Lexington, Ky. – Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland will lead a young but determined NetJets® U.S. Show Jumping Team when they compete in the FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Mexico on Sunday. At this second qualifying competition in the North and Central America and Caribbean division for September’s Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final, the team of Jennifer Gates, Alex Granato, Kelly Soleau-Millar, and Ali Wolff will be in hot pursuit of podium points to remain in contention. The U.S. has drawn second in the order of three teams with Granato and Carlchen W heading into the ring first for the U.S. team when competition gets underway at 3:00 p.m. EST.
Meet the Team
Jennifer Gates from Medina, Wash., riding Pumped Up Kicks, Evergate Stables LLC’s 14-year-old Warmblood gelding. Follow Gates on Facebook (@evergatestables) and Instagram (@evergatestables).
Alex Granato from Wellington, Fla., riding Carlchen W, Page Tredennick’s nine-year-old Warmblood gelding. Follow Granato on Facebook (@AlexGranatoMadSeason) and Instagram (@alex_granato).
Kelly Soleau-Millar from Wellington, Fla., riding Cacharel, Bridge Brook Arms and Donna Vanderwoude-Dyment’s 10-year-old KWPN mare.
Ali Wolff from New Albany, Ohio, riding Casall, Blacklick Bend Farm’s 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding. Follow Wolff on Facebook (@aliwolffllc) and Instagram (@aliwolffllc).
Last Time Out
The U.S. team of Quentin Judge, Peter Lutz, Alison Robitaille, and Adrienne Sternlicht placed second in the 2017 FEI Nations Cup CSIO4* Coapexpan.
Gates and Pumped Up Kicks last competed in week 12 of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), where they placed in the top 25 in the $35,000 1.45m Classic CSI5*.
Granato and Carlchen W placed fourth in the $132,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round VII CSI5* during week 12 of the WEF.
Soleau-Millar and Cacharel competed in the $132,000 Hollow Creek 1.50m Classic Final CSI4* during week 11 of the WEF.
Wolff and Casall earned a top-25 finish in the $205,000 CaptiveOne Grand Prix CSI 4* during week 11 of the WEF.
Career Highlights
Gates: 2017 $100,000 USEF U25 Show Jumping National Champion with Alex, member of the 2017 U.S. Show Jumping Development Team for FEI Nations Cup CSIO3* Samorin with Luftikus S, 2016 Adequan®/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC) Zone 9 team silver and individual bronze medalist (now the Adequan®/FEI North American Youth Championships presented by Gotham North) with Luftikus S, 2014 NAJYRC Zone 9 team gold medalist with Lord Levisto
Granato: Won the $130,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix CSI3* at the 2017 Kentucky Spring Classic with Carlchen W, member of the U.S. team for the 2015 FEI Nations Cup CSIO3* Lisbon with Mullaghdrin Rado
Soleau-Millar: Three top-10 finishes at the 2018 WEF, won the RAM Equestrian Challenge Grand Prix at the 2014 Equestrian Festival with Centre Ice
Wolff: Member of the silver medal-winning U.S. team in the 2017 FEI Nations Cup CSIO4* Wellington with Casall, member of the silver medal-tying U.S. team in the 2016 FEI Nations Cup CSIO4* Coapexpan with Quirie 2, member of the gold medal-winning U.S team in the 2015 FEI Nations Cup CSIO4* Coapexpan with Casall, 2010 NAJYRC Zone 5 individual gold and team silver medalist with H&M Necoll
Competition Information
Competition begins Sunday, April 22, at 2:50 p.m. EST. The event will be streamed live on FEI TV.
Follow US Equestrian
Stay up to date on the NetJets U.S. Show Jumping Team by following US Equestrian on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and USA Jumping on Facebook. Use #USAJumping and #FEINationsCup.
The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.