Porto Alegre, Brazil – The U.S. jumped to a joint third place finish on Friday afternoon in Porto Alegre CSIO4*’s FEI Nations Cup. The team of Catherine Pasmore, Meghan Nusz, Derek Braun, and Kent Farrington completed the first round in third place on 13 faults and held their position in round two finishing on a total of 29 faults to tie with the team from Argentina. Finishing in first place was Brazil, with Venezuela collecting second place honors and Canada finishing in fifth.

Leading off the U.S. effort on Friday was Pasmore (Wellington, Fla.) and Pasmore Stables, LLC’s 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Bonanza Van Paemel. The combination jumped to a 13 fault effort in round one but rebounded in their second trip to add eight faults to the U.S. total.

Next up for the United States was Nusz (The Woodlands, Texas) and Dynamo, who completed the first round on four faults. In round two, Amalaya Investments’ 10-year-old Belgian gelding faulted twice to finish on a score of eight.

Braun (Wellington, Fla.) jumped in the third spot for the U.S. collecting just four faults in round one with Split Rock Farm Inc.’s 10-year-old Oldenburg mare, Cyraneiky. In the second round the combinations completed a 17 fault effort.

Farrington (Wellington, Fla.) was serving as both Chef d’Equipe and anchor rider for the United States. He produced two competitive trips with Haity McNerney’s nine-year-old KWPN mare Zafira to help the U.S. land a podium position. The pair produced four fault and clear efforts respectively in the first and second rounds.

By Helen Murray

To learn more about the Porto Alegre CSIO4*, visit: http://bestjump.com.br/.

Follow the 2013 U.S. Jumping Team here.

Lexington, Kentucky – The U.S. will be represented by four talented combinations this week in Porto Alegre CSIO4*’s FEI Nations Cup. Kent Farrington, Megan Nusz, Derek Braun, and Catherine Pasmore have traveled to Porto Alegre, Brazil with their sights set on a top finish in Friday’s competition. Additionally, Farrington will be doing double-duty over the weekend as he also serves as Chef d’Equipe.

Farrington (Wellington, Fla.) will use all of his international experience as he leads the U.S. team both in and out of the ring. The 2011 Pan American Games Team Gold medalist will ride Haity McNerney’s nine-year-old KWPN mare, Zafira, in Friday’s Nations Cup. The pair head into the weekend on top form, having won the FTI Consulting Grand Prix at the Hampton Classic in September.

Nusz (The Woodlands, Texas) will be looking for her second Nations Cup win of 2013 after being part of the victorious U.S. team at the CSIO3* Bratislava Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup. In Brazil, she will again ride Amalaya Investments’ 10-year-old Belgian gelding, Dynamo. They were one of the few combinations to produce a clear effort in Bratislava and look to repeat that feat on Friday.

Braun (Wellington, Fla.) is a well-known competitor throughout the U.S. and looks to make a splash this week in Brazil. Having spent most of the summer jumping in Kentucky, Braun’s final preparation for Porto Alegre’s Nations Cup came at the Hampton Classic and American Gold Cup. He has brought Split Rock Farm Inc.’s 10-year-old Oldenburg mare, Cyraneiky, to Brazil.

At only 21 years old, Pasmore (Wellington, Fla.) is already a Nations Cup veteran and has twice helped the U.S. to earn the top podium position. In November of 2012, she helped the U.S. cruise to victory in Buenos Aires and was a member of the winning team in Bratislava alongside Nusz. On Friday, Pasmore will ride Pasmore Stables, LLC’s 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Bonanza Van Paemel.

By Helen Murray

To learn more about the Porto Alegre CSIO4*, visit: http://bestjump.com.br/.

Follow the 2013 U.S. Jumping Team here.