Samorin, Slovakia – The U.S. Show Jumping Development Team, led by Chef d'Equipe Anne Kursinski, tied for fourth out of 11 countries in the Nations Cup competition at the X-BIONIC® CSIO of Samorin, Slovakia. Chloe Reid and Adamo showed their experience and poise, riding double-clear for the U.S. team. In an effort to continue to develop future CSIO5* team combinations, this Nations Cup served as an opportunity for less-seasoned combinations to gain valuable competition experience in a team setting.
“I am extremely proud of our young U.S. team,” says Kursinski. “Each rider put in good, solid performances over the two rounds. They each learned a great deal today. It was the first Nations Cup for most of them and this team experience is extremely important for their futures. Our development program is really exciting in creating our next generation of U.S. team riders!”
Jumping ninth in the order, the first rider on course for the U.S. team was Michael Hughes (Allendale, N.J.) and Zerlin M, Enda Carroll’s 13-year-old KWPN stallion. The combination picked up four faults at the water jump. Jennifer Gates (Median, Wash.) and Evergate Stables LLC’s 13-year-old Deutsches Sportpferd gelding Luftikus S also picked up four faults, while Wilton Porter and Caletto Cabana, Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding, were the drop score of the round with eight faults. Anchoring the U.S. team, Reid (Washington, D.C.) and Team Honor USA LLC's 12-year-old KWPN gelding Adamo expertly navigated the course, riding the first clear round for the U.S.
After round one, Brazil and Canada led the way with zero faults. Italy trailed behind with four faults, while four teams sat tied with eight faults, including the U.S., Germany, Japan, and France.
Headed into round two, the U.S. team jumped fifth in the order. Hughes and Zerlin M and Gates and Luftikus S again picked up four faults each. Porter and Caletto Cabana also picked up four faults in the second round. Reid and Adamo showed their experience on this developing team by navigating their second clear of the event.
Brazil took the gold medal after going clear in a jump-off with Germany, who took silver with one rail down in the jump-off. The bronze medal went to Italy with 12 faults.
Full results
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