Equestrian Laura Kraut Enters 2026 Season With An Eye On The Future

Story by Mike May and Fiona Slusarev

Longtime Wellington resident Laura Kraut is an accomplished show jumper who remains focused on getting better at her profession. Currently listed seventh in the world in the Longines FEI Rankings, Kraut’s resume of professional accomplishments is eye-opening and impressive.

For more than 30 years, Kraut has competed and succeeded at the highest levels of show jumping.

Kraut was named an alternate to the U.S. Olympic show-jumping team for the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Eight years later, in 2000, she made her Olympic debut in show jumping at the Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. And, in 2008, while riding Cedric, she won the team gold medal in show jumping at the Summer Olympic Games in China, when the show jumping competition was staged in Hong Kong.

Kraut returned to the Olympics in 2021 as a member of the U.S. show-jumping team that won the silver medal at the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games, after an intense jump-off against Sweden. That year, she rode Baloutinue. Kraut’s Olympic experience, aboard Baloutinue continued in 2024 at the Summer Olympics in Paris, France, when she was a member of the silver-medal winning show-jumping trio alongside McLain Ward and Karl Cook.

Speaking with Wellington The Magazine after her experiences in Tokyo, Kraut explained that Baloutinue has been an ideal partner in her show-jumping career. “He’s just one of the best horses I’ve ever had the privilege to ride,” Kraut said.

Kraut continued that Baloutinue has that ‘it’ factor which makes him the perfect partner.

“It’s intelligence, determination, health and stamina all wrapped up in one package,” she explained. “Without that horse, I would not have an Olympic medal. He contributed a great amount. I guide him and steer him and make sure he’s doing the right things, but, in the end, he’s the one who has to jump the jumps.”

Outside of the Olympic arena, Kraut has more than 100 Grand Prix wins and has represented the U.S. at the World Equestrian Games. Her two most successful experiences were in 2006, when she won a team silver medal at Aachen (Germany), and in 2018 when she won a team gold medal at Tryon (North Carolina). She also won gold in team jumping at the 2023 Pan American Games in Chile.

When she is not competing, Kraut and her longtime partner, British show jumper Nick Skelton, own and operate a successful training business.

Originally from South Carolina, the 60-year-old Kraut has been coming to Wellington since the 1970s. She was introduced to the equestrian lifestyle by her mother Carol, taking her first leadline class at age 3.

As the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival began, Kraut spoke on a panel of industry experts about her experiences through the years and the importance of WEF.

“I’ve probably been coming to WEF longer than anyone. I first rode here in 1978, so I’ve really seen the evolution of it,” she said. “It is crucial to us preparing and trying to have our horses up to the level that we need for international competition.”

Kraut believes that shows like WEF are why U.S. show jumping has flourished in recent years.

“The U.S. Equestrian Team has a fantastic record. I think we’ve won more medals in the last 20 years than any other country — and a lot of that is due to the fact that we can compete at this facility, under the best circumstances, with the best competition, great jumps, great course design, and now a lot of prize money, which is very helpful to us,” she said.

When it comes to prize money, that’s a key significance of the Rolex series, which includes a show in Wellington.

“I think the Rolex series has become one of the biggest series that we can jump,” Kraut said. “The prize money is incredible. The venues are all fantastic… Rolex is now probably the biggest, most important sponsor we have as far as individual jumping at this moment. And we’re very proud to have it here. I think we’re very excited to have the opportunity to jump it in our backyard.”

Kraut arrived at WEF this year with an eye on the competitive season ahead, such as the World Championships coming up.

“We also have the World Cup Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, at the beginning of April — so directly after this series of jumping,” Kraut said. “I’ve got my mare Bisquetta that I jumped last year here, and in the Rolex final. I will aim her for that again with the idea of the long-range plan at the World Championships. I’ve got another really lovely horse, Tres Bien, and I’m thinking to possibly aim him toward Fort Worth.”

Showing at WEF will be crucial for getting her horses ready for the long season ahead.

Even before arriving home to Wellington, Kraut capped 2025 with a December win aboard Bisquetta at the $750,000 CSI5* Coachella Cup Grand Prix in California, narrowly defeating McLain Ward and High Star Hero by a mere 0.03 seconds.

Time will tell how well Kraut performs in show jumping circles this winter in Wellington — but expect her to put her best effort forward each and every time she enters the ring.

Learn more about Laura Kraut at www.laurakraut.com.