Barcelona, Spain – The NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team is ready to compete at the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final at CSIO5* Barcelona. Prepared to showcase and give valuable experience to up-and-coming combinations in one of show jumping’s most prestigious team challenges, the U.S. team will meld new talent with those of experienced veterans as they compete for a spot on the podium. With seven podium appearances in 2018, and an FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG) Tryon 2018 team gold medalist in tow, the U.S. team of Lucy Deslauriers, Andrew Kocher, Laura Kraut, and Jessica Springsteen will be led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland.
Earning their FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final qualification with a silver-medal finish ahead of Mexico at the FEI Jumping Nations Cup Mexico in April. The U.S. team will ride head-to-head against teams from 14 countries as they compete October 5–7 in the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona. Springsteen and RMF Zecilie will be first in the ring for the U.S. as they compete 10th in the order in round one of competition on Friday, October 5, at 2 p.m. ET.
Meet the Team
Lucy Deslauriers from New York, N.Y., riding Hester, Lisa Deslauriers’s 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding. Follow Deslauriers on Instagram (@lucydeslauriers).
Andrew Kocher from Ocala, Fla., riding Kahlua, Top Line Sporthorse International LLC’s 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare. Follow Kocher on Facebook (@AndyKocherLLC), Instagram (@andykocher), and Twitter (@KocherAndy).
Laura Kraut from Wellington, Fla., riding Confu, St. Bride Farm’s 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding. Follow Kraut on Facebook (@LauraKrautUSA), Twitter (@LauraKraut), and Instagram (@laurakraut).
Jessica Springsteen from Colts Neck, N.J., riding RMF Zecilie, Rushy Marsh Farm LLC’s 11-year-old Holsteiner mare. Follow Springsteen on Facebook (@JessicaSpringsteenOfficial), Instagram (@jessicaspringsteen), and Twitter (@J_Springsteen).
Last Time Out
Deslauriers and Hester: Member of the FEI Jumping Nations Cup CSIO5* Calgary U.S. team, finishing fourth. Finished sixth in the $300,000 Hampton Classic CSI4* Grand Prix at The Hampton Classic Horse Show.
Kocher and Kahlua: Finished in the top 15 in the Saugerties $500,000 CSI5* Grand Prix at the HITS-on-the-Hudson VIII and finished third in the HITS Grand Prix during the Showplace End of Summer II CSI5* at Balmoral Park.
Kraut and Confu: Placed in the top 15 CSI5* Grand Prix at the Brussels Stephex Masters and in the top 10 in the Turkish Airlines Prize of Europe at the World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen. Kraut most recently was part of the team gold medal effort at the Tryon 2018 WEG with Zeremonie.
Springsteen and RMF Zecilie: Finished seventh in the Rome CSI5* Grand Prix as part of the Longines Global Champions Tour and third in the Mercedes Benz CSI5* Grand Prix at Jumping Valence International.
Career Highlights
Deslauriers: Member of the NetJets U.S. Jumping Team for the 2018 FEI Jumping Nations Cup Canada and 2018 FEI Jumping Nations Cup Ireland; United States Equestrian Team Foundation’s 2016 Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy recipient; 2015 $100,000 USEF U25 National Champion; 2015 Neue Schule/USEF Junior Jumper National Champion; Zone 2 team gold medalist and individual silver medalist at the 2015 Adequan®/FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) presented by Gotham North; 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) Excellence in Equitation Champion; 2014 NAYC individual silver medalist; 2014 Randolph College/USEF Junior Jumper National Championship Zone 2 team silver medalist
Kocher: Kocher won the $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Del Mar at the 2017 Del Mar International World Cup Week, qualifying him for his first appearance at the 2018 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final, where he finished in the top 30.
Kraut: Two-time Olympian, including a team gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games; three-time WEG competitor, including a team gold medal at the Tryon 2018 WEG and team silver medal at the Aachen 2006 WEG; member of the silver-medal winning 2017 Longines FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final team; member of the first all-woman FEI Nations Cup CSIO5* Dublin gold-medal winning team and recipient of the Aga Khan Trophy in 2017, and recipient of the “Prize of the Federal Minister of the Interior” award at 2017 CHIO Aachen
Springsteen: In 2014, won the American Gold Cup; team silver medalist and individual bronze medalist at the 2010 Adequan®/FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) presented by Gotham North; fourth individually at the 2009 NAYC; and 2008 winner of the ASPCA Maclay National Championship
Competition Information
Competition begins Friday, October 5, with the first round at 3:00 p.m. ET in the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona arena.
Find out more about the FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final.
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Stay up to date on the NetJets U.S. Jumping Team at the FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final by following USA Jumping on Facebook and US Equestrian on Twitter and Instagram. Use #USAJumping and #SupportYourNation.
The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.