Csioocala

Photo Credit: SusanJStickle.com

2015 CSIO4* OCALA Ocala, Fla.

February 11-15, 2015

The following athletes will represent the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team at CSIO4* Ocala (in alphabetical order).

Jumping - Team

Photo Credit: Joaquin Bilbao /CSIO Gijón 5* 2014

Georgina Bloomberg

Born: January 20, 1983 Residence: New York, N.Y. For Georgina Bloomberg, the daughter of former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, a love of horses has always run in her blood. She began in the pony hunter ring at age six and after graduating from the junior ranks in 2001, she turned her attention to the jumpers exclusively.

Bloomberg was rewarded by winning two Gold medals at the North American Young Riders’ Championships (Team Gold in 2002 and Individual Gold in 2003 with Riviera) and winning the 2001 USET Talent Derby.

In 2004, Bloomberg won the USET Maxine Beard Award, which recognizes accomplishment by an up-and-coming show jumper, as well as the Derby of Drammen. The following year, she made her FEI World Cup Final debut, and was a member of the Samsung Super League team at CSIO La Baule.

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Bloomberg’s success continued in 2007, as she was a member of the winning U.S. Super League teams in Hamina, Finland, and Falsterbo, Sweden. Additionally, she finished fourth in the Queen’s Cup at CSIO Hickstead and was the highest-placed American in the Dublin Grand Prix, finishing seventh.

In 2009, Bloomberg rode many different horses to strong finishes up and down the East Coast. In January, she was fourth in the $50,000 Braman Motorcars Grand Prix at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival on Mila. With Street of Diamonds, Bloomberg was the winner of the eighth round of the WEF Challenge Cup. In August, she was a winner at the Hampton Classic with Fiedi 3.

Bloomberg kicked off 2010 with a win in Round 1 of the WEF Challenge Cup Series with Metropolitan and the pair followed up with another win in the Empire State Grand Prix during the spring. With Radio City, she placed second in the Husky Energy Cup at the Spruce Meadows CSIO5* ‘Continental’ Tournament. Also at Spruce Meadows, Bloomberg rode Fiedi 3 to a fourth-place finish in the Nexen Cup Derby and the combination went on to win the Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix in Kentucky.

Jumping - Team In 2012, Bloomberg finished fifth in the Fieldstone Grand Prix with Perfect de Coquerie. The pair then improved to fourth place in the Donald V Little Grand Prix at the Boston Jumper Classic. Bloomberg again rode Perfect de Coquerie to a top finish, finishing third in the Grand Prix of Princeton.

She ended the year with a fourth-place finish in the Citibank New Year’s Grand Prix with Radio City.

Bloomberg again began 2013 at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) earning consistent results throughout the circuit. In European competition, Bloomberg was second with Juvina in Germany’s Dettighoven-Albfuhren Grand Prix. Returning to the states, she had a strong performance at the Hampton Classic, placing third in the FTI Consulting Grand Prix with Juvina.

In 2014, Bloomberg finished sixth in the $125,000 Horseware Ireland CSI3* Grand Prix with Juvina during week 10 of the WEF. In April, the pair produced a seventh-place effort in the $200,000 American Invitational CSI3*. Bloomberg spent much of the summer competing in Europe, earning top finishes on the Longines Global Champions Tour and representing the U.S. in Nations Cup competition at CSIO5* Falsterbo. In August, Bloomberg and Juvina anchored the U.S. Team victory in the CSIO5* Gijon’s Nations Cup with a double clear effort. Upon their return to the U.S., the pair won the Central Park Grand Prix, presented by Rolex, before earning third-place finishes in the feature Grand Prixes at the Longines LA Masters and National Horse Show.

To kick off her 2015 season, Bloomberg won the Adequan Grand Prix with Lilli during the third week of the Winter Equestrian Festival.

In addition to competing, Bloomberg is also actively involved in philanthropic efforts, including founding The Rider’s Closet, serving on the Board of the Equestrian Aid Foundation, and acting as a committee member of Friends of Finn. She is a proud mother of one-year-old son, Jasper Michael Brown Bloomberg.

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Jumping - Team

Photo Credit: Shannon Brinkman

Lauren Hough

Born: April 11, 1977 Residence: Wellington, Fla. The daughter of Olympic Bronze medalist, Champ, and acclaimed hunter/jumper trainer, Linda, Lauren Hough started riding before she could walk. Beginning her career competing in northern California in the pony ring, the jumps did not stay small for long, as she rose up the hunter and equitation ranks, ultimately winning the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search in 1994.

In 2000, at the age of 23, Hough reached the pinnacle of the sport of jumping, making her Olympic debut in Sydney.

Three years later, she helped the U.S. to Team Gold at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Demonstrating her tenacity, she rode in the selection trials with a broken collarbone. Her Pan American Games success continued in 2007, when she and Casadora were members of the Bronze medal-winning U.S. team.

2010 was an extremely successful year for Hough as she

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earned multiple top placings at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. In the summer, she and Quick Study won the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Hamburg and went on to produce a double-clear in Rotterdam’s Meydan FEI Nations Cup, helping the United States to victory.

Hough and Quick Study completed the year by representing the United States at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Ky. The pair had a strong start to the 2011 season in Wellington, Fla., winning both the $150,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSIO4* and the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix. In August, Hough and Quick Study claimed one of their biggest victories to date, capturing the Longines Dublin International Grand Prix.

In 2012, Hough was the winner of two CSIYH1* classes and earned multiple strong placings in five-star competition at CHIO Aachen. Returning to the states in the fall, Hough and Ohlala won classes at Washington International and the Alltech National Horse Show. She finished out the year with another win at the Holiday and Horses Horse Show in Wellington.

In 2013, Hough and Ohlala were the winners of the Mas-

Jumping - Team simo Dutti Prix CSI5* at the Longines Global Champions Tour stop in London. She rode Quick Study to help the U.S. team finish second in Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented

by Longines at CHIO Rotterdam.

To begin 2014, Hough and Ohlala were the winners of round four of the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup. During week 10 of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, the combination was second in the Horseware Ireland CSI3* Grand Prix. The following week she and Böckmanns Lazio won the Engel & Volkers Grand Prix.

Hough had another top performance, finishing third in the $200,000 American Invitational CSI3* with Ohlala. In July, the pair again produced strong efforts at CSIO5* Aachen, earning a fifth-place finish in the Rolex Grand Prix.

At the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament, Hough and Ohlala charged to a win the CANA Cup on the opening day of competition. They then headed back to Europe, helping the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team to a win in the Challenge Cup at the 2014 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final. The pair completed their 2014 campaign by winning the Credit Suisse Grand Prix at CSI5* Geneva.

During her downtime, Hough enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, and entertaining, as well as reading and working out at the gym.

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Jumping - Team

Photo Credit: Sportfot

Laura Kraut

Born: November 14, 1965 Residence: Royal Palm Beach, Fla. For almost two decades Laura Kraut has represented the U.S. at Olympic Games, World Championships, and in numerous Nations Cup competitions. Kraut’s first big break came in 1992, when she was named as an alternate to the U.S. team for Barcelona after excelling in the Selection Trials. Eight years later she made her Olympic debut in Sydney.

Kraut spent much of the 2005 summer representing the U.S. in the competitive Samsung Super League series in Europe. She helped the U.S. secure wins in Nations Cup competition at CSIO Aachen and CSIO La Baule, and to second-place finishes at CSIO Rome and CSIO Hickstead, riding both Anthem and Miss Independent.

With Miss Independent, Kraut was third overall at the FEI World Equestrian Games qualifiers in March of 2006 in Wellington, Fla. Kraut’s placing at the qualifier earned her a

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spot on the U.S. Team for the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, where the combination helped bring home a Team Silver medal.

Kraut was an integral part of the U.S. teams in the Samsung Super League in 2007. Riding Anthem, she was part of the all-female team that stormed to victory at CSIO Hickstead in July and was second two weeks later in Dublin.

Kraut and Cedric defied gravity and expectations at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong. They won the 2008 USEF Olympic Games Selection Trials, jumping clear in the first round and never looking back. This set them up beautifully for their impressive Olympic performance. Cedric was stellar in the team portion of the competition and was an integral part of the Gold medal-winning effort for the U.S. 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, they were on the winning team at the Meydan FEI Nations Cup stop in Rotterdam where they produced a double clear effort. The pair capped off their summer in Europe by winning the Valkenswaard VDL Groep Grand Prix in The Netherlands. They finished their season by repre-

Jumping - Team senting the U.S. at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

In 2011, Kraut and Cedric hit the ground running by winning the Adequan Grand Prix and the FEI World Cup CSI3*- W presented by Spy Coast Farm at the Winter Equestrian Festival. They finished off their season in Wellington by winning the premier class of the circuit the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix.

Kraut once again enjoyed a successful season in 2013, winning both stateside and abroad. In March, she and Cedric were part of the winning U.S. team at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm at CSIO Wellington.

Over the summer she collected top placings throughout Europe, including a win in Wiesbaden and a second-place finish in Madrid on the Longines Global Champions Tour, where she finished third in the 2013 rankings.

2014 once again saw Kraut start her campaign at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, where she was a member of the third-place U.S. team in Nations Cup competition at CSIO Wellington and earned a second-place finish with Nouvelle in the feature Grand Prix. In September, Kraut piloted Andretti S to a second-place finish in the American Gold Cup CSI4*-W. The year came to a close for Kraut and Cedric with a win in the Holiday & Horses Grand Prix.

Kraut and Cedric continued their winning ways as they began their 2015 campaign with a win the Trump Invitational Grand Prix.

A passion for horses and equestrian sport runs in the family for Kraut, as her 15-year-old son, Bobby, is an avid competitor in the jumper ranks and her sister, Mary Elizabeth, helps to manage the business and schedules.

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Jumping - Team

Photo Credit: SusanJStickle.com

Beezie Madden Born: November 20, 1963 Residence: Cazenovia, N.Y.

Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Beezie Madden has been riding since the age of three and made her debut at Grand Prix, jumping’s highest level, in 1985 at age 22. For nearly three decades, Madden has represented the United States in the world’s most prestigious competitions, and was the first woman to pass the $1 million mark in earnings for showjumping. Additionally, Madden has won the USEF Equestrian of the Year title four times, including back-toback honors in 2006 and 2007, the first rider ever to do so, and then again earning back-to-back honors in 2013 and 2014.

In 2004, Madden and Authentic won their first of two Olympic Team Gold medals with their contributions of clear rounds. Two years later, the pair added Team and Individual Silver medals to their resume with outstanding performances at 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen,

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Germany.

The following year, the duo again found success in Aachen, beating out 40 of the world’s best in the Rolex Grand Prix. Madden enjoyed another incredible year in 2008 with Authentic. She garnered her second consecutive Team Gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, where the pair won an unbelievable jump-off to also pick up Individual Bronze.

2011 saw Madden win at home and on foreign soil. In March, she and Coral Reef Via Volo were part of the winning U.S. team in the FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. In April, Madden traveled to Leipzig, Germany, to compete in the 2011 Rolex/FEI World Cup Finals, where she tied for fourth-place honors. Then with Cortes ‘C’, Madden claimed her first victory on the Global Champions Tour, winning the Grand Prix of Valkenswaard. Later that month, Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo won the Longines International Grand Prix of Rotterdam.

The year ended on a high note for Madden. After collecting third place in the $75,000 Grand Prix de Penn National with Cortes ‘C’, she traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico, to

Jumping - Team represent the U.S. at the 2011 Pan American Games. Riding

World Equestrian Games, where she also added Individual

Coral Reef Via Volo, she won Team Gold and Individual Silver

Bronze to her medal haul. Her season came to a conclu-

medals.

sion with strong performances jumping at indoors, including

In 2012, Madden made her third Olympic appearance for the U.S. in London with Coral Reef Via Volo.

In 2013, Madden cemented her status among the sport’s

scoring a remarkable win in the CP World Cup Qualifier at the National Horse Show.

In addition to competing, Madden also runs a successful

elite as she won at nearly every turn. She began her record-

training and sales business with her husband, John, out of

setting campaign at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian

their Cazenovia, New York, and Wellington, Florida, bases.

Festival, winning the FEI W-Cup Grand Prix CSI3* presented

by Spy Coast Farm before aiding in the winning U.S. effort in the $75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm.

In April, Madden traveled to Gothenburg, Sweden, to claim the one title that had eluded her in her illustrious career, the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final crown. She kicked off the week with a win in the Speed Leg before jumping three more consistent rounds with Simon to force a jump-off with the reigning Olympic champion, where a clear effort saw her claim victory.

She continued to dominate in Europe, producing an impressive two double clears in Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup competitions and a Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Chantilly victory over the summer with Cortes ‘C’.

Madden then helped the U.S. to a win in the Consolation Round of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona.

As a testament to her 2013 success, Madden spent three months as the second-ranked rider in the world on the Longines/FEI Rankings.

2014 was another tremendous year for Madden, as she scored a big win in the $200,000 American Invitational presented by G&C Farm with Coral Reef Via Volo. In May of 2014, Madden was forced to sit on the sidelines for six weeks due to a broken collarbone. Returning to competition in July, she quickly returned to her winning ways, helping the U.S. to victory in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup of Great Britain presented by Longines at CSIO5* Hickstead with a double-clear effort on Cortes ‘C’. She then became the first woman to ever win the Longines King George V Gold Cup at CSIO5* with Cortes ‘C’. The following week she was a member of the winning U.S. Nations Cup effort at CSIO5* Dublin with Simon.

Madden closed out the summer by anchoring the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team to Team Bronze at the Alltech FEI 2015 CSIO4* Ocala

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Jumping - Team

Photo Credit: Shannon Brinkman

Todd Minikus

Born: June 11, 1962 Residence: Loxahatchee, Fla. Turning professional in 1980, Todd Minikus competed in his first grand prix in 1985. For more than twenty years, he has forged an impressive career, highlighted by more than 75 grand prix wins, five FEI World Cup Show Jumping Finals and multiple Nations Cup teams. Minikus was an alternate to the U.S. show jumping team for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. In 2001, he won the $100,000 Rolex/ USET Show Jumping Championship and was selected as the recipient of the Horseman of the Year Award.

In 2007, Minikus and Pavarotti were members of the Gold medal-winning team at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and runners-up in the $150,000 CN U.S. Open Jumper Championship, presented by Cosequin.

Minikus was on a tear in 2009, continuously placing in the money at multiple events. He won three big classes in February: the $30,000 Braman Motorcars WEF Challenge

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Cup during Week VIII of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) on Presidente and both the $76,600 ESP WEF 7 Grand Prix and the $25,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix with Alaska. 2009 also marked the fifth time Minikus represented the U.S. at the FEI World Cup Final in Las Vegas.

Minikus and Pavarotti represented the U.S. on Tour Two of the Nations Cup in the summer of 2009. In Rotterdam, the pair helped the U.S. secure a second-place finish. The pair returned to the U.S. and continued their successful season, winning both the $25,000 and $75,000 Grand Prixes at HITS-on-the-Hudson in July.

In 2010, Minikus was back at it with Pavarotti, winning the $75,000 Nespresso Grand Prix at the end of January. In March, he rode Olinda to a third-place finish in the $100,000 Deluca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix at the Ocala Winter Celebration. He wrapped up the WEF season with a third-place finish in the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI5*. At the 2010 USEF Selection Trials for the U.S. Show Jumping Team, Minikus and Pavarotti won trials 1 and 4 after turning in the fastest no-fault rounds. Their performance in the trials earned them a place on U.S. Show Jumping Long List for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Eques-

Jumping - Team trian Games.

Minikus spent the spring traveling around the East Coast,

ond in the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix.

The pair scored a win the following week in the $34,000

winning the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix at the HITS-on-the-

Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Round 3. With Babalou

Hudson I on Pavarotti in late May, and the $50,000 Idle Dice

41, Minikus took home top honors in the $100,000 1.50M

Open Jumper Stake a week later at the Devon Horse Show.

Championship Jumper Classic during week 12 of WEF. In

The HITS-on-the-Hudson III show saw the pair finish third in

the spring, he and Quality Girl were second in the Hagyard

the $125,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix. In August, Minikus won

Lexington Classic. The pair improved to first in the $50,000

the $40,000 Grand Prix at the Winston National on Little

Idle Dice Open Jumper Stake at the Devon Horse Show.

Annie, then followed up the win with a second-place finish in

Minikus continued his winning ways with Arino du Rouet in

the Constitution Classic’s $40,000 Grand Prix.

the $75,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix and Macoemba in

In 2011, Minikus won the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup during week 10 of the WEF before defending his 2010 victory in

the Landgero Cup Grand Prix.

In the summer, Minikus was on a roll, winning the I Love

the $50,000 Idle Dice Open Jumper Stake at Devon. Minikus

NY Grand Prix with Babalou 41 and the Jumper Classic

returned to the winner’s circle at the I Love New York Horse

with Quality Girl at the I Love New York Horse Show. He

Show in the Woodlea Farms Grand Prix II and Open Jumper

and Arino du Roulet scored a win in the $50,000 Horze

Classic II on Pavarotti. During HITS-on-the-Hudson V, he won

Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson IV. Traveling to Bromont,

both the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix and $75,000 HITS

Canada, Minikus and Quality Girl won the CSI3*-W Grand

Grand Prix on Sweetheart. Two weeks later, Minikus won

Prix. The pair then scored a huge win in the Zoetis $1 Million

the $30,000 Wild Card Grand Prix. At the National Horse

Grand Prix.

Show, a win in the Welcome Speed Class closed out his competition season.

In 2012 Minikus finished fourth in the HITS-on-the-Hudson

Minikus stayed on the top of his game in the fall, finishing second in the $85,000 Prix de Penn National with Quality Girl. The pair then won the $34,000 Welcome Stake at

I $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix on Macoemba. The pair fin-

Washington International Horse Show. Minikus closed out

ished out the year with a second-place finish in the $50,000

his year with a second-place finish in $100,000 Hickstead

Holiday & Horses CSI2*-W Grand Prix.

FEI World Cup Grand Prix with Quality Girl at the Royal

Minikus began 2013 with a second-place finish on Macoemba in the $50,000 CSI2* Grand Prix during week three of

Winter Horse Show.

2015 is off to a strong start for Minikus as he won the

WEF. He then scored top honors in the $50,000 Live Oak

$30,000 WEF 1 Grand Prix with Cordonos. With Quality Girl,

Grand Prix CSI2* with Quality Girl. With Uraguay, Minikus

he was second in the $85,000 Suncast® 1.50m Champion-

earned another victory in the $50,000 Old Salem Grand Prix.

ship Jumper Classic during week four of WEF.

The following week, the pair was second in the $100,000

Minikus, who grew up near Des Moines, Iowa, now oper-

Old Salem Grand Prix. He and Quality Girl won the $25,000

ates Todd Minikus, Ltd., in Loxahatchee, Fla. When he’s not

SmartPak Grand Prix during HITS-on-the-Hudson II and IV.

at the barn or on the road, he enjoys playing golf, fishing, and

At the New York Horse & Pony Show, the pair claimed top

spending time with his family.

honors in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix. They then scored an impressive second-place finish in the Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix. Minikus closed out his year with a win and second-place finish with Quality Girl in the $50,000 Welcome Speed class and $100,000 Open Jumper class, respectively, at the Alltech National Horse Show.

Starting 2014 off in fine form, Minikus was third in the $125,000 Trump Invitational presented by Rolex CSI2* with Uruguay. At week two of WEF, he and Quality Girl were sec2015 CSIO4* Ocala

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Jumping - Staff international official, he is the only American to have served as the FEI Technical Delegate for four FEI World Cup Finals.

As a television commentator, he worked for many years as the color analyst for ESPN and CBS, as well as two stints for NBC at the Barcelona and Athens Olympic Games.

Photo Credit: Š 2008 Dr. C. Mike Tomlinson www.Tomlinson.com

Robert Ridland Born: November 7, 1950 Residence: Irvine, Calif.

Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland brings several decades of international experience to the sport, including competing at the Olympic Games during his career as a member of the United States Equestrian Team. Over the years he was victorious on four continents, including at the American Invitational, the Grand Prix of New York in Madison Square Garden, and the Grand Prix of Switzerland. In addition to his riding career, Ridland has been extensively involved in the governance of the sport, including several terms as a board member of the USEF and the USET Foundation. His analytical approach to the sport is aided by virtue of his vast experience as an international course designer.

Ridland twice won the FEI Course Designer of the Year Award while building the courses for the U.S. Olympic Trials as well as numerous international competitions. As an

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