There was a lot riding on the $350,000 BMO Nations Cup at the Spruce Meadows Masters on Sept. 6 in Calgary, Alta.

The home team Canada was fresh off of their silver-medal performance at the Olympic Games in Hong Kong; Germany, which had a lackluster performance, was aiming for redemption; and the United States, the Olympic team gold medalists, hoped to remain golden.

In addition, the team from Norway, which may lose their Olympic team bronze medal after a positive drug test, wanted to prove their talents again.

In the end, though, it was a tough battle between four teams: the United States, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands. Norway didn’t factor.

Leopoldo Palacios’ course was technical and imposing, but in an unusual move, the Venezuelan course designer provided a generous time allowed, negating the stress of time faults.

Nevertheless, the course proved meaty. The riders noted that the triple combination line, which included the nemesis Dutch bicycle fence as the lead-off element, provided the most angst as it demanded a tactical but powerful ride.

Nine teams began the day in front of a record 62,000-plus fans under blue skies, and after the proverbial dust settled, Germany (Claussen/Holger Wulschner, Asti Spumante 7/Thomas Muehlbauer, Plot Blue/Markus Ehning, Lord Luis/Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst) led the way with a perfect performance. After the first three riders jumped clear, Pollmann-Schweckhorst didn’t have to start.

In addition to Germany, five teams returned for Round 2 with just three rails separating them. The United States was one of three teams—including Canada and Switzerland–that stood a close second with 4 faults. Lauren Hough’s Quick Study, 9, a Belgian Warmblood gelding, a Nations Cup novice, and Rich Fellers’ Flexible each tallied 4 faults in the first round with Todd Minikus with Pavarotti and Richard Spooner aboard Cristallo posting crucial clears.

Clear rounds became the norm in the second round, so the rails that fell became critical.

Jill Henselwood’s uncharacteristic 12 faults with Special Ed, her 2007 Pan Am Games gold medal partner, though, became the drop score for Canada. Even with Ian Millar’s double-clear score with In Style and Eric Lamaze’s perfect performance with his individual Olympic Games gold medal ride Hickstead, couldn’t move Canada up the rankings. Their 8-fault total didn’t match the United States.

Likewise, the Swiss team collected faults in Round 2, with the Dutch bicycle wreaking havoc for them. None of their four riders could jump clear, and they dropped out of contention, eventually to sixth.

The United States riders dug in, and after Hough’s 8 faults with Quick Study, the remaining riders jumped clear, with Fellers and Flexible adding the exclamation point to the U.S. score of 4 total faults.

On the other hand, Germany just barely held on as each of their first two riders dropped rails. When Markus Ehning jumped a second clear with Plot Blue, his 11-year-old stallion, it all came down to their final rider, Pollmann-Schweckhorst and Lord Luis.

If he jumped a clear round, Germany and the United States would tie with 4 faults and jump off for the title. Any penalty and the victory would be lost.

But would skipping the first round be an advantage for Lord Luis? Would a fresh horse prevail in this two-round test of endurance over a demanding course?

“We were all concerned,” said Minikus. “A few of us jumped for joy when Rich [Fellers] jumped clear in the second round.

“[Lord Luis] jumped fantastically the first part of the course. He was no closer than a foot to the rails,” added Minikus. “Then he ran into bad luck at the end.”

That bad luck resulted in two rails at 11A and 12, dropping Germany into a three-way tie for second place with Canada and the Netherlands with 8 faults.

This was sweet redemption for the United States, which hadn’t won the BMO Nations Cup since 2002. The depth of the U.S. team showed, though, as none of the four winning team members were on the gold-medal Olympic Games team.

“This was a very strong team,” said Chef d’Equipe George Morris. “I had a lot of confidence in this team.”

All four of the team riders are natives of the West or Midwest, with Fellers and Spooner still residing in Oregon and California, respectively. “This was a great class with great weather and a great course. I love Canada and the West!” added Morris with a grin.

Results: United States—4

Netherlands—8

Canada—8

Germany—8

Great Britain—12

Switzerland—20

Did not qualify for second round:

Ireland—12

Italy—16

Norway—25