U.S. team of Lillie Keenan, Laura Kraut, Aaron Vale and McLain Ward to defend in Ocala

Details: March 4, 2026; By Staff Writers

LEXINGTON, Ky.--US Equestrian announced the riders selected to represent the U.S. Jumping Team at the Longines League of Nations™ Ocala CSIO5*-LLN in Ocala, Fla., at the World Equestrian Center from March 17-22.

U.S teamfor Ocala The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland and Team Leader Lizzy Chesson.

The FEI also announced the riders for the other nine teams.

The following riders have been named to the U.S. Jumping Team and are listed in alphabetical order:

Lillie Keenan of New York, N.Y.

Laura Kraut of Royal Palm Beach, Fla.

Aaron Vale of Williston, Fla.

McLain Ward of Brewster, N.Y.

The competition will begin on Wednesday, March 18, and conclude on Saturday, March 21.

The $350,000 Grand Prix CSIO5* will take place on Thursday, March 19, at 7:30 p.m. ET, while the highlight event, the League of Nations CSIO5* team competition, will take place on Saturday, March 21, with round one beginning at 5:15 p.m. ET.

The competition includes the top 10 teams from around the globe with fields of four-athlete teams, and the best three scores will count from the first round.

FOR THE second round, the best eight teams return with three riders, selected by each team’s Chef d’Equipe starting in reverse order of standing after the first round.

The final placings are determined by the combined penalties of each team’s three best athlete scores in the first round and all of the team’s three athlete scores in the second round.

The Longines League of Nations Ocala CSIO5*-LLN will be streamed on FEI.TV. US Equestrian competing members, subscribers, and fans receive a 10% discount on a ClipMyHorse.TV Premium Subscription.

France won the first fimpetitionin Abu Dhabi.

For France, Chef d’Equipe Edouard Coupérie has Olympic Team gold medallist Kevin Staut, Olivier Robert and Nina Mallevaey, while Marie Demonte s makes her Longines League of Nations™ debut.

For Ireland, newly appointed Chef d’Equipe Jessica Kürten has selected Bertram Allen, Cian O’Connor and Shane Sweetnam, while Tom Wachman, winner of the Longines FEI Rising Star Award in 2025, adds a next-generation edge to a seasoned squad.

Second in leg one, Germany will have chef d'equipe Otto Becker’s teamof reigning Olympic champion Christian Kukuk, current FEI Jumping European champion Richard Vogel and former title-holder André Thieme with René Dittmer.

Brazil, third three weeks ago, has Pedro Junqueira Muylaert and first-timers Stephanie Macieira and Eduardo Pereira de Menezes, with Rodrigo Pessoa.

For Netherlands, chef d'equipe Wout-Jan van der Schans chose League of Nations debutants Michael Greeve and Jelmer Hoekstra with Kevin Jochems and Sanne Thijssen.

Switzerland chef d’equipe Peter van der Waaij has Dominik Fuhrer, Beat Mändli, Edouard Schmitz and Barbara Schnieper.

Great Britain chef d’equipe Di Lampard has Donald and Jack Whitaker, along with 2025 FEI Jumping European Championship team rider Jessica Mendoza and Joseph Stockdale.

For Italy, chef d’equipe Marco Bergomi has Piergiorgio Bucci, Emanuele Camilli, Riccardo Pisani and Giacomo Casadei.

Belgium's chef d'equpe Peter Weinberg seleced European gold medallist Nicola Philippaerts, Emilie Conter, Roy Van Beek and Annelies Vorsselmans.

After Abu Dhabi. France leads with 100 points, followed by Germany on 90 points and Brazil on 80 points, with Switzerland on 70, Ireland 60, Great Britain 55, USA 50, Italy 45, Belgium 40 and the Netherlands 35.