Equestrian Magazine: Team USA Rises to the Challenge for an Olympic Medal

By Lindsay Brock As the world started to peek out from under the veil of a global pandemic and look ahead to brighter days, the Tokyo Olympic Games were just what the world needed. People longed to come together after a year of separation, and once again celebrate the talent and inspiration of living beings. View the latest issue. While the games were a beacon of hope, the path to Tokyo was one paved with uncertainty. As tire- less work provided for a safe and healthy plan of execution, a year-long delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic brought with it many challenges for U.S. Show Jumping. A new format was introduced in Tokyo with three-person teams competing without the safety net of a drop score. Simply put, there was no room for error in Tokyo. Additionally, the pressure was on U.S. Show Jumping to name “the right” team to represent them on a world stage. Delays brought with it new horses, unexpected injuries, and new opportunities. Laura Kraut & Baloutinue Olympic veterans Laura Kraut and McLain Ward may have seemed like no-brainer picks with four Olympic medals between the two of them, but they rode rookie mounts. Baloutinue joined Kraut’s string in April of 2021, just three months before the opening ceremonies. Ward’s partner Contagious also stepped up to the Olympics for the first time to fill the shoes of his previous silver-medal winning horse HH Azur. The theme of new talent continued with Jessica Springsteen, 29, who made her Olympic debut and fulfilled a childhood dream in the process. “This has been a huge dream of mine ever since I can remember,” said Springsteen, who piloted Don Juan van de Donkhoeve, a horse she has been partnered with since 2019. “I’ve admired these riders throughout my career, so to be named to the team with them was an honor.” McLain Ward & Contagious Springsteen’s teammates echoed her sentiment, noting that they were honored to be able to represent their home country at an Olympic Games that almost didn’t happen. “There were incredible procedures and precautions put in place, and for this particular team, a lot changed,” said Ward. “I think that, as we were dealing with the world today and COVID, this group and the people behind us—our teams, supporters, staff and the federation— really moved on the fly and made decisions while being flexible, and that’s what allowed us to be at the Olympic Games and ready for that moment.” For Springsteen, quarantine and a year filled with more time at home allowed her to develop an unbreakable bond with her horse. “When it came time for the selection events, I felt confident in how far me and ‘Don’ had come,” she said. “I felt prepared heading into the Games, and all in all Don was amazing the entire week. I’m so happy for him.” Laura Kraut noted of her new partner Baloutinue, “He’s a bit of a mix between a Thoroughbred that I love to ride and [2008 team gold-medal winning horse] Cedric, my best horse. He was just in the game. He was relaxed and focused and did every- thing I asked of him. He’s still new to this level of jumping, and he got better each day that he jumped.” Ultimately, the U.S. team staged a repeat jump-off against Sweden for a gold medal. Unlike the 2018 World Equestrian Games edition of that battle, the U.S. team settled for silver. They returned home with much more than hardware, however. They touched down on North American soil with horses that proved their place in elite show jumping, a renewed faith in the resiliency of horse sport, and a steady gaze towards a bright future. Photography by Shannon Brinkman