Germany Claims $770,000 Longines League of Nations™ Ocala CSIO5*-LLN

Germany claimed a thrilling victory in the $770,000 Longines League of Nations™ Ocala CSIO5*-LLN, the feature event held Saturday, March 21, at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC) in Ocala, FL.

Excitement built throughout the week as 10 teams prepared to battle it out for supremacy in the two-round Longines League of Nations™ Ocala. The sold-out crowd witnessed several stunning moments of top sport, including the defending title holders, the United States, not making it through to the second round held under the lights.  With 10 countries starting and only the best eight returning, it was Switzerland and the United States that failed to make the cut.

Ireland was in the driver’s seat on a score of zero after the first round with Netherlands breathing down their neck carrying a single time fault. Germany and Belgium were tied on four faults apiece while Great Britain was further adrift with nine faults. France, Brazil, and Italy remained in the game with scores of 12, 18, and 20, respectively.

Course designer Alan Wade (IRL) set a masterful track that saw rails fall throughout the WEC Grand Arena; only the first fence stayed in its cups throughout the two-round competition. The second-round course mirrored the first, but that’s where the similarities between the two rounds ended. With only three riders returning for each team and all scores counting, the pressure was immense and the atmosphere electric.

Cian O’Connor riding Chatolinue PS and Shane Sweetnam aboard James Kann Cruz both jumped double clear for Ireland, but saw victory slip from their grasp when they could not erase the eight faults incurred by Bertram Allen and Qonquest de Rigo.

Meanwhile, things unraveled for the Dutch team when it was forced to count the 20 faults posted by Kevin Jochems and Camilla van de Helle, eventually dropping the Netherlands down to fifth in the final standings with a total of 31 faults.

While other teams faltered, Germany proved its supremacy by putting three clear rounds on the scoreboard. With only the four faults carried forward from the first round, Germany claimed a decisive victory over Ireland with eight faults and Belgium with 12 faults. Great Britain took fourth with 21 faults.

Richard Vogel and the impressive Cloudio, a 12-year-old Holsteiner stallion (Casall x San Patrignano Cassini) sealed the deal for Germany as the anchor rider.

“I have great teammates here,” said Vogel of Andre Thieme riding DSP Chakaria, Rene Dittmer with Corsica X, and Christian Kukuk and Checker 47. “They did a really good job. I went in almost in a bit of a comfortable situation, having one rail to give. In this format, it makes it very exciting. Anything could happen, as we saw in the second round. I’m very proud of my horse, Cloudio. He came over from Europe for the Nations Cup; I just met him here, and he delivered double clear. I couldn’t be happier with him.”

Having won the $350,000 J.P. Morgan Grand Prix CSIO5*-LLN on Thursday evening riding Paule S, Thieme brought DSP Chakaria out for the Longines League of Nations™ Ocala. At 16 years of age, the mare has already enjoyed an illustrious career, including winning the title of European Champion in 2021, and proved she still has more to give.

“I was a little sad about my rail in the first round, but the way it felt was so incredible that I should have been happy with the first round,” said Thieme, whose support team worked hard to bring DSP Chakaria back from an injury. “Now, I’m even happier that I got a second chance today and I was able to deliver that clear round. It means everything to me that this horse is back. A horse like her isn’t born every day.”

There was only a feeling of happiness for German Chef d’Equipe Otto Becker, whose own show jumping career included Olympic team gold (2000) and team bronze (2004) medals with the legendary Cento.

“What a week, what a team!” said Becker. “I have no words. We had a great week and to win the Nations Cup today means a lot to me. I’m very proud. A big ‘thank you’ to the Roberts family, to the organizers, to Longines, to the sponsors, and special words for the course builder; it was a fantastic course. I appreciate what we saw today and thought it was great advertising for the sport.”

Reigning Olympic champions Kukuk and Checker 49, a 16-year-old Westphalian gelding (Comme Il Faut x Come On), had been out of the ring for several months and made their first show of the 2026 season a winning one.

“The last show I had with him was in December, so I wasn't really riding him for three months,” said Kukuk, who credited his former employer with keeping the horse in shape. “I have to give a huge ‘thank you’ to Ludger Beerbaum and his team in Riesenbeck because they kept him fit. He was just on the spot, in perfect shape. I had a smile on my face today.

“There are no complaints from our side,” continued Kukuk. “It was really great sport. Again, it proved that this format is so exciting. I really have to say, he’s 16, but I can’t feel any difference from two or three years ago. He feels so fresh. I think, especially the second round, he showed all of us how much he enjoys the sport.”

Dittmer, who was making his Longines League of Nations™ debut, added, “I'm really thankful to be on a team like this, with riders who have achieved so much. It’s an unbelievable feeling to win here.”

Vogel summed up the general feeling among the competitors when speaking of the opportunity to compete at WEC – Ocala.

“We really love to come here and use this incredible facility every opportunity we have,” noted the number four-ranked rider in the world. “For our horses, for our staff, and for us riders, we couldn’t wish for anything more. The jump material is amazing. We have enough arenas to work our horses. The stabling is perfect. There are not enough positive words to describe this facility. I’m very thankful to be able to come here.”

Ocala serves as the second of five stops on the prestigious Longines League of Nations™ tour and is the only event held in North America. Abu Dhabi (UAE), Ocala (USA), Rotterdam (NED), and Gassin – St. Tropez (FRA) comprise the Longines League of Nations™ series leading up to the final in Barcelona (ESP) from October 1 to 4, 2026. Germany now stands at the top of the overall leaderboard with a total of 190 points, while France, the victors in the opening leg in Abu Dhabi, sits second on 155 points. Ireland is not far behind with 150 points, and Brazil is in fourth position with 130 points.

Live streaming of competition from World Equestrian Center – Ocala is available throughout the week on https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/events/18289/longines-league-of-nations-2026-ocala. Fans can also relive the excitement of the Longines League of Nations™ Ocala on CBS Sports Network on Saturday, March 28, at 10 p.m. ET with an encore presentation on Thursday, April 16, at 6 p.m. ET.

The final day of competition in the Longines League of Nations™ Ocala CSIO5*-LLN will feature the $65,000 The Dutta Corp. Grand Prix CSI2* at 11 a.m. ET.

Orders of go, live scoring, course maps, and results are available at https://www.longinestiming.com/equestrian/2026/longines-league-of-nations-ocala-fl/#area4.

For additional competition information, visit https://worldequestriancenter.com/ocala-fl/equestrian/shows/longines-league-of-nations/.

This event is made possible through the support of our generous sponsors and marketing partners, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, and Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau.