Rotterdam Media Guide

2011 FEI Nations Cup Series CSIO Rotterdam (NED) August 25–28, 2011

2011 FEI Nations Cup Series: Rotterdam

1

faults accumulated for all six selection events. With her contribution of double-clear rounds in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, she helped the US team win the Gold medal, while her success on US soil earned her the American Grand Prix Association (AGA) Rider of the Year title that year.

Madden added Team and Individual Silver medals to her resume at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany. Authentic continued to define himself as one of the best in the world. In addition, Authentic was named the Farnam®/Platform™ USEF Horse of the Year.

Madden’s greatest accomplishment in 2007 involved her Photo Credit: Sportfot

Beezie Madden Born: November 20, 1963 Residence: Cazenovia, NY Coral Reef Via Volo- 13 year-old Belgian

Warm-blood Mare owned by Coral Reef Ranch.

win at the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen in Germany, in July. Madden again rode Authentic for this prestigious win over 40 of the world’s best. To add to this honor she was named leading rider in Aachen, one of the most coveted leading rider titles in the world.

Madden enjoyed another incredible year in 2008 with Authentic. She won her second consecutive Team Gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games, where they won an

Originally from Milwaukee, WI, Beezie Madden has been

unbelievable jump-off to pick up Individual Bronze, too.

riding since the age of three and made her Grand Prix

Leading up to the Games, Authentic won the $200,000

debut in 1985. Four years of continued success followed,

CN Worldwide Grand Prix in Wellington, FL, with an-

which included participation on winning US Nations Cup

other one of his standard lightning fast jump-off rounds.

teams, which led to her being named the 1989 United

That was on the heels of a WEF Challenge win three

States Olympic Committee’s Female Equestrian of the

days earlier.

Year.

With the Belgian Warmblood mare, Coral Reef Via Volo,

Madden was the first woman—and the first US rider—to

Madden has found a star for the future. In March of

ever reach the top three in the Gandini Show Jumping

2010, they claimed top honors in the $75,000 Equine

World Ranking list (achieved in 2004), and she was the

Couture/Tuff Rider Grand Prix. In the summer they

first woman to pass the $1 million mark in earnings for

traveled to Europe, where they won the Grand Prix of

show jumping. She is the second leading money winner

Aachen and placed third in the Grand Prix of Dublin.

in history at Spruce Meadows in Canada. She has won

They also were part of the US team at the Meydan FEI

back-to-back honors as USEF Equestrian of the Year—

Nations Cup stop in Dublin.

the first rider ever to do so.

At the Spruce Meadows Masters, the pair won the

In 2004, she breezed through the Olympic Selection

$50,000 CANA Cup and were part of the winning US

Trials, finishing in first place on Authentic with only eight

Team in the Nations Cup in September of 2010. That

2 2011 FEI Nations Cup Series: Rotterdam

same month they picked up wins at the American Gold Cup. Madden had a strong start to the 2011 season jumping at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. She won back-toback classes during Week Six with Prima. In March, Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo were part of the winning US team in the $75,000 FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm. She partnered with Danny Boy to win the final round of the WEF Challenge Cup Series two weeks later.

In April, Madden travelled to Leipzig, Germany to compete in the 2011 Rolex/FEI World Cup Finals, tying for fourth place honors overall.

Madden has kept up her strong form throughout the summer of 2011, collecting top placings in both North America and Europe. In July, she rode Prima to first place in the Prize of Handwerk speed class at CHIO Aachen. In August, Madden won the prestigious Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Valkenswaard with Cortes ‘C’, in only her second Grand Prix start with the Belgian Warmblood gelding.

Married since 1998, Madden and her husband, horseman John Madden, reside in Cazenovia, NY.

2011 FEI Nations Cup Series: Rotterdam

3

rope. She helped the US secure wins in Aachen, Germany and LaBaule, France, and second place in Rome, Italy and in Hickstead, England, riding both Anthem and Miss Independent.

With Miss Independent, Kraut was third overall at the FEI World Equestrian Games qualifiers in March 2006 in Wellington, FL. Kraut’s placing at the qualifier earned her a spot on the US Show Jumping Team for the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, where the combination helped bring home a Team Silver medal.

Once again, Kraut was an integral part of the US team in the Samsung Super League in 2007. Riding Anthem, she was part of the all-female team that romped to victory Photo Credit: Shannon Brinkman

Laura Kraut

Born: November 14, 1965 Residence: Wellington, FL Cedric — 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Happy Hill Farm.

at CSIO Hickstead in July and second two weeks later in Dublin, Ireland. In August, Kraut had a big European victory with Cedric; together they won the Grand Prix at the CSI3* Hachenburg in Germany over a very competitive field.

Cedric defied gravity and expectation at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong for Kraut. They ran the board at the 2008 USEF Olympic Games Selection Trials for Show Jumping, jumping clear in the first round and never look-

Always a top competitor in Grand Prix circles, Laura Kraut’s

ing back. This set them up beautifully for their impressive

success began before Cedric. Kraut was a member of

Olympic performance. He was foot perfect in the team

the US show jumping team at the 2000 Sydney Olympic

portion of the competition and was an integral part of the

Games and in the 2000-2001 competition season she

Gold medal-winning effort for the US.

was honored as reserve champion AGA Rider of the Year.

In 2002, Kraut was a member of the US team which won the first outdoor Nations Cup held in the US; and at the Samsung Nations Cup Series, she was named Leading Rider after tying for first place on Liberty. Later that same year, Kraut was a US team alternate at the 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games in Spain. The following year, she was the top placed American at the World Cup Final, where she tied for the fifth position. In 2004, Kraut was a member of the second place team in the $50,000 Samsung Nations Cup in Florida, and helped the US secure a fourth place overall finish in the Samsung Super League.

Kraut spent much of the 2005 summer representing the US in the competitive Samsung Super League series in Eu-

4 2011 FEI Nations Cup Series: Rotterdam

In the summer of 2009, Kraut once again demonstrated great success in Europe. She and Cedric were part of the US teams on both tour two and three of the Meydan FEI Nations Cup. In Aachen, on tour two, the pair jumped two clear rounds. Cedric was also third in the $126,385 Barcelona Grand Prix. Additionally, Kraut had a successful summer with Anthem winning the $214,152 Madrid Grand Prix and placing second at the Grand Prix of Valencia.

In the winter of 2010, Kraut and Cedric once again showed their skill by winning the $150,000 CN US Open on the strength of a lightning fast jump-off round. In the summer of 2010, Kraut and Cedric were on the winning team at the Meydan FEI Nations Cup stop in Rotterdam where

they were faultless in both rounds. In July, Cedric and Kraut were part of the US team for the Meydan FEI Nations Cup at CHIO Aachen, this time placing third as a team.

The pair capped off their summer in Europe by winning the Valkenswaard VDL Groep Grand Prix in The Netherlands.

They then finished their season by representing the US at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

In 2011, they have hit the ground running, jumping many scorching rounds at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.

Along the way they won the $78,000 Adequan CSI2* Grand Prix and the $150,000 FEI World Cup CSI3*- W presented by Spy Coast Farm. They finished off their season in Wellington by winning the premiere class of the circuit the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI5* with a lightning fast jump-off round.

Over the summer of 2011, Kraut and the eleven year old mare Teirra have jumped to top finishes in Europe; including a strong showing at CHIO Aachen where they collected third place finishes in the STAWAG-Preis class and in the Warsteiner Preis class.

Kraut makes her home in Wellington, FL and enjoys spending time with her young son, Bobby.

2011 FEI Nations Cup Series: Rotterdam

5

Games Selection Trials, which qualified her for the short list for the games in Aachen, Germany. Over the past three years, she has been a member of the very successful US teams competing in the Samsung Super League. In 2004, the team finished in fourth place; in 2005, the US finished first; and in 2006, they were second.

With Casadora, Hough was a member of the 2007 Pan American Games Bronze medal-winning team. The pair started off 2008 with a victory at the $75,000 Green Cove Springs CSI-W Grand Prix with the only double clear round. During the first week of the 2008 Spruce Meadows Summer Series, Hough and Casadora won the ATB Financial Cup. Later that week, she was first again in the 1.50m Photo Credit: Sportfot

Lauren Hough

Born: April 11, 1977 Residence: Wellington, FL

ATCO Midstream Winning Round with Quick Study.

Hough and Quick Study spent the winter of 2009 competing at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, taking two thirds and a second in the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series, and a fourth in the $75,000 FEI Nations Cup. They were also part of the winning Meydan FEI Nations Cup effort

Quick Study – 12-year-old French Warmblood

in May at CSIO Rome. The pair was also second in the

gelding owned by Laura and Meredith Mateo.

$122,172 Helsinki Grand Prix.

A native Californian, Hough got her start in the hunter ring

Hough also had consistent success with Naomi during the

and was a very successful junior rider. She won a Gold

spring of 2009, highlights of the pair’s success at the FTI

medal at the North American Young Riders Champion-

Winter Equestrian Festival include: winning the $50,000

ships, and at age 15, was the Pacific Coast Horseman’s

Braman Motorcars Grand Prix, a runner-up finish in the

Association Rookie of the Year. Most of her show jumping

$50,000 Equisport Agency Grand Prix and third in the

success in the early years was due in part to two horses,

$150,000 CN Open Grand Prix.

Clasiko and Windy City. She won the National Horse Show Grand Prix back-to-back in 2001 and 2002.

Early 2010 played out as another successful season for Hough in Florida. With Casadora she collected a third place

A member of the 2000 Sydney Olympic squad, Hough had

finish at the $100,000 Green Cove Springs Grand Prix and

Olympic aspirations running through her veins at birth. Her

followed that up five days later with a sixth place finish in

father, Champ, was a member of the 1952 Olympic Team in

round two of the WEF Challenge Cup Series again with

eventing. Hough was a member of the Gold medal-winning

Casadora. Hough also burned it up with Prezioso S at the

Pan American Games team in 2003, representing the US

FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. In a three-day span the

in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Demonstrating

pair picked up third place finishes in the third round of the

her tenacity, she rode in the selection trials with a broken

WEF Challenge Cup Series and the Nespresso Grand Prix.

collarbone.

In February, Hough and Quick Study were twelfth in the

In 2006, she was fourth overall in the FEI World Equestrian

6 2011 FEI Nations Cup Series: Rotterdam

$150,000 Spy Coast Farm FEI World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix.

They continued this good form through March, jumping to the third place in the $200,000 WEF FEI World Cup Qualifier.

The summer proved to be a successful one for Hough in Europe. With Quick Study she won the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix at Hamburg in May. The pair were then on the winning team at the Meydan FEI Nations Cup stop in Rotterdam, where they were fault free in both rounds. In July Hough once again jumped on the all female US team with Quick Study at the Meydan FEI Nations Cup held at CHIO Aachen. They completed the year by representing the United States at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY. Hough and Quick Study had a strong start to the 2011 season in Wellington, FL. At the beginning of February they won the fourth round of the WEF Challenge Cup Series.

They began March by capturing the $150,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSIO4* and bookended the month by placing second in the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix. This combination has been jumping on the Global Champions Tour throughout the summer.

In August 2011, Hough and Quick Study claimed one of their biggest victories to date, capturing the Longines Dublin International Grand Prix.

When Hough isn’t riding, she loves to cook and spend time with her friends and family.

2011 FEI Nations Cup Series: Rotterdam

7

National Horse Show Championship, and sixth in the $40,000 CSI-W Lexington.

McCrea represented the U.S. at the 2009 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final in April in Las Vegas. At the 2009 Final she rode the appropriately named Vegas. The pair won the $100,000 Budweiser FEI World Cup Qualifier of Syracuse in November of 2008; they then represented the U.S. on the Nations Cup team at the CSIO Wellington the following spring.

With Promised Land, McCrea was second in the $150,000 CN Grand Prix on March 1, 2009 and third in the Tampa Bay Classic, the final qualifier for the year’s World Cup Final.

2010 again was a successful year for McCrea. With Promised Land she was fifth in both Round One of the Photo Credit: Sophie Durieux

Christine McCrea Born: February 16, 1978 Hometown: East Windsor, CT

Romantovich Take One – 11-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Candy Tribble.

Christine McCrea first made her presence known on the international scene when she joined the United States Equestrian Team Developing Rider Tour in 1999, she finished second in the Nations Cup competition at CSIO Lummen, Belgium, riding Caraibe du Moulin.

WEF Challenge Cup Series and the $75,000 Nespresso Grand Prix. She was also fourth with Romantovich Take One at the $25,000 Suncast Classic Grand Prix. Romantovich Take One was also fifth in the $75,000 Adequan Grand Prix in February at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.

Romantovich Take One and McCrea continued collecting consistent results throughout the spring of 2010. In May, they were third in the CSI2* at the Hagyard Lexington Classic and later in the month were fifth in the $100,000 Grand Prix of Devon-Celeste McNeal Harper Perpetual.

2011 has started off well once again for McCrea and the Dutch Warmblood gelding. Once again jumping at the

McCrea was part of two successful Samsung Super

FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, they were seventh in

League efforts both in 2005 and 2007. She won a 1.50m

the fifth round of the WEF Challenge Cup Series. They

class in Lummen in 2005 and in 2006 qualified for the

picked up another seventh place finish in the CSI4*-W at

Rolex FEI World Cup Final and was short-listed for the

the Winter Equestrian Festival in March.

2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany.

Over the summer of 2011, McCrea travelled to Europe to

In 2005, she earned multiple Top 10 finishes at home,

take part in the FEI Nations Cup Series. With Romantov-

including taking second in the $75,000 Budweiser World

ich Take One, she jumped two clear rounds over a tough

Cup of Syracuse, third in the $50,000 Fidelity Grand

track in St. Gallen in the Nations Cup and two days later

Prix of Boston, fourth in the $25,000 Winter Equestrian

jumped to a strong third place finish in the Longines

Festival Challenge Cup Round 5 and the $100,000 Lexus

Grand Prix of Switzerland.

8 2011 FEI Nations Cup Series: Rotterdam

McCrea is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a major in business. She and her husband John, an Irish show jumper, currently train at her family’s farm, Windsor Show Stables, in East Windsor, CT.

2011 FEI Nations Cup Series: Rotterdam

9

mont, Quebec, to win. The following week in Quebec City, he again won the FEI World Cup Qualifier, and followed up with another second in Blainville. On a hot winning streak, he also captured the 1998 FEI World Equestrian Games Selection Trials with his veteran thoroughbred gelding, Amistad, who was retired at the end of that season.

While competing once again at the 1999 FEI World Cup Final, Deslauriers was awarded his World Cup Silver medal, signifying that he has competed in over 100 FEI World Cup Qualifying competitions.

A two-time Canadian Show Jumping Champion, Deslauriers has represented Canada at every major international event.

In 2009, Deslauriers was second with Vicomte D in the $75,000 Fidelity Investments AGA Grand Prix in September. The pair went onto a third place finish at the $100,000 Photo Credit: Shannon Brinkman

Mario Deslauriers Born: February 23, 1965 Residence: New York, NY

Urico- 10-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Jane Forbes Clark

President’s Cup Grand Prix at the Washington International Horse Show.

Deslauriers and Urico spent the beginning of the 2010 season burning it up at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. In January, they won the $50,000 WEF Two Purina Mills Grand Prix. They also were second in round five of the WEF Challenge Cup Series in February.

Deslauriers and Urico traveled to Geneva in April to com-

Although he now rides for the United States, Mario Deslau-

pete in the 2010 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final where they

riers is a native Canadian who began riding at a young age,

finished sixth.

coached by his father, Roger. In 1984, 19-year-old Deslauriers became the youngest rider to ever win the FEI World Cup Final, a record he still holds today. He was also the first Canadian to ever capture the title. Later that year, at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, he was involved in a threeway jump-off for the Individual Bronze medal.

Deslauriers had a sensational 1997 season winning several Grand Prix competitions and capturing the Canadian Show Jumping Champion title for the second time, the first being in 1992 with Alemao.

After finishing second in 1998’s first FEI World Cup Qualifier at Spruce Meadows, Deslauriers returned home to Bro-

10 2011 FEI Nations Cup Series: Rotterdam

Urico and Deslauriers continued their success in Europe by jumping on the US team during the Meydan FEI Nations Cup. The pair jumped two fault-free rounds in La Baule, helping the US secure a second place finish. Urico took a liking to La Baule and he finished second behind US teammate McLain Ward and Sapphire in the Grand Prix.

In October of 2010, Deslauriers and Urico were part of the US team at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, where they won the Speed Competition.

Deslauriers kicked off the 2011 season by jumping many successful rounds at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in

Florida. In March, he and Urico contributed to the winning US effort in the $75,000 FEI Nations Cup CSIO4* presented by G&C Farm.

In July, Deslauriers and Vicomte D collected victory in the 1.50m BANTREL Cup at Spruce Meadows.

Deslauriers and his wife Lisa and have three children; Sari, Lucy and Jack.

2011 FEI Nations Cup Series: Rotterdam

11

In 2005, Morris took over the Chef d’Equipe duties of the US Show Jumping Team. He instantly proved his outstanding leadership when the US team, the only nonEuropean team competing in the Super League, won the prestigious Samsung Super League championship.

He commandeered an excellent performance from his riders at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games, where they won a Team Silver medal and Beezie Madden won Individual Silver with the mighty Authentic. In 2007, he guided the Pan American Games team to a bronze medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

2008 brought the most successful accolades thus far to Morris’ coaching resume. He steered the US show jumpPhoto Credit: USEF Archives

George Morris

ers to another fantastic performance, this time winning Team Gold at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong.

The US riders won a jump-off with the Canadians for the

Chef d’Equipe

Gold medal, Madden also won Individual Bronze.

Born: February 26, 1938 Residence: Wellington, FL

His teams also won the prestigious Nations Cup at the

Considered one of the most influential riders and trainers in equestrian sport, George Morris’ career began as a precocious junior rider winning both the AHSA Hunter Seat Medal Final and the ASPCA Maclay Final at the tender age of 14, the youngest rider ever to do so.

In international competition, he represented the US on the Gold medal-winning Pan American Games team in 1959 and on the Silver medal-winning team at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games. Between 1958 and 1960, he rode on eight winning Nations Cup teams and in later years

Spruce Meadows Masters on the heels of the 2008 Olympic success, and then he took four riders inexperienced on the international stage and handily won the Nations Cup at the CSIO Buenos Aires in November.

2009 was another busy and rewarding year for Morris and those he coaches. He guided the US team to a runner-up spot in the 2009 Meydan Nations Cup. This romp through Europe included winning two legs of the tour. In November of 2009, Morris was named the USEF National Coach of the Year. In May, Morris was awarded the coveted title of ‘Horseman of Honor of the Cadre Noir of Saumur’.

served as Chef d’Equipe for numerous Nations Cup

In 2010, US Teams picked up Nations Cup wins at CSIO

teams including as Co-Chef d’Equipe at the 1999 Pan

Rotterdam and CSIO Spruce Meadows and had consis-

American Games in Winnipeg, Canada, where the US

tent European results all summer.

won both the Team and Individual Silver medals. Morris also served as a Director of the former USET and as a member of its Executive and Show Jumping Committees.

12 2011 FEI Nations Cup Series: Rotterdam

His attention to detail and meticulous preparation of his teams is legendary.

Morris’ individual training successes include a “Who’s Who” of the US’ top show jumping riders figuring

prominently in US Olympic history. At the 1984 Olympic Games, the Gold medal winning team included three former students, Conrad Homfeld, Leslie Burr-Howard and Melanie Smith Taylor. The 1992 team included students Lisa Jacquin, Anne Kursinski and Norman Dello Joio. In 1996, Morris was assistant Chef d’Equipe of the Silver medal Olympic team, which included former students Burr- Howard, Kursinski and Peter Leone. At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, former student Chris Kappler won the Individual Silver medal and was a member of the Gold medal-winning team.

Morris is also a well-known author of equestrian books and videos. He currently serves on several USEF committees and holds a Registered Judge’s License in the Jumper, Hunter and Hunter Seat Equitation divisions.

2011 FEI Nations Cup Series: Rotterdam

13

Elizabeth Chesson Team Leader

Born: April 3, 1977 Residence: Gladstone, NJ Lizzy Chesson has been deeply rooted in international equestrian sports for many years. As a groom for her mother she was part of two World Championship Driving teams. At the age of 22, Chesson was selected to drive a pair of horses in the World Pair Championship in Hungary. She is a graduate of Columbia University where she studied German and Spanish and earned a degree in Art History.

Chesson began working for the USEF in 2006. Her first position was in the USEF Show Jumping department as an assistant to Managing Director, Sally Ike. Chesson has been a member of the USEF High Performance Driving Photo Credit: USEF Archives

Committee and the Chairman of the USEF High Performance Eligible Active Pair Driver Committee. In December 2007, Chesson was promoted to USEF Director of Show Jumping High Performance Activities.

Chesson resides in Gladstone, NJ and still rides and drives when she can find the time. She finds herself incredibly fortunate to work with such an experienced and dynamic team.

14 2011 FEI Nations Cup Series: Rotterdam