Rotterdam, The Netherlands – The Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team placed fifth in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ at CSIO5* Rotterdam on Friday. Led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland, the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team of Kent Farrington, Laura Kraut, Beezie Madden, and Callan Solem overcame a difficult round one to produce strong efforts in round two. The Netherlands secured the win on their home turf in commanding fashion on zero faults. Switzerland placed second on four faults, and Germany rounded out the top three on eight faults. The competition at Rotterdam serves as the final of four designated observation events that will help determine the 2016 U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team.

Drawing last in the order of eight teams, Farrington (Wellington, Fla.) led off for the U.S. in round one with Amalaya Investments’ Voyeur, a 2002 KWPN gelding. The pair tipped the rail coming into the double combination at 11a, putting four faults on the board. Solem (Glenmoore, Pa.) and Horseshoe Trail Farm, LLC’s VDL Wizard, a 2003 KWPN gelding, followed in the order and left rails down at the a and b elements of the  triple combination and added a time fault for a total of nine faults. Kraut (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) and Old Willow Farms, LLC’s Zeremonie, a 2007 Holsteiner mare, added another four-fault round, while Madden (Cazenovia, N.Y.) and Cortes ‘C’, a 2002 Belgium Warmblood gelding owned by Abigail Wexner, pulled rails at fences 3 and 11a. The U.S. entered round two in seventh place on 16 faults. The home team of The Netherlands led after round one on zero faults. 

The U.S. team dug in with determination in round two, improving greatly on their round one performances. Farrington set the tone for the round with a fault-free performance. Solem had an unfortunate foot down in the water, and a rail at 8a. Kraut and Madden both proved their mettle, posting clean rounds and securing a zero-fault round-two total for the U.S., giving them a two-round total of 16 and the fifth-place finish.

Complete Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Results

Find out more about CHIO Rotterdam

The U.S. is being represented at CHIO Rotterdam by all members of the Dressage Squad for European Observation Events in the CDIO5* and CDI3*. This competition is serving as the final of three designated observation events for determining the 2016 U.S. Olympic Dressage Team.

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