A year after the Olympics, Marcus Orlob and his sensitive 11-year-old mare Jane have made significant progress in managing her nerves, boosting their confidence as they prepare for upcoming major events like the World Cup Final in Fort Worth and the 2026 World Championships in Aachen, Germany. Their efforts to desensitize Jane have included extensive exposure to busy, stimulating environments—from the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, to the bustling CHIO Aachen, a premier global horse sports venue. Marcus highlighted the contrast between the calm U.S. training settings and the lively European barns, noting that regular hacking in active, unpredictable surroundings like forests and lakes has helped Jane become more relaxed and steady.

Marcus has also been working closely with longtime trainer Johan Zagers and U.S. team coach Christine Traurig to build Jane’s confidence and connection, with plans to continue this collaborative training approach at events like dressage at Devon. Looking ahead, Marcus aims to qualify Jane for the 2026 World Cup Final and the World Championships, which will be held in Aachen’s large main stadium, promising a challenging but exciting future for the pair. Their progress reflects the broader U.S. dressage team’s rebuilding efforts following a strong medal history from 2015 to 2021.