Team USA has momentum on its side after the Paris Games and they rode it to an Aga Khan Trophy win at Dublin Horse Show.
The Aga Khan trophy is awarded to the winner of the FEI Jumping Nations Cup of Ireland CSIO5*. It’s the third time the Americans have claimed it—at one time that three-peat would have won them the trophy outright.
Donated in 1926 by Aga Khan III, the Aga Khan trophy was originally awarded outright to a country that won the competition three times—a feat Switzerland achieved with wins in 1926, 1927 and 1930. From 1930 on, the rule was changed to three wins in succession. It has been won outright on five occasions, most recently (but not recently at all) by Ireland (1977–79), and on each occasion a new trophy was presented by the Aga Khan or his successor, Aga Khan IV.
This year it was Spencer Smith, Lucy Davis, Aaron Vale and McLain Ward that added Team USA to the coveted hardware. Drawing first in the order, the team finished on a team total of four faults.
Smith (28) and Keeneland started the team with a clear in both rounds of Alan Wade (IRL)’s course. In their two team appearances in 2024, they have delivered only clear rounds for the U.S.
Davis, a 2016 Olympic team silver medalist and making her first team appearance for the U.S. on Ben 341, followed suit with a clear in Round 1 and was on track to another in Round 2 when they nudged out the top rail of the final vertical on course to add four faults. Vale and Carissimo 25 also logged an 0/4.
Ward’s clutch clear in Round 2 on Callas clinched the win.
“They were unbelievable. No question. Spencer led off, McLain wrapped it up, and the other two were fantastic—the double clear of Spencer’s right from the get-go takes the pressure off everyone, which is a positive thing when everything is so competitive,” said chef d’equipe Robert Ridland.
“Lucy’s riding nearly like she was four years ago before she took a break from the sport—she fought her way back up to this level and the more she gets to know this horse the better the partnership will get.
“Aaron is so close to having everything nearly perfect with Carissimo, and you know McLain is McLain—he always comes through for us when we need him.
“There was a big momentum swing coming here after the Olympic Games and everyone really stepped up to the plate. This is a special event and it’s a Nations Cup like no other, so it feels good to win this again.”
Ireland took second on eight faults and Great Britain in third on team total of 12. Smith and Ward were two of six pairs to jump clear in both rounds.