October 6, 2023 
Team USA has one final chance to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics this month at the 2023 Santiago Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. And they’re not taking any chances.
With three Olympic qualification spots available to the three highest-placed and previously non-qualified teams and USA, Canada and Mexico all looking to to secure their spot, American chef d’equipe Robert Ridland has pinned USA’s hopes on a veteran field. He’s tapped world no. 7 Kent Farrington, world no. 8 McLain Ward and the world’s top ranked female rider, world no. 22 Laura Kraut, along with rising star Karl Cook for the Pan Ams.
Here’s what their stats say:
Karl Cook and Caracole de la Roque
A relatively new partnership, Karl Cook and the 2014 Selle Français mare jumped to their first 5* Grand Prix win in the American Gold Cup in September with a spectacularly speedy jump off round. Cook says she’s “the fastest horse I’ve sat on, by far” and that’s coming from a rider with Kalinka van’t Zorgvliet in his string. Caracole de la Roque was previously campaigned by France’s Julien Epaillard up to the 1.65m height, but has made just one 1.55m and 1.60m international appearance, each, with Cook in the irons. They jumped clear in both. At 1.50m, they boast an 83% clear round average over six rounds, according to Jumpr App.
Kent Farrington and Landon
In 25 rounds at 1.60m, Kent Farrington and Landon finish in the top 10 at a 76% clip (Jumpr App). Suffice it to say, the clear round odds are in their favor. The 2013 Zangersheide gelding has made multiple Nations Cup appearances, earning podium finishes for Team USA at Thunderbird Show Park, Canada (0/8) and San Miguel de Allende, MEX (4/0) this year. They’ve also jumped double clear in 5* Grands Prix in Wellington, FL, San Miguel de Allende, MX and Spruce Meadows, CA, this season, but have been on a podium dry spell since July. Hopefully, they’ll be in fighting form for Chile.
Laura Kraut and Dorado 212
Dorado 212 is the least experienced horse on the U.S. team but is coming off a strong performance at the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona last month, jumping 4/1. They were the only pair on the American team to leave all the poles in place on the final day of competition. Kraut and 2013 Oldenburg gelding were also part of the winning Nations Cup team at San Juan Capistrano, CA where they jumped 4/0. At 6%, Dorado 212 has a low clear round average at 1.60m, according to Jumpr App. But the gelding rarely pulls more than a rail, posting four faults or less 69% of the time at the height.
McLain Ward and Contagious
With over a million euro in career earnings and 62% clear round and top 10 finish averages at 1.60m height (Jumpr App), Contagious and McLain Ward are a championship tested partnership. The 2009 Deutches Springferd gelding was Ward’s partner at the Tokyo Olympic Games where they helped the team to a silver medal. This season, the pair delivered a double clear in their one Nations Cup appearance for USA in San Juan Capistrano, CA and jumped to a second place finish in a 4* Grand Prix in Saugerites, NY last month. At 14, the gelding is still in his prime and primed to perform in Santiago.
Lillie Keenan and 2010 Selle Français gelding Argan de Beliard are the travelling reserve.
Jumping competition at the 2023 Pan American Games begins on October 31.
