Calgary, Alberta, Canada - The NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team finished seventh in the $600,000 BMO Nations Cup during the 2022 Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament CSIO5* on September 10, 2022, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland led the team of Kent Farrington, Nicholas Dello Joio, Giavanna Rinaldi, and McLain Ward to tackle the course designed by two-time Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios (VEN).

Kent Farrington (Wellington, Fla.) was the pathfinder for the team aboard Landon, Haity McNerny’s nine-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Comilfo Plus Z x Quadrillo. They picked up four faults after the back rail of the oxer in the Mexico-themed in-and-out came down, and added two time penalties, finishing just over the 72 second time allowed in 73.41 seconds for a six-fault score.

Next onto the grass arena for the U.S. was Nicholas Dello Joio (Wellington, Fla.), who was making his senior team debut with Cornet’s Cambridge (Balou du Reventon x Cambridge 8). Dello Joio and the ten-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by The Berry Group LLC crossed the timers in an efficient 69.67 seconds but just ticked the top of the wall causing a block to fall for four faults. They added an additional four faults when the ‘b’ element of the BMO triple combination fell, resulting in an eight-fault total score.

Giavanna Rinaldi (Wellington, Fla.) rode Anton Marano’s Cosmona, the horse she piloted in the $400,700 Pan American Grand Prix CSI5* at Spruce Meadows earlier in the summer, which marked her first CSI5* Grand Prix competition and first CSI5* grand prix victory. The 23-year-old rider and the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare by Cosmeo x Bogegardens Apollo kept their composure, knocking a block off the wall for four faults and picking up a single time fault in 72.61 seconds.

“Gia and Nick are new to this, but they did not ride like rookies,” said Ridland of Dello Joio, riding in his first Senior Nations Cup, and Rinaldi, in only her second team line-up. “They really rode well. Their slight mistakes were at the end of the course in the last line. We were one fix away from the second round and being really good. It was great experience for them, and they really held themselves up well.”

In a familiar position, McLain Ward (Brewster, N.Y.) was under pressure to deliver a clear performance for the U.S. to advance to the second round of competition. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be for Ward and Kasper van het Hellehof (Emerald x Nabab de Reve). After the second jump, Ward and the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion owned by The Kasper Group LLC were unable to continue, forcing Ward to pull up on course and retire. That left the team on a total score of 19 and outside of the top six teams to advance to the second round.

At the conclusion of the two-round competition, the Swedish team rode into the winner’s circle carrying a final score of four, while Team Switzerland finished second on seven faults, and Team Netherlands finished in third with a score of eight.

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The USEF International High Performance Programs and the USEF High Performance Pathway Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, the philanthropic partner to USEF. High Performance Program support is also provided by the USOPC and USEF sponsors and members.