The U.S. Junior Jumping Team made the podium and the Young Rider Team was fourth at the 2023 FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Youth Final at Sentower Park in Belgium last weekend.
“The juniors were great,” said U.S. Chef d’Equipe Anne Kursinski.
“Overall, they were amazing in getting on the podium. I’m proud of all of them—they all rode great.”
The bronze medal junior team: Tessa Downey, Laurel Walker, Elise Stephens, Stephanie Garrett, Carlee McCutcheon and chef d’equipe Anne Kursinski.(Photo©US Equestrian/Matt Turer)
Needing a clear to secure a podium placing, Carlee McCutcheon and Coco Mercedes, a 2013 Westphalian mare owned by Purple Rein Investments, delivered the key fault-free trip in 70.24 seconds.
“Carlee was amazing,” Anne said.
“She fought for it the whole way—the mare jumped clear, and it wasn’t the easiest ride. It definitely got us on the podium, and that’s what she had done in Traverse City (at the FEI North American Youth Championships), and she repeated it here.”
Carlee and Coco Mercedes’s clear-round effort kept the U.S. on a team total of 12 penalties—three faults clear of fourth-place Germany’s 15 and trailing the eight from Ireland and the Netherlands. The Netherlands ultimately defeated Ireland in a jump-off.
In the Young Riders, “It was close with all the top teams,” Anne noted.
“The U.S. did a great job. The Europeans just have a little more experience at this level of Nations Cup jumping, but I thought (we) were great and Alex (Alston on Keoki) ended up jumping a fabulous clear.”