Charlotte Jumper Classic CSI****

Laura Kraut And Joyous Win $5,000 International Riders Competition

Wrapping up the afternoon’s competition, Laura Kraut, 39, of Oconomowoc, WI, riding Joyous for owner Summit Partners won the $5,000 International Riders Competition. Kraut topped a field of 31 horses, clocking in the fastest of seven clear trips over the one-round speed course. Kraut went fourth in the order, was the first to go clean, and set the unbeatable pace of 52.04 seconds. Candice King of Wellington, FL, riding Coco Cabana for Louiseberg Farm placed second, going clear in 55.20. Michael Morrissey of Palmetto, FL, aboard Dame for owner Simonetta Meisels placed third with his fault-free trip in 55.25.

Kraut called her win, “Very surprising. I was hoping I would stay in the top six. I didn’t anticipate that I would keep the lead.” While the rest of the field attempted to best Kraut’s time, with six more riders going clean, and three jumping clear but incurring time faults, none could catch Kraut’s time without fault. Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, NY, went as the 30th rider and beat Kraut’s time with her ride in 50.970 by almost two seconds, but she had the first element of the final jump down and ended up 12th.

Kraut noted that Madden’s ride could have easily bumped her out of the winner’s circle. “I had a very hard time getting from fence two to three, in fact I thought I would get beat because of that. She was reluctant to go through the gap – I think that’s why Beezie really had my time. I didn’t see her go but I knew I was beatable in that spot. But it seemed like once my mare got into the course, she stopped looking around at everything and focused on her job.”

Kraut noted that the most difficult factor of the course was not the time or the fences, but rather adjusting to the indoor space after competing in the large outdoor arenas of the Winter Equestrian Festival. She complimented course designer Steve Stephens on his use of the space – he set 11 fences with one double combination 11AB – and her mare’s ability to handle it. “He did a great job,” said Kraut. “It was a lot of turning. We’re used to being in fields to rely on the gallop and your momentum. In here you couldn’t really gather any momentum – it was just jump, turn, jump, turn. My mare is really good at kind of springing. She doesn’t need speed really to help her.” Joyous is a 10-year-old, bay Holsteiner mare that Kraut has had the ride on for two years.

The win was especially gratifying for Kraut, who felt like a hometown girl. “What’s most exciting for me is my whole family is here – my mother grew up here. Her sister and all my cousins live here. My cousin Marsha Teal got to see me today. I don’t know that she’s ever seen me ride in person, so I’m really excited to be here,” said Kraut, who was a member of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Team. “When I found out they were having a show in Charlotte I just couldn’t have been more excited to come.”