Hometown: The Plains, Va. Birthday: 6/6/1987 Sport/Disciplines: Eventing Olympic Years: 2016

Lauren Nicholson (née Kieffer) began riding at the age of 6 and competed in her first horse trials at the age of 12. As a high school graduation present, Kieffer participated in a week-long eventing summer camp with Olympians David and Karen O’Connor, which led to a six-year working student position. Her talent and work ethic helped her reach the top levels of the sport and represent her country in international championships.

Nicholson won team bronze in 2005 and team silver in 2007 at the North American Youth Championship with her Anglo-Arabian gelding, Snooze Alarm. She made her debut at the CCI5*-L level in 2010, when she and Snooze Alarm completed the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. She had continued success at the level with Veronica, placing second overall at the Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2014 and 2016 to win the USEF CCI5*-L National Championship. The pair also had top-ten finishes at CCI5*-L competitions at Pau (FRA) in 2014, Badminton (GBR) in 2018.

Nicholson acquired Snooze Alarm’s full-brother, Vermiculus, as an unbroke young horse and started his career at the beginner novice level in 2012. She brought him up the levels to his first CCI5*-L completion in 2018 at the Kentucky Three-Day Event, where they placed fifth. Since then, they’ve had top-ten finishes at the CCI5*-L level in 2019 at Kentucky and Burghley (GBR), in 2022 at Luhmühlen (GER), and in 2024 at Kentucky where they were the USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Champions.