Lauren Hough leads the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team to a Second Place Finish At CSIO5* St Gallen

Lauren and Ohlala, FEI Nations Cup at CSIO5* St Gallen

The Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team once again finished in the second place position in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup, this time in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Led by Chef d'Equipe Robert Ridland, the team of Lucy Davis, Margie Engle, Lauren Hough, and Todd Minikus put in great rounds, battling against the stormy weather to finish on twelve faults. The Irish Held onto the win finishing with just eight faults, with USA, Sweden, France, and Germany all sharing the runner-up position.  

Swiss course designer, Gerard Lachat, set them a strong 12-fence track that only six horse-and-rider combinations, including USA’s Lauren Hough and Ohlala, managed to leave intact first time out. The Germans held the lead on a four-fault tally at the halfway stage, but the Americans, the Irish and the Swiss were in hot pursuit, just a fence behind, while France and Sweden were next in line, tied on 12 faults.

Plenty of tall verticals, an open water measuring 4.1m wide, and a difficult penultimate oxer where the front plank regularly hit the floor ensured plenty to think about, and there were multiple errors at the 1.60m that followed the water as well as at the next water-tray oxer at fence six.

In the deciding second round, America’s Lauren Hough aboard Ohlala and Lucy Davis aboard Barron left all the poles in place. But when Margie Engle’s Royce kicked out the oxer at fence eight and Todd Minikus fell victim to the penultimate white oxer, with a thunderstorm crashing overhead, they had to add one of those four faults to join Sweden and France on a final tally of 12. Adding 8 faults to their first round score, Germany too fell into the runner-up position with 12 faults, while an impressive fault-free second round secured the victory for Ireland. 

Lauren’s double clear proved pivotal to the USA’s second place finish; out of a field of 32 riders, Hough and Oh La La were amongst only four combinations who were able to master both rounds to finish with a clean sheet.

The next leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Europe Division 1 League will take place in Rotterdam (NED) on Friday 24 June.

To read the full release, click here. 

Lauren Hough Named to Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team for Nations Cup at CSIO5* St. Gallen

Lauren and Ohlala, FEI Nations Cup at CSIO5* La Baule

The United States Equestrian Federation is pleased to announce that Lauren Hough has been named to the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Teams competing in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping event at CSIO5* St. Gallen, June 1-5. This competition is a designated observation event as part of the selection process for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team. Robert Ridland will serve as the Chef d'Equipe.

Hough will be joined on the team by Lucy Davis, Margie Engle, Reed Kessler, and Todd Minikus.

Source: USEF

Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team Finishes Second in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup at CSIO5* La Baule

Lauren and Ohlala in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup at La Baule CSIO5*

The Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team took the Silver medal in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup at CSIO5* La Baule in France on Friday. Led by Chef d'Equipe Robert Ridland, the team of Lucy Davis, Margie Engle, Lauren Hough, and Todd Minikus put in solid rounds to finish on four faults. This performance sets an excellent tone for the summer as the event served as the first of four observation events for members of the Short List for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team, as part of the selection process for the Team. The field of eight nations was stacked with some of the world's top talent, producing a close competition to the very end. The Netherlands topped the leaderboard on one fault and the home country of France came in third on five faults.

"It definitely went well today; we beat some really good teams. Going head-to-head with the best in the world is why we are here," said Ridland. "To come out with four clear rounds right off the bat was impressive. It was a great effort. The course was not tricky or highly technical, but it wasn't easy. This is a wonderful show with a great crowd; it was great to be back here at one of the best shows in the world."

The Americans had a foot-perfect round one, with the first three combinations, Hough (Wellington, Fla.) and The Ohlala Group's Ohlala, Davis (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Old Oak Farm Inc.'s Barron, and Engle (Wellington, Fla.) and Elm Rock Partners, LLC's Royce, all turning in clear rounds. These performances put the U.S. forward to round two in a four-way tie for the lead on zero faults. Anchor combination, Minikus (Loxahatchee, Fla.) and Jack Snyder and Two Swans Farm's Babalou 41, put in a round one performance in an effort to qualify for Sunday's Grand Prix. The pair also produced a clear round, giving the U.S. the only clean sheet in round one.

To read the full release, click here.

USEF Names Lauren Hough to Short List for U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team

Lauren Hough, double bronze at the 2015 Pan American Games

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has named 10 athletes and their horses to the Short List for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team. The athletes and their horses will compete in designated CSIO/CSI observation events taking place May 12 – June 26, 2016.

The following athletes and horses have been named to the Short List for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team (in alphabetical order):

Lucy Davis (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Old Oak Farm’s Barron, a 2004 Belgian Warmblood gelding

Margie Engle (Wellington, Fla.) and Elm Rock Partners, LLC’s Royce, a 2004 Oldenburg stallion

Kent Farrington (Wellington, Fla.) with Robin Parsky and his own Gazelle, a 2006 Belgian Warmblood mare, and Amalaya Investments’ Voyeur, a 2002 KWPN gelding

Lauren Hough (Wellington, Fla.) and The Ohlala Group’s Ohlala, a 2004 Swedish Warmblood mare

Reed Kessler (Lexington, Ky.) and Kessler Show Stable’s Cylana, a 2002 Belgian Warmblood mare

Laura Kraut (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) with Old Willow Farms, LLC’s Deauville S, a 2006 Holsteiner gelding, and Zeremonie, a 2007 Holsteiner mare

Beezie Madden (Cazenovia, N.Y.) with Abigail Wexner’s Breitling LS, a 2006 Dutch Warmblood stallion, Cortes ‘C’, a 2002 Belgian Warmblood gelding, Quister, a 2004 Selle Francais gelding, and Simon, a 1999 KWPN gelding

Todd Minikus (Loxahatchee, Fla.) and Jack Snyder’s Babalou 41, a 2005 Oldenburg mare

Callan Solem (Glennmore, Pa.) and Horseshoe Trail Farm, LLC’s VDL Wizard, a 2003 KWPN gelding

McLain Ward (Brewester, N.Y.) with Double H Farm & Francois Mathy’s HH Azur, a 2006 Belgian Warmblood mare, and Sagamore Farm’s Rothchild, a 2001 Warmblood gelding

Further information regarding the U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team selection process can be found on USEF.org. All nominations to the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team are subject to approval by the United States Olympic Committee.

The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.

 -Source: United States Equestrian Federation

Lauren Hough & Cornet 39 Win $130,000 Engel & Volkers CSI4* Grand Prix at WEF

Ph. Noelle Floyd

Lauren Hough led an all-ladies leaderboard on Saturday, March 26th during the 11th week of the Winter Equestrian Festival when she won the $130,000 Engel & Volkers CSI4* Grand Prix with Cornet 39.

The 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Cornet Oblensky x Celine) is deceivingly compact with a neat jump and all the power to match the stride of horses with twice his age and experience. Together, he and Hough made an unbeatable pair in a ten-horse jumpoff over an Olaf Peterson-designed track.

A full house filled the spectator areas on a warm Florida evening for this, the penultimate feature grand prix night of the 2016 WEF. With thousands looking on and many more watching at home on livestream, an uncertain first round with a group of early clears, developed into a red-hot jumpoff group of ten pairs.

“My horse was fantastic tonight, he was really on my side and trying hard for me. I think I was very fast to the double and very fast to the second to last fence. I’m very very pleased tonight,” Hough said.

To win, Hough had to outpace one of the fastest riders in the country; Laura Chapot and the 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare ISHD Dual Star (Quick Star x Concorde). Their jumpoff track rode in 36.29 seconds, but Hough took over f1st place and kept it on her time of 35.98. In 3rd place and hands down the happiest rider of the night was Carly Anthony, who rode the 9-year-old Dublin, a German Warmblood gelding (Cobra x Calido), in what was the biggest class of his career so far.

Ladies filled out the top five with Amy Millar placing 4th and Laura Kraut in 5th from the starting order of 44 world-class pairs.

“He belongs to Paris Sellon, a student of mine. They were kind enough to let me take over the ride the beginning of last year and we’ve been progressing slowly. He was part of the winning Nations Cup team in Ocala a few weeks ago, and he’s sort of been knocking on the door. I’m just very proud of him,” Hough added.

Chapot’s big strided horse took a little more time in the turns to finish just behind Hough but “I have no regrets,” Chapot said. “Lauren was superb and she deserved the win today.”

Hough’s victory was made more impressive by her quick recovery from arthroscopic knee surgery in February. She took just four weeks off before rebounding quickly, and this latest win proved that she is very much in fighting form.

For full results of the $130,000 Engel & Volkers CSI 4* Grand Prix, click here.

Source: Noelle Floyd

Lauren Hough Announces Retirement of Quick Study

Quick Study at CSI5* Dinard in 2015

Lauren Hough has announced the retirement of 17-year-old Selle Francais, Quick Study (Quick Star—Sirene de Plantro, What A Joy XX), after a decade-long partnership that traveled the world many times over.

“It is with great pride, and a touch of sadness, that I am announcing the retirement of my partner of 10 years, Quick Study, better known to his friends as Joey,” said Hough from her winter base in Wellington, Fla. “We have had a remarkable journey together and have had the opportunity to compete all over the world and represent our country at many prestigious events and championships along the way.”

A few of Hough’s favorite highlight from Joey’s career with her include winning the Grand Prix of Hamburg in 2010 and the Grand Prix of Dublin in 2011. “One of my most memorable Nations Cup wins was on Joey at Rotterdam in 2010,” she said. “It was an all-women team, and we won on zero faults! The accolades and wins mean a lot to me, but the relationship and bond that we created along the way are what I'm proudest of, and his character and quirkiness are traits I’ll always remember.”

“To say that he was a handful when he arrived to my stable in the summer of 2006 would be a bit of an understatement,” Hough added. “He taught me quickly that you nicely ask and don't tell him what to do. He taught me that patience is a virtue and that sometimes meeting in the middle is the best approach. Joey taught me a lot of lessons that I hope I will continue to use in my career with horses in the future.”

Hough would like to extend her thanks and gratefulness to the team that has helped her and Joey on their journey. “First and foremost, I thank his owners Laura and Meredith Mateo,” she said. “They have always entrusted me to make the decisions that are best for Joey. I am eternally grateful to the Mateo family for all of their support and trust.

“Justine Raven and Sara Rudberg were his main grooms throughout most of his career. They loved him and took care of both of us, with attention to every detail along the way. I’d also like to thank his farrier Arnie Gervasio, and his veterinarians, Brenden Furlong, Tim Ober, and many others along the way. Also, thank you to my mother, Linda Hough, who loves him almost as much as I do and calls him by the name ‘Joey Hough!’”

Although Joey’s show jumping career has come to an end, he will continue to stay in Hough’s care and will live out his years at Aston Farm, Hough’s base in England from April to November.

“He loves to go out hacking in the beautiful countryside and chase the sheep,” Hough said. “Thank you again to each and every one who has been a part of this magical journey. I love you, Joey!”