Mill Spring, N.C. – The NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team arrives at the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) Tryon 2018 with a primary goal of Tokyo 2020 Olympic team qualification and a spot on the podium. Led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland, a top-six placing is needed from the U.S. team of Laura Kraut with Zeremonie, Devin Ryan with Eddie Blue, Adrienne Sternlicht with Cristalline, and McLain Ward with Clinta, if they are to secure their team invite to Tokyo. With the support of a home crowd behind them, the NetJets U.S. Jumping Team enters U.S. Trust Arena 17th in the order of 25 competing nations. Devin Ryan and Eddie Blue will be the first for the U.S. team to navigate Alan Wade’s challenging course in Tryon.
On Wednesday, each combination will participate in the “Speed Round” competition. The results from the Speed Round, Thursday’s Round 1, and Friday’s Round 2 will be combined for the final team score.
Meet the Team
Laura Kraut from Wellington, Fla., riding Zeremonie, Old Willow Farms LLC’s 11-year-old Holsteiner mare. Follow Kraut on Facebook (@LauraKrautUSA), Twitter (@LauraKraut), and Instagram (@laurakraut).
Devin Ryan from Long Valley, N.J., riding Eddie Blue, LL Show Jumpers, LLC’s nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. Follow Ryan on Facebook (@devinryanatriverrunstables).
Adrienne Sternlicht from Greenwich, Conn., riding Cristalline, Starlight Farm LLC’s 10-year-old Bavarian Warmblood mare. Follow Sternlicht on Instagram (@adriennesternlicht).
McLain Ward from Brewster, N.Y., riding Clinta, an 11-year-old Oldenburg mare he owns with Sagamore Farm. Follow Ward on Facebook (@mclain.ward).
Last Time Out
Kraut and Zeremonie: Placed second in the CSI5* 1.50 m and were in the top five CSI5* 1.55 m at the Brussels Stephex Masters in August; earned the bronze medal with the NetJets U.S. Jumping Team at the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Ireland
Ryan and Eddie Blue: Placed ninth in the CSIO5* Longines International Grand Prix of Ireland in August
Sternlicht and Cristalline: Secured fourth place in the CSIO5* Longines International Grand Prix of Ireland in August
Ward and Clinta: Won the Rolex Grand Prix de Dinard at the Jumping de Dinard CSI5* in August; finished in the top 20 in the $10,000 Palm Beach Masters Open Jumper CSI4* at the Hampton Classic Horse Show and Country Fair
Career Highlights
Kraut: Two-time Olympian, including a team gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games; two-time WEG competitor, including a 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
Ryan: Jumped double-clear for the NetJets U.S. Jumping Team at CHIO Aachen; placed second at the 2018 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final Paris; placed third in the 2018 $250,000 Sapphire Grand Prix, won the $216,000 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping New York CSI4*-W at the 2017 American Gold Cup
Sternlicht: Member of the 2018 FEI Jumping Nations Cup CSIO4* Wellington and FEI Jumping Nations Cup The Netherlands; member of the silver medal-winning team at the 2017 FEI Nations Cup CSIO4* Coapexpan with Cristalline, runner-up in the 2017 Mercer Cup CSI5* at the Spruce Meadows ‘Pan American’ Tournament with Raia D’Helby.
Ward: 2017 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final champion, member of the silver-medal winning 2017 Longines FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final team, and four-time Olympian, including team gold medals at the Athens 2004 and Beijing Games 2008 and a team silver medal at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Games
Competition Information
Competition begins Wednesday, September 19 with the first round of the team competition and individual qualifier at 9:00 a.m. EST in the U.S. Trust Arena.
Follow US Equestrian
Stay up to date on the NetJets U.S. Jumping Team at WEG by following USA Jumping on Facebook and US Equestrian on Twitter and Instagram, featuring a daily Instagram Story. Use #USAJumping and #Tryon2018
The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.