Meet US Olympic Show Jumper Laura Kraut And Cedric

July 25, 2008

A show jumping team I’ll definitely be watching at the Olympics in a few weeks is Laura Kraut and Cedric. She’s quite a woman; besides her impressive show jumping career, she’s a great sportsman and horsewoman.

Background

One of the reasons I like Laura Kraut so much is that she has a story that resonates with mine. Her mother was an avid horsewoman and, like me, she’s been on horseback for as long as she can remember. There is definitely something genetic about a love for horses. Laura says, “My mother loved horses and she taught my sister and me to ride.” (The similarities end there, as obviously I’m not on the 2008 Olympic equestrian team :-)) When she was 12, Laura started riding for a group of trainers in Atlanta who needed someone to ride their ponies. She stayed with them for the next seven years, during which they sponsored her junior career.

After some decent showings in the 1980s, Laura finally hit it big in 1992 when she and Simba Run were selected as alternates for the Olympic Games in Barcelona. And in 1993 the pair placed in an impressive 12 Grand Prixs. In 1994 they represented the US at the World Cup Finals, going on from there to win several major competitions over the next few years.

Laura made her official Olympic debut in 2000 with Liberty as a member of the all-women US team. In 2006 she was a member of the show jumping team that won silver at Worlds. Kraut has competed in five world cups, among her best results were a fifth place finish in 2003 and a 16th place finish in 2006, both aboard Dutch gelding Anthem.

Kraut serves on the AHSA Board of Directors and is active in the AHSA Jumper Committee. Additionally, she is a popular coach stressing to her students that horsemanship is fun. Laura and husband Bob have a son named Bobby, who is also learning to ride from his mom. She says watching her son ride helps her to remember how exciting the sport can be: “He’s just starting to build confidence and figure out walk, trot, cantering and steering,” she says. “And that is fun to watch.”

A Horse of a Lifetime

Laura first encountered Cedric three years ago, while she was on an international circuit in Europe. “I was bored at a show in Belgium and I turned around to watch some of the younger horses,” she said. “I watched him jump about six jumps and I immediately fell in love with him.”

She bought him the next day.

“He’s a little zany,” she said. “But we’ve always gotten along. It’s been nice to grow up with him.”

Cedric started at bottom of a string of three horses Laura was pointing towards the Olympics. Then, in February 2008 Kraut won second place riding Cedric in the WEF Challenge Cup, the first of five United States Show Jumping Team Selection Trials for the 2008 Olympic Games. That set the tone for the next several months, until they were recently officially named to the Olympic team.

Laura Kraut introduces Cedric (class clown video)

Exclusive Summer Olympics news & widgets at NBC Olympics.com!

Awarded For Sportsmanship

In 2003, Laura was recognized for her long-time reputation of great sportsmanship with the United States Olympic Committee’s Jack Kelly Fair Play Award. The award was instituted in honor of USOC President John B. (Jack) Kelly Jr. and is presented to an athlete, coach or official for an outstanding act of fair play or sportsmanship during the past year.

That year, while in the Dominican Republic as a member of the USET show jumping squad at the Pan American Games, Kraut’s horse developed a slight injury. Although it wasn’t serious enough to fail a veterinary inspection, there was a possibility that its condition could impact the U.S. team’s chance to win the competition. Knowing that the team needed a top performance in order to qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games, Kraut put her team first and stepped aside. Instead of packing her bags and heading home, she decided it was important to stay and support her teammates by finding other ways to contribute. Laura’s dedication to her team was rewarded when the U.S. won the gold medal and secured a spot in the show jumping event at the Athens Olympic Games.