McLain Ward, Kent Farrington, Laura Kraut and Aaron Vale — the U.S. bronze medal team at the Ocala Longines League of Nations competition last month — are among those who have been named to the 10-member U.S. show jumping Olympic short list in preparation for the Paris Games.
Laura Kraut and Baloutinue. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
The Olympic squad will be chosen from the riders on this list, who will be competing in observation events in Europe, everywhere from the League competitions at St. Gallen, Switzerland, and Rotterdam, Holland, to Aachen. Selection of the team will be made by July 7.
Aaron Vale and Carissimo. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
McLain’s mounts for the tour include veterans Callas and Contagious, as well as newcomer Ilex (second in the Winter Equestrian Finale last month), and Quimi del Maset, a 10-year-old who is the youngest of that group.
McLain Ward and Callas. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Kent is also fielding a four-horse string, with Greya, Landon, Myla and Toulayna in his corner, while Laura has her 2021 team silver Olympic mount Baloutinue, in addition to Bisquetta and Dorado 212. Aaron is riding Carissimo 25.
Kent Farrington and Landon. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Those names were no surprise. Neither was Karl Cook (Caracole de la Roque and Kalinka Van’t Zorgvliet, who has done a lot of winning in recent seasons. And Callie Schott, who wowed the crowd with a third-place finish in the grand prix last month at the World Equestrian Center, is on the list with Garant, the former mount of Beezie Madden.
Others named are Jessica Springsteen with her 2021 Olympic team silver medal ride, Don Juan van de Donkhoeve; Lillie Keenan (Argan de Beliard and Kick On), Katie Dinan (Out of the Blue SCF) and Natalie Dean (Acota).