Xalapa, Mexico – The Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team will look to extend its lead in the North American division when it competes against Canada and Mexico at FEI Nations Cup™ CSIO4* Coapexpan tomorrow. With only 10 points separating the U.S. from second-place Canada, Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland has tapped Quentin Judge, Peter Lutz, Alison Robitaille, and Adrienne Sternlicht with the task of maintaining positive momentum. The U.S. has drawn second in the order and will compete in the following order.
Peter Lutz and Robin de Ponthual: Lutz (Goldens Bridge, N.Y.) will make his Nations Cup debut at CSIO4* Coapexpan and will partner with his 2016 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final horse, Robin de Ponthual. Lutz picked up seven top-10 grand prix finishes in 2016, including the $375,000 CP Grand Prix at the Spruce Meadows ‘Continental’ CSI5* Tournament in September with Katherine Gallagher and Michael Meller’s 2005 Selle Francais gelding.
Quentin Judge and HH Conrad: Judge (Wellington, Fla.) has been a part of several successful U.S. Nations Cup teams, including two team gold-medal efforts at CSIO5* Gijon, Spain, in 2014 and CSIO3* Bratislava, Slovakia, in 2013. He will look to add to his resume with Double H Farm’s HH Conrad. Judge and the 2005 Holsteiner stallion recently nabbed a fourth-place finish in the $380,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix during the Winter Equestrian Festival in March.
Adrienne Sternlicht and Cristalline: Sternlicht (Greenwich, Conn.) will sport the prestigious pink coat for her first time at CSIO4* Coapexpan. The up-and-comer will ride Cristalline, Starlight Farm LLC.’s Bavarian Warmblood mare, who led her to five top-10 placings in 2016. Most recently, the combination placed fourth in the $216,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Wellington CSI3*-W in February.
Alison Robitaille and Ace: Among her impressive list of accolades, Robitaille has over 20 Nations Cup appearances, a team silver medal in the 1999 Pan American Games, and was the top-placing American at the 1998 FEI World Equestrian Games. Ridland will look to this veteran experience when she teams up with Bertram and Diana Firestone’s Ace. After taking over the ride in April of last year, she and the 2005 KWPN gelding had top-10 finishes at the Palm Beach Masters and CSIO4* HITS Ocala in February.
FEI TV will live stream FEI Nations Cup™ CSIO4* Coapexpan Friday, May 5 beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Edited press release courtesy of: Classic Communications/USEF Communications Department
Photos: Peter Lutz and Robin de Ponthual (Claes Jakobsson, www.hastbilder.se),