U.S. Eventing Team Takes Silver at FEI Nations Cup Arville; Lauren Nicholson Wins Individual Gold

The Defender U.S. Eventing Team delivered a strong performance at the FEI Eventing Nations Cup Arville CCIO4*-NC-S, securing the team silver medal with a final score of 112.7. Leading the charge, Lauren Nicholson and Larcot Z topped a competitive field of 103 entries to claim individual gold, finishing on a score of 31.7—the pair’s second CCI4* victory together.

“There was a lot of excellent work that went into this result,” said Chef d’Equipe Leslie Law. “We had four strong cross-country rounds and stayed on the podium, which is always our goal. Lauren rode with style all week—it was a well-earned win. And it’s great to see athletes from our Development Program stepping up at this level.”

Strong Dressage Start

All four U.S. team combinations delivered consistent tests in the dressage phase:

• Lauren Nicholson (The Plains, Va.) & Larcot Z – 28.5

• Cosby Green (Lexington, Ky.) & Clever Louis – 31.2

• Caroline Pamukcu (Springfield, Pa.) & She’s The One – 31.8

• Cassie Sanger (Wilmington, Del.) & Redfield Fyre – 36.9

Nicholson’s leading dressage score set the tone for the weekend.

Cross-Country Excellence

All U.S. riders delivered confident rounds over the challenging cross-country course:

• Sanger and Redfield Fyre opened for the team with a smooth round and just 4.4 time penalties.

• Nicholson and Larcot Z added 3.2 time penalties, showcasing their growing partnership.

• Pamukcu and She’s The One nearly hit the optimum time, incurring just 0.4 penalties.

• Green and Clever Louis were the only U.S. pair to finish clear inside the time, putting the team in medal contention heading into the final phase.

Show Jumping Seals Silver

Three U.S. riders moved on to the show jumping round:

• Nicholson delivered a faultless round to secure the individual victory.

• Green and Clever Louis also jumped clear, finishing 9th overall on 36.4.

• Pamukcu and She’s The One ended the weekend in 19th place, with a final score of 44.6.

The U.S. team’s performance in Arville marked its third consecutive silver medal of the 2025 Nations Cup season.

“I love competing on teams—it’s one of the most enjoyable parts of the sport for me,” Nicholson said. “I had my eye on this event as a key moment for Larcot Z, and he handled everything brilliantly. I’m thrilled for Mrs. Mars and our whole team. There’s a lot of belief in this horse.”

Final Team Standings:

• Gold: Germany – 104.1

• Silver: USA – 112.7

• Bronze: Australia – 131.0