VideoThe Icon Global U.S. Jumping Team moved into second place after Day 2 at the FEI Jumping World Championships in Aachen, Germany, holding steady on 4.85 penalties as the host nation, Germany, stayed perfect atop the leaderboard on 3.48.
Laura Kraut (Baloutinue), Lillie Keenan (Fasther) and Katie Dinan (Out of the Blue SCF) all turned in clear rounds Thursday to anchor the team on 4.85 penalties, just 1.37 behind leader Germany’s 3.48, while McLain Ward (High Star Hero) was the day’s drop score after picking up a single rail on course.
Unlike in Wednesday’s speed test, today there was no race against the clock. This time, the priority was to leave the poles in their cups and secure a place among the top 10 nations and 60 best-placed riders advancing to the next round.
Germany did exactly that, adding nothing to its overnight score to remain on 3.48 penalties, ahead of the U.S., with Belgium and Italy tied for third on 7.69. Germany, the U.S., Belgium, Italy, Great Britain, France, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark and Ireland all made the cut for Friday’s team medal decider.
Individually, Great Britain’s Scott Brash, aboard Hello Mango, moved into first place after another clear round to remain on 0.80 penalties. Sophie Hinners (Germany) sits second with Iron Dames Singclair on 0.84, while Steve Guerdat (Switzerland), riding Dynamix de Belheme, and Daniel Deusser, on Otello de Guldenboom, share third on 0.86.
Course designer Frank Rothenberger of Germany turned up the technical pressure with a winding 13-obstacle track featuring 16 jumping efforts, a time allowed of 84 seconds, and the first triple combination of the week.
Forty-nine combinations left every fence standing, but faults throughout the field showed just how quickly fortunes could change. See team and individual results here.
German chef d’equipe Otto Becker knows there is little room for error. “So far, so good,” he said. “All four horses jumped very, very well. But as we always say, the other nations are very close, so you’d better have no faults.”
Germany Delivers Again
Germany entered the day in pole position and gave the home crowd plenty to celebrate, with Marcus Ehning (Coolio 42), Sophie Hinners (Iron Dames Singclair), Daniel Deusser (Otello de Guldenboom) and Richard Vogel (United Touch S) all jumping clear to add nothing to their overnight total.
Hinners, who also sits second individually, adjusted her tactics from Wednesday’s speed test to produce another faultless performance. “Yesterday we tried to be as quick as possible without rushing him,” she said. “Today we went back to our usual plan and added a stride here and there, because I think that’s the way we get the best jump.”
The 11-year-old gelding may be small in stature, but his ability continues to belie his size. “He’s very special to me. He’s quite small and quite short, and then he just goes in and jumps a track like this and makes it look easy,” Hinners said. “He always comes into the arena wanting to do his best and is always fighting for me.”
US Moves Up
Kraut again served as the squad’s trailblazer on Baloutinue, a gelding owned by St. Bride’s Farm Inc. and cared for by Alex Tyler-Morris.
“I am just thrilled again,” said Kraut. “Baloutinue is just the horse of a lifetime. He didn’t know he was going to be doing these world games—he was my reserve—and he’s come in and just been unbelievable. I couldn’t have asked more of him today. He was perfect.”
Both Keenan and Kraut jumped two pivotal clear rounds in as many days for their team.
“Fasther jumped fantastic today,” said Keenan of her partner, owned by Chansonette Farm, LLC and cared for by Anna Halász. “We were eager to secure three clear rounds today, and it was great that we could do it with our first three riders. He is the type of horse that knows when it’s a big moment.”
Dinan came back from an eight-fault round a day earlier to post a high-stakes clear aboard Out of the Blue SCF, a mare owned by Grant Road Partners LLC and cared for by Lou Beudin.
“My horse has been great the whole time, but I made riding mistakes yesterday, so I am thrilled I could come back today and deliver a clear round for the USA,” said Dinan. “I knew after we jumped the first two jumps that she was right there with me. I just needed to give her the guidance she deserves, and I felt like we were both fighting for the clear round.”
One rail fell late in the course for Ward and Michael Smith’s High Star Hero, cared for by Caroline Holmberg. The faults earned as a result were erased as the team’s drop score, leaving them on zero added today, ahead of Friday’s final.
Brash Breaks Through
Brash and Hello Mango delivered another textbook clear round today, while overnight leader Julien Epaillard (France) and Fringan de Vesquerie had two rails down and slipped to 64th, showing just how quickly fortunes can change.
For Brash, it was another performance to savor.
“I’m delighted with Mango. I thought she jumped incredible,” he said. “She felt a little bit more tense in the warm-up today because there was more atmosphere, but when she went in the ring she was absolutely fantastic.”
The clear round also helped Great Britain secure its place in Friday’s team final, but Brash is taking nothing for granted. “It’s amazing, but I’m under no illusions,” he said. “There’s a long way to go, a lot of jumping to go and a lot of big tests to come. We’ll take one day at a time.”
Family Affair
For Norway, Thursday brought a milestone of another kind. Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen (Equine America Harwich VDL) produced Norway’s first clear round of the day while competing alongside his father, Geir Gulliksen (Island V G).
It is only the fifth time a father and son have competed together on a team at a World Championship, with the Gulliksens becoming just the third pairing to do so. “We are a proud riding family, and to be here with the team and family means a lot,” Johan-Sebastian said.
The clear round, on his FEI Jumping World Championship debut, also secured his place among the 60 best-placed riders progressing to Friday’s competition.
Geir admitted watching his children brings more nerves than riding himself. “I’m not nervous when I’m riding, but when he goes, you cannot do anything,” he said. “It’s like sitting next to a driver who is going fast. If you drive yourself, it’s fine.”
Having first competed in Aachen 41 years ago, seeing the next generation continue the family’s passion for the sport is especially meaningful to him. “I just love competing,” he added. “It’s so nice to have two kids who can compete at this level. Today he rode super, the horse jumped well and I’m very happy.”
Final Countdown
With the top 10 nations and 60 best-placed riders set to return tomorrow, the field has narrowed and the pressure intensified. Friday brings another dimension as the championship moves under lights in the iconic main stadium for the team medal showdown.
Competition continues at 6:50 p.m. local time (12:50 p.m. Eastern) Friday. There the team medals will be decided and the individual contenders will move one step closer to Sunday’s individual title.
For More:
- See results, orders of go, and more.
- Read more of our coverage from the 2026 FEI World Championships held in Aachen, Germany, from Aug. 11–23, here.