During the 24-year history of the event at WEF, the U.S. last won in 2021. Teams from Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Israel, Mexico and Venezuela joined the home nation in the opening round with the top eight teams returning for round two. After a disappointing first round, Israel did not advance.

Heading into the second round, Natalie Dean on Marigold Sporthorses’ Acota M, Carly Anthony riding Heavenly W for owner Portfolio Horses, Charlotte Jacobs aboard Playboy JT Z owned by North Star and Laura Kraut in the irons of St. Brides Farm’s Tres Bien Z were the only ones sitting on a score of zero after three clear rounds.

Ireland on four, Belgium with nine and Canada holding on with 10 faults remained in the hunt between rounds. 

Returning to again impress over tracks built by USA’s Nick Garant and Steve Stephens, the up-and-coming members of the all-female U.S. team—Anthony (34), Jacobs (30) and Dean (25)—kept the team on five faults after a rail from Dean and time fault from Jacobs. In the end, the effort was enough to seal the victory and prevent anchor rider Kraut from needing to return in the second round.

“Very rarely does the anchor rider on any winning team get to sit it out,” said Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland, who recently announced he will continue in the role through 2028. “We put together a team that we felt was very competitive; that's the number-one thing. With this Nations Cup in particular, it has always been an opportunity for the up-and-coming—whether it's horses or a rider.”

Finishing on a total of 12, Ireland took second and Belgium third with 17 faults. 

Making her senior team debut, Anthony posted the only double-clear of the day for the U.S. and gave all credit to her 2012 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Calvaro F.C. x Quidam de Revel)—Heavenly W. 

“We wouldn't be here without the horses, so I definitely owe everything to Heavenly and to my team that supports me every day to be able to achieve this incredible opportunity and goal,” she said. 

Dean used the experience of Acota M, a 2013 Oldenburg mare (Toulon x Quattro 7), to start the team off right on a clear. “She’s a super special horse for me. I've had her for four years now, and I've jumped all over the world with her. She's just an incredible athlete. To me, she's a pony but she jumps the biggest classes in the world and I'm thrilled to win this one.”

For Jacobs, the win is a step towards big things to come. “I would love to jump for another Nations Cup or two this year. I think my horse is really good with this format. I thought he actually got better in the second round,” she said of Playboy JT Z, a 2015 Zangersheide gelding (Presley Boy x Plot Blue). “Hopefully there's a few opportunities for me over the summer. He’s still only ten so these are still stepping stones that can build him up to some day jumping some of the biggest Nations Cups in the world.”

In her ninetieth Nations Cup appearance for the U.S., Kraut was mounted on a still inexperienced Tres Bien Z—2015 Zangersheide gelding (Toulon x Nabab de Reve). 

“This was the nicest anchoring I've ever had to do,” she joked. “From the beginning when Robert told me who the team was, I was really pumped. These three amazing riders. Have been on fire for a while now, not just recently but for years. The way they rode the first round, it was textbook. I think building towards the Los Angeles Olympics we have three exciting young girls here that I think have a strong chance if things go right.