Wellington, Fla. – In a battle for top honors and striving to gain team experience, the U.S. Young Rider, Junior, and Children’s Jumping Teams dominated their respective competitions at the Palm Beach Masters CSIO on Saturday. The Children’s team started the day capturing the $5,000 Children’s Team Competition, followed by the U.S. Junior Team winning the $8,000 Junior Team Competition. The U.S. Young Rider team competed in the $10,000 FEI Jumping Youth Nations Cup to end the day.
“I want to thank the Palm Beach Masters sponsors and all the sponsors. This is very important to the development of the U.S. teams. Without this type of competition, it would be very hard for us to educate and give opportunity to our youngest riders,” said Junior and Children’s Chef d’Equipe DiAnn Langer.
“The best thing about this event is that they are the future of our sport…for these kids to have an event like this, to learn about the two-round [format], and ride for their country, there’s nothing like it. It’s an amazing experience. I’m so thankful that the Jacobs family put on this [event] so they could get that experience,” said Young Rider Chef d’Equipe Anne Kursinski.
U.S. Children’s Jumping Team
The U.S. Children’s Jumping Team won the Palm Beach Masters $5,000 Children’s Team competition. The team of Mia Albelo (Miami, Fla.), riding Cassandra Dreams, her 13-year-old Holsteiner mare; Ansgar Holtgers Jr. (Wellington, Fla.), riding Emember, Gut Einhaus LLC’s nine-year-old KWPN mare; Caroline Mawhinney (Woodside, Calif.), riding Flashback VDS, her eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare; and Zayna Rizvi (Wellington, Fla.), riding Calvaton Z, Peacock Ridge LLC's 10-year-old stallion, all jumped clear in the first round.
“They quickly got the idea that they had to come together as a team, and they did with support and backup and an understanding of what they had to do. They were a model team, and I can’t thank them all enough for pulling it together in a few days,” said Langer. “I really liked the course. It was bigger today, and I liked the fact that it was technical … I think everyone stepped up to it; they asked a little more of their horses. I think in the nations cup format the second round ends up being the hardest part because the horses get tired, and the riders need to pull the situation together for each other, and they did that.”
Known as the “Red, White, and Blue” team during the competition, they entered the second round tied for first place with the second U.S. team. Holtgers Jr. and Emember, Rizvi and Calvaton Z, and Albelo and Cassandra Dreams all jumped clear. This gave them the edge as the second U.S. team incurred two faults.
“The whole process for developing the team and having team competitions is to give them experience in the earliest stage possible, and these riders are 12 to 14 years-old. We believe if we educate, promote, and give them plenty of opportunity to our youngest riders, we will end up in 2028 with our top riders,” said Langer.
On what it means to represent the U.S.:
Mia Albelo: “It was an honor and privilege, and I hope these experiences help us for future experiences such as at the grand prix level and team [competitions].”
Ansgar Holtgers Jr.: “It’s an honor to represent the U.S.; I love being on a team, and I look forward to these experiences as I hope to [advance] to the bigger levels.”
Caroline Mawhinney: “It was fun and an honor to represent the U.S. It was cool to ride for my country and connect with the upper level people to learn from them, as well as [gain] experiences we can use in the future.”
Zayna Rizvi: “It was an honor, and I’m so glad to be here. I had a really good time; we all did. It was very fun.”
U.S. Junior Jumping Team
The U.S. Junior Jumping Team topped the Palm Beach Masters CSIO $8,000 Junior Team Competition. The team of Mimi Gochman (New York, N.Y.), riding Street Hassle BH, Gochman Sport Horse LLC's 12-year-old Selle Francais stallion; Tanner Korotkin (Wellington, Fla.), riding Armagedon, Sandalwood Farm’s 13-year-old KWPN gelding; Catalina Peralta (Geneva, Fla.), riding Basimodo, Signe Ostby’s 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding; and Yasmin Rizvi (Greenwich, Conn.), riding Lumiere, Peacock Ridge LLC’s 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding, concluded the first round with four faults.
“They all were excellent. I can’t tell you how proud I am of them and all they have accomplished so soon in their career. We were in a tough spot today, tied going into the second round. It came down to the last couple of rounds. Everyone did what they were supposed to do. They were fantastic,” commented Langer.
The U.S., known as the “Stars and Stripes” team, needed clear rounds from Peralta and Basimodo and anchor combination Korotkin and Armagedo. With each combination executing, and “Team Four’s” anchor combination dropping a rail, the U.S. and “Team Four” entered the second round tied for first place.
Following three rotations in the second round, the U.S. found themselves down by one penalty. Another clear round from Korotkin and Armagedon ensured a jump-off with “Team Four.” However, their anchor combination accumulated four faults, which ensured the win for the U.S.
On the team experience:
Tanner Korotkin: “It takes a lot of teamwork even though you are in the ring alone and have to focus on yourself. You want your teammates to do well so we can carry on to the next round and have good scores. It’s about talking about the course with your team and getting everything situated so you and your teammates know exactly what to do when they go into the ring.”
Catalina Peralta: “I think the most important part of being on a team is communication and the camaraderie you develop with each other. We all show together on the same circuit, but it’s nice to come together when you’re previously competitors and produce something more than that.”
Mimi Gochman: “I have only been on one team before, but to do it with US Equestrian and all of these new people was super fun, and I want to do it again.”
Yasmin Rizvi: “In [equestrian], we aren’t like other other sports; usually it’s just a team between the rider and the horse. But this time, to [compete alongside] other people is really awesome, even though it’s a lot of pressure because you want your team to win. It is a great experience.”
U.S. Young Rider Jumping Team
The U.S. Young Rider Jumping Team was triumphant in the $10,000 FEI Young Rider Nations Cup at the Palm Beach Masters CSIO. Chef d’Equipe Anne Kursinski led the U.S. team of New York natives, Samantha Cohen, Lauren Fischer, Madison Goetzmann, and Katherine Strauss over the 1.45m course as they jumped to victory, ending on a total of 12 faults. Mexico finished in the silver-medal position with 25 faults, while U.S. Team Two earned bronze on 33 faults.
”They were a great team to work with; the camaraderie was right there. They’ve been friends for many years, and that is always very helpful … I was so proud of them, their consistency, and with the pressure with Sammy having to go first, and the way the order went, Katherine holding it up in the end and scores improving both rounds, it’s just what you want to see,” commented Kursinski.
Leading off for the U.S. team, was Cohen (New York, N.Y.) and Carmen. Seemingly feeling little pressure, Cohen and her 12-year-old KWPN mare put in a clear round, setting the bar for the rest of the competition. Goetzmann (Skaneateles, N.Y.) and Prestigious, her 12-year-old Westphalian gelding, rode second for the U.S. team, dropping a single rail and finishing on one time fault as the drop score.
Lauren Fischer (Bedford Hills, N.Y.) and Royal de Licques, her 17-year-old Warmblood gelding, followed with four faults. Anchoring the U.S. Young Rider Jumping Team, Strauss (New York, N.Y.), riding All In, her scopey 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, put the final stamp on the U.S. Young Rider Jumping Team’s first round, riding clear to firmly solidify the four-fault tie with Mexico for the gold-medal position headed into round two.
With Mexico hot on their heels, Cohen and Carmen jumped a four-fault round to lead off the U.S. team. Looking to find their sweet spot, Goetzmann and Prestigious entered the ring next looking for a clear round. The combination jumped clear. Fischer and Royal de Licques followed with a four-fault round which sealed the gold medal for the U.S. team and eliminated the need for Strauss and All In to jump in the second round.
On what it meant to compete in this format:
Katherine Strauss: “This was such a fun event. I’m so thankful for the Jacobs family for putting it on. We’re all friends and competed on teams before, we’re part of Zone 2 actually, so it’s even more exciting to have this moment and win with your friends. I think we all aspire to compete on the senior team someday, so having this experience is unparalleled. It’s exciting.”
Madison Goetzmann: I think coming into this week we not only had confidence in ourselves but each other. Each year we gain more [team] experience. Thanks to the Jacobs family for allowing us to [compete] here and giving younger kids a shot in the nations cup format.
Lauren Fischer: “I think it is amazing to be able to ride on a team with such great riders and have such a great coach to show us the ropes. I think one day the four of us will be sitting here in the same situation but with a senior win, and I feel grateful to be selected to this team with these great girls and this amazing venue.
Samantha Cohen: “I’m so thankful to represent the U.S. alongside my three amazing teammates. I want to thank the Jacobs family for putting on this amazing event. For us to compete alongside the senior team and also have a junior and children’s team will be an unforgettable experience for me.”
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