The USA continued cutting a major swath through the show jumping prizes at Aachen on Thursday, winning the 1 million Euro Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup with strong performances by all four team members.
Lillie Keenan on Argan de Beliard was the only double clear for America, finishing fourth individually, but Kent Farrington (Toulayna) and Laura Kraut (Bisquetta) each had one fault-free trip. Anchor rider McLain Ward produced his usual clutch performance to avoid a jump-off or worse, a loss, by putting in a perfect crucial second round with Imperial HBF.
Lillie Keenan, the USA’s only Nations Cup double clear, with Argan de Beliard.
McLain’s newest ride got some voice encouragement at the water jump, where he had splashed in the first round, then flew along without error when it was crucial.
The U.S. total was 4 penalties over two rounds (with drop scores allowed in each round, unlike the rules in the Longines League of Nations). Belgium was second with 8 and Great Britain rounded out the podium on 10 penalties. The most difficult obstacle on Frank Rothenberger’s course was the triple combination of vertical, oxer, vertical, with the third element sporting a distracting water tray.
Among those who weren’t able to ace the triple were such big names as Germany’s individual Olympic gold medalist Christian Kukuk with a relatively new mount, Cepano Baloubet, France’s Kevin Staut with New Libero One and Abdel Said of Belgium–though he got cheers from the crowd after clearing it following a disastrous first attempt with Bonne Amie.
McLain Ward and Imperial HBF. (U.S.Equestrian photo)
The U.S. first won the Cup at Aachen in 1962, and most recently in 2021, with a total of seven victories in the competition over the years.
It’s been a great Aachen so far for the American show jumpers, with Laura (Emeraldo) and Kent (Myla) winning individual classes on Wednesday, while McLain did the same Thursday morning on Home Town Hero.
The American flag front and center at the Aachen stadium, where U.S. show jumpers have dominated.
“It’s an honor for all of us to be here,” Coach Robert Ridland said after his team was awarded its trophies.
The U.S. team of Kent Farrington, McLain Ward, Laura Kraut and Lilllie Keenan. (US Equestrian photo)
“This is what we came for. We always hold Aachen as the pinnacle ever since years and years ago, I rode here and now we have these all stars here. The five riders who came here (Aaron Vale was not on the Cup team) were the top five on our ranking list, because for us, this is the most important show.
“Nobody seems to have been able to remember (one country) winning the first four classes at Aachen. We’re quite enjoying that. We’re honored, we’re privileged because this is the Mecca of show jumping.”
Peter Weinberg, chef d ‘équipe of the Belgian team, said, “It was an unbelievable evening, we came quite close at the end. But the Americans were fantastic. Our team is a super troop and we are very proud to have come second.“
The British team that has made the winners’ podium three times consecutively and came third for the second timewill keep on trying,” said chef d ‘équipe, Di Lampard. She praised Aachen debutante Georgia Tame, who had only one time penalty in each round with Be Golden Lynx.
U.S. Coach Robert Ridland, managing director show jumping Lizzy Chesson and the USEF’s Hallye Griffin.
The crowd was estimated at 40,000, and McLain noted, “It’s always an incredible evening. The spectators here at Aachen are like no other place in the world.
“It’s hallowed ground, one of the cathedrals of the sport. Winning a class here is an honor. It really feels like you’re at the top of your game.”
Looking ahead to Sunday’s big class, McLain noted, “Winning the Aachen Grand Prix is like a girl I could never get a date with. I think I’ve won almost every class here but the grand prix,” noted the man who was a close second last year.
Click here for team results from the show jumping Nations Cup; click this link for individual results from the Nations Cup.
Dressage was the polar opposite for the U.S.
In the 5-star Grand Prix for that discipline’s Lambertz Nations Cup, anchor rider Kevin Kohmann didn’t make it past the reinback aboard Dunensee when judge Raphael Saleh stopped him, stepped out of the box and wiped the horse’s mouth with a white cloth.
The judge who stopped Kevin Kohmann mid-test wipes his horse’s mouth for evidence of blood.
“While there was no blood found by the stewards after we exited the ring or by our team veterinarian back in stabling, we’re still glad these rules are in place to prioritize the welfare in our sport,” Kevin stated.
“The judge’s decision is final, so there is no avenue for us to appeal. We’ve decided as a team the best next step is for us to meet internally with USEF (U.S. Equestrian Federation) to provide constructive feedback that can be shared with the FEI as they continue to evaluate the application of the blood rule in competition.”
In an email response to an inquiry from this website, the FEI called the situation “a straightforward case of blood in the mouth of Kevin Kohmann’s horse. The combination were eliminated as per FEI Dressage Rules
Article 424.
5.6. Bleeding. 5.6.1.
If the Judge at C suspects fresh blood anywhere on the Horse during the test, they will stop the Horse to check for blood. If the Horse shows fresh blood, it will be eliminated. The elimination is final. If the Judge through examination clarifies that the Horse has no fresh blood, the Horse may resume and finish its test.
“There was no formal protest lodged and the USA team completed the CDIO FEI Dressage Nations Cup™, as the remaining three combinations all registered scores.”
For his part, Kevin commented, “I’m looking forward to getting back into the ring with Scala tomorrow (in the Intermediare I) knowing that Denzel (his Grand Prix horse’s barn name) is happy, healthy and ready to represent the U.S. again in the future.”
The U.S. finished eighth of nine teams, while Germany as usual took the top prize. Click here for individual results, and this link for team results.
Germany’s Isabel Werth came close to earning 80 percent on Wendy de Fontaine, obtaining a personal best of 79.761 percent with the mare as she finished at the head of the class.
Isabell Werth and Wendy de Fontaine. (Photo CHIO Aachen/Jasmin Metzner)
Speaking of her relatively brief partnership with Wendy, Isabel said, “The story started in Aachen last year. it’s just one year more or less we are together. It’s so amazing and really incredible to look back and realize what happened in one year. The mare is so fantastic, really focused and wants to do her best. It was a very good test today.”
Kevin’s situation was all too reminiscent of Marcus Orlob’s elimination in the Paris Olympics, when his mount, Jane, got a tiny scratch on one leg after spooking before entering the arena. He was partway through his test when a judge stopped him after seeing the scratch on his mare’s white leg and he was eliminated. The scratch subsequently was deemed to be of no consequence when a veterinarian looked at it after Jane left the ring.
Meanwhile, I can’t help recalling the show jumper that went around the arena at the Tokyo Olympics four years ago with blood streaming from its nose. That horse wasn’t stopped.
Everyone is very conscious of social license to operate and the need to prevent abuse, but some common sense has to prevail. Should a spot of blood that is barely visible be enough to halt a performance? In instances like that, where the amount of blood is negligible, why not let the vets decide after the horse is examined once it leaves the ring whether its score should count?
Former U.S. dressage chef d’equipe Robert Dover had a thought on social media sparked by Thursday’s blood situation:
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