American and Olympic rider Laura Kraut received the Whitney Stone award last weekend at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington.
This award is presented each year to a rider whose consistent excellence in international competitions and whose standard of sportsmanship and contributions as an ambassador for the sport exemplify the highest ideals and traditions of the American equestrian team.
“The Whitney Stone Cup is something that I’ve known about forever,” commented Kraut. “I have watched some of the people that I most admire in our sport win it, so to be that person and to be given this award is humbling. I’ve never thought of myself as being the person receiving the awards, so it’s really gratifying.
Notably, in 2021, Kraut represented the United States on several Nations Cup teams, as well as at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, where Kraut and Baloutinue, a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by St. Bride’s Farm, helped the U.S. earn its second consecutive Olympic team silver medal. After a successful summer, Kraut and her Olympic mount were selected to be the anchor combination of the NetJets® U.S. Jumping Team at the Mercedes Benz Nations Cup CSIO5* in Aachen, Germany. The pair’s efforts helped the U.S. earn the victory for the first time since 2005.
In addition to focusing on her own goals, Kraut is dedicated to working with and mentoring younger generations of riders in an effort to help them successfully represent the U.S. on the greatest international stages.
“I have absolutely loved being a part of U.S. equestrian teams, and I’m passionate about inspiring young riders to do it as well,” said Kraut. “It’s important for me that the U.S. stays at the forefront of the sport worldwide. It’s been a lot of fun to be a part of a rider’s first-time experience on a team. For example, this year in Aachen, to ride on the team with essentially all young riders, and to be there with them for that experience, was as much fun as the first time that I went.”
The Whitney Stone Cup, which was presented to the Team by the Officers and Directors of the USET Foundation, is given in honor of the late Whitney Stone who served as President and Chairman of the Board of the USET, and who was instrumental in the creation of a civilian team when the Army retired from competitive horse sports after 1948.
Source: USET Foundation
