US Equestrian's Guide to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games
July 26 - August 6, 2024
Let the Games Begin
The 2024 Paris Olympic & Paralympic Games are set to kick-off on July 26, 2024, welcoming the sporting world to the iconic city of Paris, with equestrian competition set to be hosted in the incredible gardens of the Palace of Versailles featuring eventing, dressage, jumping, and para dressage competition.
The 2024 Olympic equestrian venue at the Palace of Versailles.
The 2024 Olympic equestrian venue at the Palace of Versailles.
US Equestrians at the Opening Ceremonies for Paris 2024! (L-R) Karl Cook (Jumping), Steffen Peters (Dressage), McLain Ward (Jumping), Lizzy Chesson (Jumping Manager), & Endel Ots (Dressage)
US Equestrians at the Opening Ceremonies for Paris 2024! (L-R) Karl Cook (Jumping), Steffen Peters (Dressage), McLain Ward (Jumping), Lizzy Chesson (Jumping Manager), & Endel Ots (Dressage)
Team Results & Scores
The medals of Paris 2024 are unique, as with each Olympic Games, with this year's prize containing pieces of the iconic Eiffel Tower.
|
U.S. Olympic |
U.S. Olympic Dressage Team |
U.S. Olympic Jumping Team |
|---|---|---|
|
Team: 7th |
Team: DNF |
Team: Silver |
|
Individual: Boyd Martin & Fedarman B - 10th |
Individual: None |
Individual: Laura Kraut & Baloutinue - 8th |
Learn more about the story behind the Paris 2024 Olympic Games medals here.
How to Watch
NBC and their affiliate partners, including Peacock, will be streaming all of Paris 2024 with access to 24/7 coverage of all sports, including the equestrian disciplines.
Peacock will also offer a “Gold Zone” program, broadcasting 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. ET from July 27-August 10. Similar to the NFL’s Red Zone - this broadcast will provide a live look at all of the sporting action happening at Olympic venues around Paris.
Paris 2024 Equestrian
Schedule
Eventing
Saturday, July 27
3:00 a.m. — 11:40 a.m. ET
Dressage
Sunday, July 28
3:30 a.m. — 8:00 a.m. ET
Cross Country
Monday, July 29
4:00 a.m. — 9:30 a.m. ET
Jumping - Team & Individual Medals
Dressage
Friday, July 30
4:00 a.m. — 9:00 a.m. ET
Grand Prix Team and Individual Qualifier Day 1
Wednesday, July 31
4:00 a.m. — 9:00 a.m. ET
Grand Prix Team & Individual Qualifier Day 2
Thursday, August 1
3:00 a.m. — 8:45 a.m. ET
Dressage Grand Prix Special - Team Medals
Sunday, August 4
4:00 a.m. — 8:30 a.m. ET
Dressage Grand Prix Freestyle - Individual Medals
Jumping
Friday, August 2
7:00 a.m. — 10:45 a.m. ET
Jumping Individual Qualifier
Saturday, August 3
3:00 a.m. — 5:30 a.m. ET
Jumping Team Final - Team Medals
Monday, August 5
3:00 a.m. — 6:45 a.m. ET
Jumping Individual Qualifier
Tuesday, August 6
7:00 a.m. — 9:30 a.m. ET
Jumping Individual Final - Individual Medals
U.S. Olympic
Eventing Team
The Team
Liz Halliday
Hometown: Lexington, Ky.
Olympic Appearances: 2024
Elisabeth Halliday has represented the U.S. in international eventing competition, most notably as part of the silver medal-winning team at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. She has an impressive resume of developing young event horses, including podium finishes at the FEI Young Horse World Championship in 2018 and 2019 with Cooley Moonshine. In 2020, Halliday earned the title of World Equestrian Brands USEA Rider of the Year after nine wins and 23 total top-ten finishes at FEI competitions that season.
Nutcracker
Nickname: Bali
Owner: The Nutcracker Syndicate
Groom: Abby Steger
Gender: Gelding
Breeding: Irish Sport Horse (Tolan R x Ballyshan Clepatra)
Foal Date: 1/1/2014
Nutcracker (Bali) joined Liz Halliday’s program in 2022 after beginning his career with Astier Nicolas in France. Halliday and Cooley Nutcracker debuted at the CCI3*-S level in 2022 and worked their way up to the CCI5*-L level by 2024. The duo collected two wins at the CCI4*-L level in 2023, the first at Tryon International in Mill Spring, N.C., and the second at Galway Downs in Temecula, Calif. With their win at Galway Downs at the end of the 2023 season, they earned their first National Championship together. The pair have placed outside of the top ten only twice in their FEI career and finished eighth in their debut at the CCI5*-L level at the 2024 DEFENDER Kentucky Three-Day Event.
Boyd Martin
Hometown: Cochranville, Pa.
Olympic Appearances: 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024
A native of Australia, Boyd Martin has competed for the U.S. since 2009. He is a three-time Olympian and has three Pan American Games gold medals to his name, including a team gold from 2015 with Pancho Villa and team and individual gold from 2019 with Tsetserleg TSF. Tsetserleg TSF was also his partner for the 2022 FEI Eventing World Championship, where they were part of the silver medal-winning team. Martin has won the USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event twice, in 2019 with Tsetserleg TSF and in 2021 with On Cue. In 2021, he and On Cue won the inaugural Maryland 5 Star, becoming the first American combination to win a CCI5* event since 2008.
Fedarman B
Nickname: Bruno
Owner: Annie Goodwin Syndicate
Groom: Stephanie Simpson
Gender: Gelding
Breed: KWPN gelding (Eurocommerce Washington x Paulien B)
Foal Date: 1/1/2012
Fedarman B (Bruno) has become one of the top-performing mounts in Boyd Martin’s string of international horses. Fedarman B was sourced, purchased, and started by the late Annie Goodwin who Boyd continues to represent in each competition aboard the 2010 KWPN gelding. Fedarman B’s FEI record with Martin has been strong and consistent, with finishing twice inside the top ten at the CCI5*-L level with completions at Luhmühlen and Pau in 2023. In 2024, the pair finished fourth in the CCI4*-S at the Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2024, adding to their international top-five finishes as a combination.
Caroline Pamukcu
Hometown: Springtown, Pa.
Olympic Appearances: 2024
Caroline Pamukcu (neé Martin) is a five-star eventer who has produced numerous young horses to the upper levels of the sport. She represented the U.S. Eventing Team at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, riding HSH Blake, where she won individual gold and team silver medals. She had a successful young rider career, competing in the North American Youth Championships in 2011 with Classic Touch, and in 2013 with Quantum Solace where she won individual and team gold.
HSH Blake
Nickname: Blake
Owner: Caroline Pamukcu, Deniz Pamukcu, Mollie Hoff, Sherrie Martin
Groom: Chloe Teahan
Gender: Gelding
Breed: Irish Sport Horse (Tolan R x Doughiska Lass)
Foal Date: 5/10/2015
Caroline Pamukcu started HSH Blake (Blake) as a young horse, developing him through the levels as the only registered rider in his entire career. The pair debuted at the CCI2* level in 2021 and have increased their international experience and success as they’ve continued to rocket up the levels. HSH Blake has notched seven international wins throughout his career with Pamukcu. The duo earned a team silver medal and individual gold in their first championship representing the U.S. Eventing Team at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, were they added just four jumping faults to their initial dressage score of 26.8.
Sydney Elliott
Hometown: Hoffman, N.C.
Sydney Elliott made her debut at the CCI5*-L level in 2016 when she completed the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event with Cisko A. The pair went on to represent the U.S. on the Nations Cup Team at Great Meadow International in 2018, and had top-ten finishes in the CCI4*-S at the Carolina International, Chattahoochee Hills CCI4*-S, Stable View Oktoberfest CCI4*-S, and Fair Hill International CCI3*-L that same year.
With QC Diamantaire, Elliott has had top-ten finishes in the 2020 USEF CCI4*-L Eventing National Championship at Tryon, 2021 Pine Top Advanced Horse Trials, 2021 Carolina International CCI4*-S, 2021 The Fork @ TIEC CCI4*-S, and 2022 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*.
Elliott and "Q" have represented the U.S. Eventing Team at FEI Nations Cup comptetitions including in 2022 in the CCIO4*-S at CHIO Aachen and in 2021 at CCIO4*-L at Boekelo, where they finished fifth individually and led the U.S. team to a silver medal.
In 2023, Elliott and Q were part of the silver medal-winning U.S. Eventing Team at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
QC Diamantaire
Nickname: Q
Owner: Carole Stephens
Groom: Caitlin Martin
Gender: Gelding
Breed: Oldenburg (Diarado x Lantana)
Foal Date: 5/6/2010
QC Diamantaire started his international career with Sydney Elliott in 2016, quickly rising through the levels and producing top results from the CCI1* level up through the CCI5* level. The pair exceled in competitions all across the country, Canada, and around Europe, and represented the U.S. Eventing Team in FEI Nations Cup competitions including as part of the third-place team at Great Meadow in 2018 and at CHIO Aachen in 2022.
In 2021, "Q" made his debut at the CCI5*-L level, completing the Kentucky Three-Day Event with Elliott. The pair returned to the event the following year and finished 8th overall, then went overseas in 2023 to complete the CCI5*-L at Luhmühlen (GER). That year, they also reprented the U.S. at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, winning team silver.
U.S. Eventing Team Mandatory Outing
U.S. Eventing Team hosted a Mandatory Outing Stable View in Aiken, S.C. prior. to their departure to Europe.
U.S. Eventing Team Training Camp
The U.S. Eventing Team will base in Vittel, France, prior to their arrival at the venue in Versailles on July 24, before competition begins on July 27.
Paris 2024 Olympics
The U.S. Eventing Team will arrive at the venue in Versailles on July 24, with the first horse inspection on Friday, July 26, and competition kicking-off on Saturday, July 27.
Eventing
U.S. Olympic Eventing Team
The U.S. Eventing Team will be the first equestrian team for the U.S. to take to Versailles for competition.
The team will be supported by Chef d'Equipe Bobby Costello, Team Leader Gemma Stobbs, Team Farrier Beck Ratte, Team Veterinarian Dr. Susan Johns, Human Physiotherapist Jennifer Mitchell, and Equine Physiotherapist Linda Vagher.
Reflections on Past Olympics - Gina Miles
By: Zach Girard
“Continue to be teachable."
- Gina Miles
Though eventing athlete Gina Miles did not come from a horse-involved family, she fell in love with Olympic equestrian sports after seeing them at age 10.
“My mom took me to the 1984 Olympics when it was in Los Angeles. We walked along the cross-country (course) and saw the horses galloping on the cross-country,” Miles said. “I just thought, ‘That is just the most amazing thing I've ever seen in my whole life. That's what I want to do; I want to do three-day eventing, and I want to go to the Olympics.”
From there, Miles built her riding career as a working student for Brian and Lisa Sabo of Sabo Eventing in Paso Robles, Calif. Throughout her career, she kept her goal of going to the Olympics, obtaining her Irish Sport Horse gelding McKinlaigh from connections in California. Ultimately, McKinlaigh was owned by Miles, Thomas Schulz, and Laura Coats.
“The 3* Young Riders I'd done, but I certainly had never gone advanced. McKinlaigh had never gone advanced; he was five. And we went from there,” Miles said.
After enduring setbacks on the road to the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, Miles and McKinlaigh competed in the Beijing Olympics in 2008, earning the silver medal in Individual Eventing.
“We were a lot more focused on doing our own personal best performance, not getting psyched out by all the hype of going to the Olympics, because that can really happen easily,” Miles said. “The emotion of it, the pull of it, can take your focus away from doing your best competitively. Why we got a good result, I think, was we did have that maturity and experience of all the mishaps that really allowed us to grow in confidence and experience to be able to handle it.”
Miles said the most surprising part of her Olympic experience was winning a medal.
“McKinlaigh didn't have the best flying changes, and he was 10th after dressage. He moved up from there, and we moved in the final round of show jumping into medal position,” Miles explained. “It was amazing to have the support of so many people that had helped do fundraisers or help look after my kids or help along the journey. I really felt like everybody was there with me standing on the podium, watching the American flag go up. It was kind of unbelievable.”
Though riding is not currently Miles’s first priority, she said she would love to go to the Olympics again in 2028 in Los Angeles.
“That would be such a great circle, to retire my career with going back to the Olympics, but my focus is in other places right now. I'm building a facility of my own, so if it doesn't happen, my goal now is just to be a better rider than I was last year,” Miles said. “I try to continue to always learn and grow, be a better rider, continue to be teachable, and be trained by great horsemen. It’s the lifelong pursuit of being a better athlete.”
U.S. Olympic
Dressage Team
The Team
Adrienne Lyle
Hometown: Wellington, Fla.
Olympic Appearances: 2012, 2020, 2024
Adrienne Lyle is an Olympic dressage athlete who represented the U.S. at the 2012 London Games riding Wizard and at the 2020 Tokyo Games with Salvino, where the team won silver. She also represented the U.S. Dressage team at the 2014 FEI Alltech® World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy, France, and again as part of the silver medal-winning team at the 2018 WEG in Tryon, N.C., riding Salvino. The pair returned to the FEI Dressage World Championship in 2022 in Denmark where they earned top-ten finishes individually.
Helix
Nickname: Helix
Owner: Zen Elite Equestrian Center
Groom: Marina Lemay
Gender: Gelding
Breed: Dutch Warmblood (Apache x Zeester T)
Foal Date: 2/10/2012
Meet Helix
Helix was purchased as a potential Olympic mount for veteran U.S. rider Adrienne Lyle and the pair have impressed since his purchase in late 2023. Helix was started in Sweden by Marina Mattsson before transitioning to Lyle’s program in early 2024. Lyle competed the flashy gelding only a few times in spring 2024, earning above 70 percent in most of their outings together. During their first European tour as a partnership, Lyle and Helix were consistent in both of their observation events at Hagen and Kronberg, recording scores near the 72% mark in the Grand Prix and close to 74% in the Grand Prix Special.
Marcus Orlob
Hometown: Loxahatchee, Fla.
Olympic Appearances: 2024
Marcus Orlob was born in Dusseldorf, Germany, and spent his youth riding and training under Hubertus Schmidt. He competed across Europe and debuted at the Grand Prix level at age 21. After working extensively in Europe and earning his Bereiter FN title from the German Riding School in Warendorf, Germany, he moved to the U.S. and began his own training operation. Orlob has successfully competed across all young horse levels with up-and-coming young horses, including wins at USEF Festival of Champions in the 5-year-old, 6-year-old, and Developing Grand Prix divisions. His current mount, Jane, owned by Alice Tarjan, is the first horse he’s competed at the Grand Prix level since 2019 with personal best scores recorded at the level.
Jane
Nickname: Jane
Owner: Alice Tarjan
Groom: Allison Nemeth
Gender: Mare
Breed: Dutch Warmblood (Desperado x Zandra)
Foal Date: 4/2/2014
Jane debuted at the Grand Prix level in 2024 with Marcus Orlob in the saddle after starting her career with owner, Alice Tarjan, a longtime student of Orlob’s. Jane has been a part of the Tarjan/Orlob’s program since her purchase as a young horse, participating in the Young Horse program in the U.S. with Tarjan. Alice rode the mare to Small Tour level before handing the reins to Orlob, who made his first Grand Prix start with the KWPN mare in March of 2024. The pair has continued to gain experience at the level and impressed in the final observation outing for the Short List, earning 73.913% in the Grand Prix in Kronberg, followed by an impressive 75.340% in the Grand Prix Special.
Steffen Peters
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
Olympic Appearances: 1996, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020
Steffen Peters is a five-time Olympian for Team USA, including as a team bronze medalist in Rio de Janeiro 2016 with Legolas 92 and Atlanta 1996 with Udon, and a team silver medalist in Tokyo 2020 with Suppenkasper. He has also represented the U.S. at five FEI World Championships, with a team silver from Tryon 2018, individual bronze from Lexington 2010, and team bronze from Aachen 2006. He is a two-time individual and team gold medalist at the Toronto 2015 and 2011 Guadalajara Pan American Games, and, in 2009, he won his first FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final with Ravel.
Suppenkasper
Nickname: Mopsie
Owner: Akiko Yamazaki & Four Winds Farm
Groom: Eddie Garcia
Gender: Gelding
Breed: KWPN (Spielberg x Upanoeska)
Foal Date: 3/26/2008
Suppenkasper has been the top ride for U.S. dressage athlete Steffen Peters since 2018. He was part of the silver medal-winning teams at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018. “Mopsie” has been part of FEI Nations Cup Teams in 2019 in Aachen, Germany, where the team finished in third place, and again in Aachen in 2022.
Endel Ots
Hometown: Wellington, Fla.
Endel Ots is an up-and-coming talent for the United States Dressage program, debuting at the CDI Grand Prix level in 2024 with Bohemian. Endel grew up on a farm in De Pere, Wisconsin, and began riding at age eight, finding a love for dressage early on. Throughout his career Endel has trained under some of the best eyes in sport and started his early career in Germany before relocating to Wellington full-time in 2011. He was named a reserve rider for the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, and was selected to compete in his first championship for the program ahead of the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. Ots has earned top honors at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions, a prestigious national championship competition, and represented the U.S. at the FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Dressage in 2015 and 2016.
Bohemian
Nickname: Bo
Owner: Zen Elite Equestrian Center
Groom: Caroline Hoerdum
Gender: Gelding
Breed: Westphalian (Bordeaux x Sunshine)
Foal Date: 4/22/2010
Starting his career under Katrine Kraglund before moving to Catherine Laudrup-Dufour's stable, Bohemian quickly became a staple in Laudrup-Dufour's string, earning significant international championship starts and representing Denmark at the European Championships and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Bohemian was purchased by Zen Elite Equestrian Center in late 2023 as an Olympic hopeful for U.S. athlete Endel Ots and the pair have quickly developed a budding partnership. The duo debuted in Wellington, Fla., in March 2024, and have consistently improved their scores in their short time together.
Hagen CDI3*
Combinations named to the U.S. Dressage Olympic Short List competed against one another at the Hagen CDI3* as the first observation event for the team.
Kronenberg CDI3*
Kronenberg served as the final observation event for combinations on the Short List, with several combinations putting in personal best scores before final team selection.
Team Training Camp
The U.S. Olympic Dressage Team met for a mini training camp just 30 minutes from the venue at Versailles to put the final touches on their tests before arriving at the venue
Paris 2024 Olympics
The team will arrive at Versailles on July 26, and will be the longest-staying discipline at the venue, finishing their competition in Paris on August 4.
Dressage
U.S. Olympic Dressage Team
The U.S. Dressage Team will begin their time at the Olympic venue of Versailles with move-in on July 26, and their first day of competition beginning on July 30, with day one of the FEI Grand Prix.
The team will be supported by Chef d'Equipe Christine Traurig, Team Leader Laura Roberts, Team Veterinarian Dr. Laura Faulkner, Human Physiotherapist Jennifer Mitchell, and Team Farrier Chuck Jones.
Reflections on Past Olympics
By: Zach Girard
“It’s a moment in time.”
- Ali Brock
A reserve dressage athlete for the 2015 Pan American Games, Ali Brock qualified for the U.S. Olympic Dressage Team for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. She explained that the limited number of team slots added to the pressure of qualifying.
“I felt like I was lucky because at Rio, it was four to a team, and I would have been the reserve had it not been a four-member team,” Brock said.
Brock said that she and her horse Rosevelt, owned by Claudine and Fritz Kundrun, handled the Olympic experience “to the best of their ability.” However, she did encounter unexpected difficulties, such as sudden anhidrosis in Rosevelt. This sudden loss of Rosevelt’s ability to sweat put Brock’s training on hold upon arriving at the Games. The entire focus became how to kickstart his sweating safely.
“You can do all the prep in the world, and unexpected things happen at major championships, and it is about who can cope with that and not have it shatter them to pieces when things don't go according to plan,” Brock said. “You're on a sentient being that has emotions and feelings as well, and sometimes it's just not their day, and that's okay too. And guess what? Everyone survives and moves on.”
Brock and the U.S. Olympic Dressage Team ended up winning the team bronze medal, the first one for the U.S. in 12 years.
“We had really, really good camaraderie, and that, for me, makes a team experience amazing,” Brock said. “I wouldn't want to be on a team where everybody was out for themselves and didn't feel like one unit, and I felt like we were very much one unit.”
Brock said her main takeaway from the Olympics was the confidence she gained from proving to herself she could overcome the difficulties it presented.
“It's a moment in time, and you hope to do well in that moment of time, but then there is what comes after, and honestly, that's, in a way, as important,” Brock said. “It was a life-changing experience for me, and I feel very blessed because the teammates I had, we’re all still very close.”
“Stay on track.”
- Sabine Schut-Kery
Dressage athlete Sabine Schut-Kery has competed in Friesian, Andalusian/Lusitano, and carriage driving competitions, but she and her mount Sanceo (owned by Alice Womble-Heitmann & Dr. Mike Heitmann) ultimately competed in dressage at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
“I think a lot of people have the goal to go to the Olympics. In my case, it wasn't so much that we thought, ‘Okay, we're going to train this horse to go to the Olympics,’” Schut-Kery said. “No, we're going to train this horse to make him the best possible athlete. And so it happened more organically.”
The Tokyo Olympics, initially scheduled for 2020, were postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Schut-Kery said the delay ended up being beneficial, offering a much-needed break for her and Sanceo.
“I'm always trying to keep the balance between my competitive goals and continuing to listen to my horse and make the best decisions for his training and education, and not let the goal lead me to some shortcuts,” Schut-Kery said. “I think a lot of the riders really liked that they were forced to slow down. It was good to reassure us how important that is.”
Schut-Kery, who was born in Germany and came to the U.S. in 1998, said her Olympics experience came with “a lot of different emotions,” including the sense of pride and responsibility that came from representing the United States. Schut-Kery also described the “magic” of competing with a team instead of individually, as well as the happiness and relief that came with realizing both she and her horse were healthy and qualified for the Olympics.
“The day I actually drove to the airport, that's really when it hit me. I was by myself in the car, and I just was crying from happiness,” she said. “I finally started to enjoy the fact that we had made it onto the team, and I was on my way to Tokyo.”
Schut-Kery placed third individually in the Grand Prix Special and led the U.S. to Olympic team silver. Sanceo also achieved three personal-best scores in Tokyo.
“I don't think I've ever been as focused, because I wanted to make sure I brought a clean, mistake-free test for my team. I know it's only human if you don’t have a good ride, but still, it's a lot of feelings. To ride for your team is incredibly special,” she said. “What was also really special was to be able to have my horse peak in Tokyo. You manage your horse to be at his best when it is most important.”
Schut-Kery elaborated that she feels she now has the experience necessary to properly channel her energy, as well as to be able to adapt quickly to different circumstances.
“The nerves will always stay. We have to embrace them and put them into something positive,” Schut-Kery said. “I have the experience now to tell myself, ‘Hey, stay focused. Don't let these not-so-good thoughts take you off track. Stay on track and focus on your performance.’”
U.S. Olympic
Jumping Team
The Team
Kent Farrington
Hometown: Wellington, Fla.
Olympic Appearances: 2016, 2020, 2024
Kent Farrington has represented the United States at numerous international championships, including the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, 2015 Toronto Pan American Games, 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, and 2011 Guadalajara Pan American Games. In 2019, he became the first U.S. rider to win the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen and the International Jumping Riders Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva in the same year. Farrington was named the 2020 USEF International Equestrian of the Year.
Greya
Nickname: Greya
Owner: Kent Farrington LLC
Groom: Denise Moriarty
Gender: Mare
Breed: Oldenburg (Colestus x Contessa 128)
Foal Date: 3/24/2014
Greya is one of the top up-and-coming horses in Olympian Kent Farrington's talented string. The 2014 Oldenburg mare contested her first championship in the spring of 2024 at FEI Jumping World Cup Finals in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, and has notched several impressive wins, including most recently in the Rolex Grand Prix of La Baule CSIO5* in June.
Laura Kraut
Hometown: Royal Palm Beach, Fla.
Olympic Appearances: 2000, 2008, 2020, 2024
Laura Kraut is a three-time Olympian, including a team gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Games and a team silver medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Games. She was a member of the gold-medal winning NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team for the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018, as well as a WEG Lexington 2010 team member, and WEG Aachen 2006 team silver medalist. Kraut has been a member of numerous medal-winning FEI Nations Cup teams, including a member of the first all-women’s FEI Nations Cup CSIO5* Dublin gold-medal winning team and recipient of the Aga Khan Trophy in 2017, and most recently the gold-medal winning team at 2020 FEI Jumping Nations Cup USA. She was also the recipient of the “Prize of the Federal Minister of the Interior” award at 2017 CHIO Aachen.
Baloutine
Nickname: Balou
Owner: St. Bride's Farm
Groom: Margo Thomas
Gender: Gelding
Breed: Hanoverian (Balou du Rouet x Utika)
Foal Date: 4/5/2010
Meet Baloutinue
Baloutinue began his international career with Adam Prudent in 2019, with the pair logging consistent results in FEI CSI 2*/3* competitions. The pair steadily moved up the international levels, ultimately competing at the FEI CSI5* level at the Winter Equestrian Festival in 2021.
Kraut tookover the ride in early spring 2021, with Baloutinue's ownership moving to St. Bride's Farm. Kraut and Baloutinue earned their first win in FEI CSI3* competition in Wellington, Fla., before a successful international tour in Europe after they were named to the U.S. Jumping Team Olympic Short List.
The pair recorded successful finishes in St. Tropez and Knokke before being named to the U.S. Jumping Team for the Nations Cup of Rome CSIO5* for their Nations Cup debut as a pair. The duo helped the team secure fifth place in the Nations Cup before going onto to finish second on the podium in the Rolex Grand Prix of Rome CSIO5*.
The duo were named to the U.S. Jumping Olympic Team for Tokyo 2020, helping the team earn an impressive team silver, finishing just behind the Swedish in a thrilling jump-off for gold. The pair then went on to anchor the gold-medal winning Nations Cup team at Aachen CSIO5* just a few weeks later.
Paris 2024 will be the pair's second Olympic Games together and they will be one of the most senior combinations for the U.S. Olympic Jumping Team.
McLain Ward
Hometown: Brewster, N.Y.
Olympic Appearances: 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024
McLain Ward is a five-time Olympian, including a team silver medalist at the Tokyo 2020 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games as well as team gold medalist at the Beijing 2008 and Athens 2004 Olympic Games. He was also a member of the gold-medal winning NetJets U.S. Jumping Team for the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018, as well as a WEG Normandy 2014 team bronze medalist, and WEG Aachen 2006 team silver medalist. Ward is a Pan American Games Toronto 2015 individual gold and team bronze medalist as well as Guadalajara 2011 team gold medalist. In 2017, he was the champion at the FEI World Cup Jumping Final. In 2022, he was the winner of the Turkish Airlines – CHIO Aachen CSIO5* Grand Prix and the RWE Prize of North Rhine-Westphalia – Aachen CHIO CSIO5* Grand Prix riding Contagious.
Ilex
Nickname: Ilex
Owner: Bonne Chance Farm & McLain Ward
Groom: Virginie Casterman
Gender: Gelding
Breed: KWPN (Baltic VDL x Calendula)
Foal Date: 6/8/2013
Meet Ilex
Ilex is the newest top mount in Olympian McLain Ward's string with the partnership beginning in winter of 2024. The pair have quickly amassed impressive results at the CSI4* and CSI 5* levels, including several top-five finishes in Grand Prix CSI5* competition. The duo most recently finished second the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen CSIO5*.
Karl Cook
Hometown: Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
Karl Cook began riding at the age of 8 and had a successful junior/young rider career, earning four medals at the FEI North American Youth Championships. He has scored numerous top results throughout his professional career. Cook has competed in three FEI World Cup Finals in 2013, 2015, and 2017, and represented the U.S. on Nations Cup teams.
Caracole De La Roque
Nickname: Cara
Owner: Signe Ostby
Groom: Tessa Falanga
Gender: Mare
Breed: Selle Français (Zandor Z x Pocahontas d'Amaury)
Foal Date: 5/4/2012
Caracole de la Roque joined Karl Cook's barn in 2023 after much success for France. Since June of 2023, Caracole de la Roque and Cook have earned 12 top ten finishes together, including five wins, one of which was the $650,000 American Gold Cup CSI5*.
Rome CSIO5*
The first major selection event for the U.S. Jumping Team took place at the Rome CSIO5* in early May, kicking off a month of elite events to determine selection.
La Baule CSIO5*
One of the most picturesque destinations, La Baule is located right on the ocean and the CSIO5* was one of four other identified Observation Events for the team prior to team selection.
Rotterdam CSIO5*
CHIO Rotterdam served as one of the final Observation Events for the U.S. Jumping Team and is part of the FEI's new Jumping League of Nations competition.
CHIO Aachen
CHIO Aachen was the final stop on the road to selection for Paris for hopefuls of the U.S. Jumping Team.
Paris 2024 Olympics
The U.S. Jumping Team arrives at the venue on July 30, first featuring team competition, followed by individual competition concluding on August 6.
Jumping
U.S. Olympic Jumping Team
The U.S. Jumping Team will be supported Chef d'Equipe Robert Ridland and Team Leader Lizzy Chesson, alongside Team Veterinarian Heather Sherman, Equine Physiotherapist Janus Marquis, Human Physiotherapist Jennifer Mitchell, and Team Farrier Chuck Jones.
The U.S. Olympic Jumping Team finished with their third consecutive Olympic Team Silver (Rio 2016/Tokyo 2020/Paris 2024), completing on just four faults behind Team Great Britain who earned gold on a single time fault. The host-nation France finished with Team Bronze.
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