Laura Kraut and Beezie Madden named to show jumping long list for 2012 Olympics

Laura Kraut and Cedric, shown here at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, have joined their 2008 Olympic teammates Beezie Madden and McLain Ward the long list for the 2012 Olympics. Photo: Leslie Potter

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Ad Hoc Committee on Selection has approved naming both Laura Kraut on Cedric and Beezie Madden on Coral Reef Via Volo to the Show Jumping Long List for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

The USEF Selectors, in consultation with Chef d’Equipe George Morris and Team Veterinarian Dr. Tim Ober, voted unanimously to name Kraut and Madden, on Cherry Knoll Farm’s Cedric and Coral Reef Ranch’s Coral Reef Via Volo respectively to the Show Jumping Long List for the 2012 Olympic Games at this time.

Veteran rider McLain Ward had been named to the long list with both Sapphire and Antares F. Ward has been unable to compete since January due to an injury sustained during competition.

Per the USEF Selection Procedure for the US Show Jumping Team, the Selectors have the discretion to recommend up to five athlete/horse combinations for the Long List before the conclusion of the Selection Trials. The USEF Selection Procedure for the 2012 Olympic Games Show Jumping Team provides the following language for Discretionary Selection:

An athlete/horse combination named subjectively to the Long List may or may not have completed one or more of the Selection Trials. The Selectors will subjectively rank any discretionary positions within the Final Overall Standings of the Selection Trials.

At the conclusion of the selection trials, athlete/horse combinations will be named to the Long List according to their ranking in the Trials in addition to athlete/horse combinations named through discretionary selection. The Selection Trials run March 21-24, 2012 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL in conjunction with the USEF National Show Jumping Championship.