June 30, 2022 
On Thursday, the wheels didn’t turn in America’s favor during the highly anticipated Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup.
This time, it was Team Germany in the driver’s seat with the horsepower to overtake Belgium (second) and Great Britain (third) on the podium.
Full Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup results here.
Team USA consisted of Lillie Keenan, Adrienne Sternlicht, Chloe Reid and McLain Ward, who served as the afternoon’s drop score despite winning Wednesday’s Prize of Europe. The Americans landed sixth in the standings after collecting an uncharacteristic 27 points on course over the two rounds.
Trailing in seventh was the Netherlands on 29 points with Brazil in eighth on 39 points.
Despite the thunderous, 400,000 spectator-strong applause for Germany’s home win, the Americans didn’t let Europe rain on their parade. Just while they were on course. (It was stormy in Aachen this afternoon.)
That’s because earlier in the day, the North Americans were flashing FEI gold medals. The young ones, anyways.
Mimi Gochman (USA), Shannon Grubba, (CRC), Carlos Andrés Meany Morataya (GUA), Xaviera Maurer Buch (MEX) and Gabriela Maradiaga (HON) proved to be the shining hope North America needed in Aachen, winning the FEI Youth Equestrian Games 2022.
Full FEI Youth Equestrian Games results here.
In team competition the goal is to get as close to the near-mythic perfect score as possible. Most often, a results card will look like a golf sheet—with little numbers representing faults peppered throughout. Take the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup winners. Team Germany finished on a five point total. It was enough to win, but wasn’t a glimmering 0/0.
So you couldn’t possibly expect young riders to accomplish such a feat, right?
“Hold my soda,” they said.
And Team North America wasn’t the only team to put forth a zero-fault scorecard after two rounds. Team Europe and Team Africa also jumped two clean rounds over the 1.20m Frank Rothenberger (GER) designed course. This meant they each needed to elect a rider to jump-off.
North America selected 17-year-old Gochman, whose experience rivals that of many of her elders. Under the tutelage of Ken Burkley, Gochman is already jumping successfully at the 4* level. Earlier this month she placed third in the CSI4* 1.60m Sapphire Grand Prix at Devon with her 12-year-old mare Celina Bh. Last year, the pair jumped to team gold in the CSIOY NC-Y Final 1.45m in Kronenberg, Netherlands.
According to JUMPR App, Gochman has an impressive all around clear round rate of 51%, so it stands to reason the rising talent would be able to put down the fastest time. And she did, stopping the clock in 32.26 seconds with 10-year-old gelding Merino van de Achterhoek.
While the pressure was on Gochman in the jump-off, it was the efforts of every rider that clinched the championships for the North American Team—something to be celebrated together. How? By taking a traditional dip in open water. Those crazy kids!
Luckily, they were already drenched by the rain.
So, Europe, you might have got the Nations Cup this time, but the Americans say “enjoy it while it lasts.”
