Eventer Lauren Nicholson has had many successes in her career, including top ten finishes at five-star competitions around the world and trips to both the World Equestrian Games and the Olympics. But one thing she had never done was win a four-star long international eventing competition - and in 2025, thanks to her partnership with a Zangersheide gelding named Larcot Z, she checked that item off her "to-do" list not once, but twice.
Nicholson first met "Larco" when he was a youngster being ridden by his then owner, young rider Reagan LaFleur. In fact, Nicholson was so impressed that she tried to buy him, but LaFleur, who eventually produced Larco to the two-star level, wasn't ready to sell. When she went on to college, LaFleur asked her trainer, Olympian Will Coleman, to take over the ride; with Coleman in the tack, Larco made his three-star debut.
Nicholson stayed in contact with Coleman about the gelding's progress, and continued to be impressed. When LaFluer decided to sell Larco after her college graduation, Coleman's first call was to his former teammate. Less than twenty four hours later, Nicholson's long time sponsor Jacqueline B. Mars was Larco's new owner, and a new partnership was formed.
In 2023, Nicholson took Larco to one preliminary level event to get a feel for him, then quickly moved him back up to the three-star level, where they competed for most of the rest of the season. Traditionally, Nicholson has always produced her own horses, so taking over the ride on a horse already going meant she needed to give their partnership time to gel.
"It's hard, because there's always a honeymoon phase the first few runs, and you're like, ‘Oh my God, we were made for each other, there's absolutely nothing that needs changed,'" she said in a press interview. "And then you start finding the little things - not problems, just, you know, everybody's got their techniques and styles and everything else, and it's just kind of ticking those boxes... I think it takes at least 18 to 24 months to really click with a horse, and get a partnership going."
And by the end of 2024 - right on schedule - Nicholson felt their partnership become secure, setting them up for a breakout 2025 season. After a strong top-10 finish at the CCI3*-S at Tryon International (North Carolina) in May, they headed to the four-star long at MARS Bromont (Canada) in June. There - with his owner proudly looking on - Larco danced into the lead after dressage with a 27.1. Although they added time to a clear jumping effort cross country, their double clear show jumping round - the only one of the day - sealed their place at the top of the podium.
"It's nice to go into show jumping on a horse like him, because he'll turn himself inside out not to touch any rails," Nicholson said in a media interview after the win. "In the past, I've kind of always had great cross-country horses, which are also typically one- or two-railers, and you had to always have a pretty distinct plan and execute it just right. And with Larco, it's really just ride well, and he'll jump well. Just don't make a huge mistake, and honestly, he probably still jumps you out of them. It's not too complicated, which is really nice."
In August, the pair were part of the silver medal winning Defender U.S. Eventing Team at the Nations Cup in Arville, Belgium, where they also topped a field of 103 to secure their second four-star win.
"I'm really pleased with how uncomplicated he was the whole week and was quick to adapt," Nicholson said of Larco's response to the pressure of a Nation's Cup. "I'm thrilled for Mrs. Mars and the team behind Larcot Z. There's a lot of belief in this horse, and I'm excited to see what's in store for the future."
Larco and Nicholson ultimately finished on the podium at six competitions in 2025, including their two four-star wins, and delivered clear rounds at three CCI3* and CCI4* international events. In recognition of his consistency and outstanding results, Larcot Z was named a 2025 U.S. Equestrian Federation International Horse of the Year.
