By Emma Boyce
The Middleburg area will be well represented in the show jumping equestrian competition at the Paris Olympics, with four horses whose owners call these parts home. The most interesting twist is that three of these horses will represent three different countries.
Ann Thompson of Corotoman Farm in Upperville owns Romeo 88 and Great Britain rider Harry Charles, 25, will be returning for their second Olympics together after delivering an impressive double clear a recently at CHIO Rotterdam in the Longines League of Nations. Charles has had the ride on the 15-year-old Zangersheide gelding since the start of 2021.
Zineday came into Alice Lawaetz’s life as a talented, yet temperamental seven-year-old stallion, straight from the stables of Ludger Beerbaum in Riesenbeck. Businesswoman and equestrian Lawaetz is married to horseman Doug Fout of The Plains. She keeps some of her horses in this area. Philipp Weishaupt, 39, took over the ride in 2021 and will represent Germany. In 2023, Weishaupt piloted the then nine-year-old Zineday to third in the prestigious Aachen Grand Prix. Recently, he helped Germany win the Nations Cup with a double clear at La Baule. Now, the pair look forward to their first Olympics together in Paris.
Thaisa Erwin, 44, will be representing her home country of Australia at the Paris Olympics this year, and she and her 12-year-old chestnut mare, Hialita B, are Middleburg staples and the horse is owned by Mike and Wendy Smith of Middleburg. Hialita B and Erwin have been very successful at the five star shows in Europe, from Rome to Rotterdam. If you’re watching the Olympics from the comfort of your home or with friends, you’ll likely be cheering her on as the hometown hero.
And finally, American Olympic rider Laura Kraut, 59, and her powerhouse partner, Baloutinue, need little introduction. Kraut and the scopey 14-year-old gelding owned by Barb and Dave Roux of St. Bride's Farm in Upperville already helped the U.S. bring home silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Since then, the bay gelding has conquered course after course, most notably winning gold at the Nations Cup in San Miguel de Allende in 2023. For Kraut and Baloutinue, Paris will be just another day.
According to www.Olympics.com, the Jumping Individual Equestrian Final is scheduled for Tuesday, August 6. As they say…check your local listings.
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