Team USA Claims Gold at World Equestrian Games, Led By 18-Year-Old!
Cade McCutcheon shows Custom Made Gun at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games. (Photo by @Sportfot)
FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018
Tryon, North Carolina – The United States underlined its domination of the team reining competition September 12 by taking team gold at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018.
The American team, led by the brilliant 18-year-old Cade McCutcheon on his grandfather’s horse, Custom Made Gun, claimed a comprehensive victory from Belgium in second and third-placed Germany. Team USA claimed the crown on a team score of 681 points.
Belgium, meanwhile, completed a hat trick of silver medals, while Germany’s bronze was a reining first at WEG.
For Cade, who was joined in the team by Casey Deary, Daniel L Huss and Jordan Larson, it continued the family’s remarkable connection to WEG success, given that his father won individual gold in 2010 and his mother, Mandy, claimed silver four years ago. Both parents have also earned team golds.
“I was real nervous, but all the guys really helped me and that made a huge difference,” Cade said. “My grandfather owns my horse and he’s trained it as well. He is a pretty good owner to work for.”
Custom Made Gun is a 2011 palomino gelding by Colonels Smoking Gun and out of Custom Made Dunit by Hollywood Dun It. He was bred and is owned by McQuay Stables of Tioga, Texas.
“Cade did an amazing job,” Casey said. “He showed all that he had, and we are all extremely proud of the job he did.”
Reflecting on another second-placed finish, Belgium’s Bernard Fonck said, “I think everybody did everything that they could do with their horses and although it was a strong competition, I think Belgium was also pretty strong.”
With the crowd adding to a memorable atmosphere by getting fully involved in the action, there was also plenty for Germany to celebrate as the team completed the podium places.
Team USA claims the first gold medal of the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games. (Photo by @Sportfot)
“This is the fifth WEG I have been a competitor at,” said Grischa Ludwig. “All the other competitions we’ve always been fourth and fifth. We’ve been beaten so many times by a half point and one point and now we’ve beaten the others (Austria) by a half point, which makes this feel even sweeter.
“I did not think that it takes five FEI World Equestrian Games to get a medal! But in the end, we really deserve it. This team really deserved it. We’ve been consistent. We had no low score, and we were really fighting for the medal.”
In the team competition, Austria finished fourth and Brazil fifth. Italy and France tied for sixth, Australia was eight, Netherlands was ninth and Canada was 10th.
The individual competition is September 15.
