Hickstead, GBR - The United States will be represented by four of its finest show jumping athletes at the CSIO5* Longines Royal International Horse Show in Hickstead, England this weekend. The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup of Great Britain presented by Longines will be contested in the historically rich Hickstead Stadium on Friday, July 31. The stellar Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team consists of Laura Kraut and The Evita Group’s Nouvelle, Charlie Jayne and Maura Thatcher and Alex Jayne’s Chill R Z, Todd Minikus and Two Swans Farm’s Babalou 41, and  Beezie Madden and Abigail Wexner’s Cortes ‘C’. The U.S. Team will look to continue its positive momentum following a win at CSIO5* Mannheim and a Bronze medal performance at the 2015 Pan American Games.

Kraut and Madden arrive fresh from the Gold medal effort in the 100th Nations Cup of Germany, held at CSIO5* Mannheim in Mannheim, Germany. Aboard Nouvelle and Cortes ‘C’, the former Olympic Gold medalists rode two skillful rounds, helping the U.S. Team to a three-way tie for first place. Madden was selected as the jump-off contestant and flew through the timers fault-free to lift the U.S. Team to victory. Prior to the Nations Cup triumph in Germany, these elite equestrians successfully represented the United States in numerous international competitions, including the Olympic Games, FEI World Cup Jumping Finals, and FEI World Equestrian Games.

Also representing the United States at Hickstead is the successful show jumping veteran Minikus. With Babalou 46, Minikus was a member of the winning U.S. Team in the FEI Nations Cup presented by Kingsland Equestrian at CSIO4* Wellington. A U.S. representative at multiple Nations Cups, Charlie Jayne and Chill R Z arrive in England off of successful Grand Prix placings in Tryon, N.C. and Spruce Meadows in Alberta, Canada.

The United States team will jump sixth in the order of eight teams in Hickstead. First to ride is Kraut and Nouvelle, followed by Jayne and Chill R Z, Minikus and Babalou 46, and Madden and Cortes ‘C’.

Find out more about the Longines Royal International Horse Show

The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members. Without the support of these organizations and individuals, it would not be possible to support our athletes. The USEF is especially grateful to individuals who give generously of their time and money to support the equestrian teams.