Team USA claimed its first-ever victory in the Longines League of Nations™ by winning the second leg of the 2025 series, held in Ocala, Florida, in front of 8,000 cheering spectators. Led by Robert Ridland, the combinations of Lillie Keenan with Argan de Beliard, Aaron Vale with Carissimo 25, Laura Kraut with Dorado 212, and McLain Ward with Ilex delivered top-class performances to narrowly edge out Germany, who finished second with just one more penalty.
The technical course designed by Alan Wade challenged all ten participating nations, with the Longines combination and the vertical-oxer double proving particularly demanding. The USA took the lead after round one with three clear rounds and held on through a no-discard second round format.
In a dramatic finish, McLain Ward clinched the win with a flawless final round aboard Ilex. He and Keenan, along with Germany’s Christian Kukuk on Just Be Gentle and Sophie Hinners on Iron Dames Singclair, were the only riders to achieve double clears. Notably, Hinners remains faultless across both legs of the 2025 series.
After Ocala, Germany and Ireland top the overall standings with 170 points each, followed by France and the USA. The next leg takes place in Rotterdam in June, as teams vie for a place in the Final in Barcelona.