It was a stars-and-stripes win as four top riders from the United States took the Nations Cup in CSIO Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Friday, November 10. The team of Eliza Shuford, Chris Kappler, Carolyn Kelly and Brianne Goutal beat out riders from four other countries—Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Sweden. This team was named only for this competition, and was under the direction of U.S. Chef d’Equipe George Morris.

Riding in their first Nations Cup, the first round saw Young Rider rookie Kelly go clean aboard Rulanda, a 12-year-old grey Saxon Anhalt mare owned by her Lulu Equestrian Enterprises of New York, NY, and her teammate, and another Young Rider, Goutal (also from New York, NY) pick up four faults with Cloverleaf Farm’s Onira, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding.

Shuford also received four faults with her Holsteiner, Larentino, in Round One. In September, Shuford was the recipient of a USEF grant to participate in CSIO**** Barcelona, Spain, the last event in the 2006 Samsung Super League. Kappler’s 12 faults aboard VDL Orame was the drop score in Round One, in which the best three scores from each team count for the team total.

This Nations Cup only required three riders to return for Round Two, so Morris sent Shuford, Goutal and Kelly back in to compete in the grass arena over Olaf Peterson’s course. This time it was both Shuford and Goutal with clear rounds. Kelly ended with four faults.

The U.S.’s final score of 12 faults in the two round competition was significantly ahead of second-placed Sweden’s 25 faults. Brazil followed closely in third with 28 faults. With 37 faults, Chile, was out of contention, as was Argentina, who finished last with 45 faults.

For further information, contact Sally Ike, USEF’s Managing Director of Show Jumping, at (908) 326-1156.