Lexington, Ky. – A group of five standout, developing U.S. jumpers will take their teamwork and horsemanship skills to the next level when they compete at the FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Youth Final in Opglabbeek, Belgium, September 7-9. Chef d’Equipe Anne Kursinski will lead the U.S. team of Samantha Cohen, Ailish Cunniffe, Daisy Farish, Madison Goetzmann, and McKayla Langmeier, who will compete in the Young Rider section of the FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Youth Final. Together, they will attempt to add this inaugural team title to their growing list of early career honors. The U.S. has drawn sixth in the order of nine teams when the first of two rounds begins on Friday at SenTower Park. Based on the outcome of Friday’s first round competition, the team will advance to either Saturday’s ‘Challenge Cup’ round or Sunday’s Team Final, where top placings will be decided.
Meet the Team
Samantha Cohen from New York, N.Y., riding Billy Fanta, her 10-year-old Anglo European Studbook mare. Follow Cohen on Instagram (@sammycohenn). Cohen and Billy Fanta last competed at the 2018 Fontainebleau Grandprix Classic in July. They placed third in the Ladies Cup CSI3* during week one of the Knokke Hippique Summer Circuit in July, their second competition as a combination.
Career Highlights: Member of the Zone 2 gold medal-winning Young Riders team and individual silver medalist at the 2018 NAYC; four-time USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – East competitor (2014-2017)
Ailish Cunniffe from South Salem, N.Y., riding Baloucento 2, Whipstick Farm, Ltd.’s 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding. Follow Cunniffe on Instagram (@ailishcunniffe). Cunniffe and Baloucento 2 last competed at the 2018 Adequan® FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) presented by Gotham North in August where they were members of the Zone 2 gold medal-winning Young Riders team. They also had a successful 2018 winter circuit, where they placed second in the $35,000 Hermès U25 Grand Prix Semi-Final during week eight of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) preceded by placing third in the $25,000 Hermès U25 Grand Prix during week six of the WEF.
Career Highlights: Three-time NAYC competitor (2018, 2017, 2015), where she was also part of the 2017 Zone 2, 5, and 7 combined Young Riders gold-medal winning team; two-time USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – East competitor (2015 and 2014); 2013 U.S. Hunter Seat Medal Finals competitor
Daisy Farish from Versailles, Ky., riding Great White, her 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding. Follow Farish on Instagram (@daisyfarish). Farish and Great White recently placed second in the 2018 $40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix in August. Prior to this, they won individual gold in the 2018 NAYC Young Riders division. In addition, they placed third in the Kubota Cup at the Spruce Meadows ‘North American’ CSI5* presented by Rolex in July and won the Canadian Utilities U25 Winning Round at the Spruce Meadows ‘Pan American’ CSI5* presented by Rolex in June.
Career Highlights: Three-time NAYC competitor (2018, 2017, 2015), where she was also part of the 2015 Zone 5 silver medal-winning Junior team; member of the Zone 5 silver medal-winning team in the 2017 Neue Schule/USEF Prix des States Team Championship and Neue Schule/USEF National Junior Jumper Individual Champion; 2017 William C. Steinkraus Style of Riding Award recipient
Madison Goetzmann from Skaneateles, N.Y., riding Prestigious, her 11-year-old Westphalian gelding. Follow Goetzmann on Instagram (@maddygoetzmann). Goetzmann and Prestigious last competed at the 2018 Showplace End of Summer II in August. Previously, they were part of the Zone 2 gold medal-winning Young Riders team at the 2018 NAYC. In addition, they won the Sam Edelman Grand Prix CSI2* at the Longines Masters of New York in April. During week six of the 2018 WEF, they won the $10,000 Hermès U25 Welcome and $25,000 Hermès U25 Grand Prix.
Career Highlights: Two-time NAYC competitor (2018 and 2015); five-time USEF Show Jumping Talent Search – East competitor (2013-2017); 2017 $100,000 USEF U25 Show Jumping Reserve National Champion; 2017 ASPCA Maclay National Champion; member of the Zone 2 gold medal-winning team in the 2016 and 2015 Neue Schule/USEF Prix des States Team Championship and 2016 Neue Schule/USEF National Junior Jumper Reserve Individual Champion; member of several gold medal-winning U.S. Youth Nations Cup teams
McKayla Langmeier from East Granby, Conn., riding Durosa W, Linda Langmeier’s 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare. Follow Langmeier on Instagram (@mckaylalangmeier). Langmeier and Durosa W are fresh off an individual bronze medal in the Young Riders division at the 2018 NAYC. During the 2018 WEF circuit, they earned four top-10 placings.
Career Highlights: Two-time NAYC competitor (2018 and 2014), where she was part of the 2014 Zone 1 and 9 combined Juniors gold medal-winning team; six-time USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – East competitor (2012-2017), including being named the 2017 champion and 2015 reserve champion; member of the Zone 1 silver medal-winning team in the 2015 Neue Schule/USEF Prix des States Team Championship; 2015 ASPCA Maclay National Champion
Competition Information
The first round of the FEI Jumping Nations Cup CSIOY will begin at 11:30 a.m. EDT on Friday.
View the competition schedule and results.
Find out more about the FEI Jumping Nations Cup Youth Final.
The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.
