Team USA’s youngest rider, 18-year-old Cade McCutcheon, finished atop the leaderboard with Custom Made Gun, a 7-year-old stallion owned by his grandparents, Tim and Colleen McQuay. | Photo: FEI/Liz Gregg

The home team didn’t disappoint Wednesday at the 2018 Fédération Equestre Internationale World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018, currently underway at the Tryon International Equestrian Center, in Mill Spring, North Carolina. Team USA clinched its fifth consecutive team gold medal by nearly 10 points over the silver medal team.

Reiners thrilled the fans in Tryon as 63 horse-and-rider combinations and 12 teams representing 20 national federations laid down impressive runs. With a 681 composite score, Team USA clinched its fifth consecutive team gold medal. First to enter the pen on home turf was Casey Deary riding Hilldale Farm’s Heavy Duty Chex; the pair marked a 223.5. Then, Team USA’s youngest rider, 18-year-old Cade McCutcheon, laid down an impressive performance aboard Custom Made Gun, a 7-year-old stallion owned by his grandparents, Tim and Colleen McQuay. Once he closed his run, a 229 appeared on the score board. The talented young rider set the bar and his score held until the very end.

“I’ve been riding this horse since he was a 4-year-old and he keeps getting better every year,” said McCutcheon. “This is the highest score I have ever posted and being able to get this done representing my country is truly an honor