO4* Coapexpan. Led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland, the U.S. team of Candice King riding Kismet 50, Callan Solem riding VDL Wizard, Ali Wolff riding Casall, and Brianne Goutal riding Nice de Prissey stood atop the podium on the strength impressive jumping efforts, including a double clear round from Wolff. The U.S. has now clinched the North and Central America Division for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final in September in Barcelona, Spain.

“All four combinations put in tremendous performances today,” said Ridland. “It was a great team effort from every aspect. This win means a lot as it is one of our big priorities to qualify for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final, and to do so by accomplishing our objective of winning the [North and Central America Division] is great – it does not get much better than this.”

Round One
Leading off for the U.S. was King (Wellington, Fla.) and Bellissimo LLC’s Kismet 50. The pair finished within the time allowed, but had a rail down at fence 11B to add four faults. Heading in next was Solem (Glenmoore, Pa.) and Horseshoe Trail Farm LLC’s VDL Wizard who had the last rail down. Wolff (New Albany, Ohio) and Blacklick Bend Farm’s Casall and Goutal (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) and Remarkable Farms LLC’s Nice de Prissey both gave the U.S. clear efforts to head into round two on just four faults.

Round Two
The U.S. entered round two in the lead on four faults with only a rail separating them from Mexico I and Mexico II, both on eight faults. Pathfinding for the U.S. once again, King had an unlucky rail down at fence nine and incurred a single time fault to add five faults. Solem expertly navigated VDL Wizard to a clear round as the next to go. Wolff headed into the arena knowing a clear round would almost certainly clinch the win for the U.S. As the youngest member of the team at age 25 she and the 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding did not let their inexperience show as they put in a second clear effort in what would be the only double clear performance of the day.

“It was a great day here – the footing was fantastic and it was such a well-designed course with very fair questions,” said Wolff. “My horse has been jumping great on grass so our goal in round one was to jump clean, which went according to plan. The second round was all mental; I knew he could go clean again so I really tried to just ride what I saw and he kept jumping bigger and better as the course went on. I am thrilled to ride for the U.S. and contribute to the score at such an important event for us.”

“Double clears are always special no matter what, but when the youngest rider on the team does it, it has added special significance. This was a great accomplishment for Ali,” added Ridland.

With the pressure off as the U.S. had already secured victory, Goutal did not let up as the last to go for the U.S., adding only four faults with a rail down at fence 11B to cap off a superb day for the winning U.S. team.

“It is always great to get the win. But more importantly, we were able to do so with four different athlete-and-horse combinations than we had in Ocala for the first Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup qualifier,” said Ridland. “Our strength is in our depth of team. Ensuring that our next generation is solid and gets the opportunity to gain experience at the highest level is paramount. Having our youngest rider accomplish the only double clear of the day is proof of how strong we are as a country.”

Finishing in second was Mexico I on 12, and in third place was Mexico II on 35.


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