Laura Kraut and her mount Baloutinue delivered an outstanding performance at the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen CSIO5*, finishing second after three clear rounds in one of the most prestigious events in international show jumping. The final competition concluded a successful week for the U.S. Jumping Team in Aachen, Germany.
Kraut (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) and Baloutinue, a 2010 Hanoverian gelding owned by St. Bride’s Farm and cared for by Margo Thomas, were faultless in both rounds to advance to the jump-off. Their final time of 52.41 seconds secured a strong second-place finish, just behind Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs and Leonie Jei. Fellow Swiss rider Steve Guerdat took third aboard Dynamix de Belheme.
“I’m very pleased with second place,” said Kraut. “With 11 of the fastest riders in the world in the jump-off, I knew it wouldn’t be easy. I stuck to my original plan and I’m thrilled with how Baloutinue performed. It’s been a fantastic week for the U.S. team.”
Three of the four U.S. combinations delivered clear rounds in the opener to qualify for round two. Alongside Kraut, Lillie Keenan (New York, N.Y.) and Fasther also advanced to the jump-off after two flawless rounds. Keenan ultimately placed sixth after a rail down in the jump-off—her third top-10 finish of the week. She was also honored with the Aachen Style Award, presented to the most stylish rider of the tournament.
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Kent Farrington (Wellington, Fla.) and Greya posted a clean first round before finishing with one rail down in round two, placing 15th overall. McLain Ward (Brewster, N.Y.) and Imperial HBF incurred four faults in round one, narrowly missing qualification for round two.
The U.S. Jumping Team wrapped up their Aachen campaign on a high note, showcasing strong performances throughout the competition.
