Sopot, Poland – June 9, 2017 – The Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team makes the first of four stops on its summer European Nations Cup schedule at FEI Nations Cup CSIO5* Sopot, June 8-11. The U.S. team for Sopot is a mix of seasoned Nations Cup competitors and up-and-coming athletes who are relatively new to the added pressure of team competition. Under the guidance of Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland, the team of Lauren Hough, Laura Kraut, Chloe Reid, and Paris Sellon has drawn 10th in the order of 13 teams and will compete in the following order:
Lauren Hough and Waterford: Hough (Wellington, Fla.) will ride Waterford in his U.S. Nations Cup debut. Laura and Meredith Mateo’s 2003 Dutch Warmblood gelding scored numerous top-10 placings in 2016 with Hough in the irons, including a second-place finish in The JLT Dublin Stakes at CSIO5* Dublin. The pair most recently finished fourth in the Prix Renault at CSI5* Versailles.
Paris Sellon and Cassandra: Sellon (Los Angeles, Calif.) will take the field in her third Nations Cup appearance. She will ride Cassandra, Willow Grace Farms’ 2008 Swedish Warmblood mare, who is a relatively new mount for Sellon. The pair had several top performances at the Longines Global Champions Tour stop in Mexico City in April and is ready to deliver in Sopot.
Chloe Reid and Codarco: At the young age of 20, Reid (Washington, D.C.) will compete on her third senior Nations Cup team. She and Codarco helped the U.S. team earn silver in the $150,000 FEI Nations Cup at CSIO4* Wellington earlier this year. Reid and Team Reid, LLC’s 2007 Irish Sport Horse stallion arrive in Sopot having recently finished fifth in the Lotto Hessen-Preis at CSI5* Wiesbaden.
Laura Kraut and Deauville S: Kraut (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) will pilot Deauville S in his Nations Cup debut for the U.S. team. Kraut and Old Willow Farms LLC’s 2006 Holsteiner gelding are in fine form this year, coming off a fourth-place finish in the Rolex Grand Prix CSI5* at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
Watch the live stream of the Nations Cup on feitv.org at 8:20 a.m. ET on Friday, and find out more about CSIO5* Sopot.
The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.
Edited press release courtesy of Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department