Prior to the $25,000 Open Jumper, the evening session opened with the second annual Dressage Night, featuring the Continental Cup--a team Musical Freestyle competition. Riders at Grand Prix, Intermediaire I and First Level made up each of three teams. The riders on the Park Avenue Team won the Gold medal with a total score of 239. The team consisted of Cynthia Payne of Jupiter, FL, aboard Laredo, with a score of 81% in the Grand Prix; Gabriel Armando of Argentina who resides in Flemington, NJ,...

Washington, D.C. – The Equestrian Olympic athletes that represented the United States in Athens this year had the extraordinary opportunity to meet the President and First Lady at the White House. Following a tradition started with President Gerald Ford, President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush greeted the athletes in style on Monday. The event was sponsored by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) on behalf of all of the members of the US Olympic and Paralympic Teams....

Barcelona, Spain -- Two members of the 2004 Olympic silver medal winning United States Equestrian Team in Show Jumping will compete in the final Samsung Super League competition this weekend in Barcelona. Chris Kappler of Pittstown, New Jersey, who also won the individual bronze medal in Athens,and Massachusetts native Peter Wylde, now residing in the Netherlands, will join veteran Norman Dello Joio and Judy Garofalo, both of Wellington, Florida, to represent the United States in one of the...

For Immediate Release Lexington, KY - Hummingbird Nest Farm in Simi Valley, California will be the site of the 2004 FEI Children's Jumping Final, November 22-28, which hosts competitors from around the world who have qualified in their native country. Due to the expense of shipping horses, the riders will not bring their own mounts. Since the U.S. is the host nation for this international competition, which is contested on borrowed horses, we must provide enough horses for the 32 riders. The...

San Juan Capistrano, CA – Veteran Olympic Judge Axel Steiner was doing color commentary at the trials today and described Robert Dover’s ride on FBW Kennedy as “one of the nicest Grand Prix rides in the United States.” The enthusiastic applause of the knowledgeable crowd indicated they agreed. Their score of 76.292% leads Gunter Seidel on Aragon, who had a score of 72.375%. Seidel was also third on Nikolaus 7 with a score of 71.458%. Steffan Peters on Floriano was fourth with 71.333%. “You...

The 2004 Bayer/USET Foundation Festival of Champions, Presented by State Line Tack, Olympic Dressage Selection Trials, will be held over the next two weekends, June 12th and 13th and June 18th -20th, 2004 at the Oaks Blenheim in San Juan Capistrano, California. The USEF Grand Prix Championship at the Festival will serve as the Olympic Dressage Selection Trials to determine the “short list” for the rider/horse combinations for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. The following are the...

The United States Equestrian Federation today announced the Short List for the 2004 Olympic Show Jumping Team. The four horse/rider combinations and two substitutes are as follows: 1. Beezie Madden, 41, Cazenovia, NY, Authentic, Age 9, Dutch Warmblood, gelding 2. Peter Wylde, 39, Maastricht, Netherlands, Fein Cera, Age 13, Holsteiner, mare 3. McLain Ward, 29, Brewster, NY, Sapphire, Age 9, Selle Francais, mare 4. Chris Kappler, 37, Pittstown, NJ, Royal Kaliber, Age 12, Dutch Warmblood, stallion...

McLain Ward, Beezie Madden, Lauren Hough, Nicole Simpson Lurking Close Behind Ward San Juan Capistrano , CA - It was a perfect day in Southern California . Perfectly blue sky, perfect temperature, perfect setting for an Olympic Trials, and perfect green turf in an impressive Show Jumping arena at Oaks Blenheim in San Juan Capistrano . For PeterWylde and Fein Cera; Todd Minikus and Gardenio; and Beezie Madden and Judgement; it got even better when they turned in prefect trips in the fourth round...

Lexington, Ky. – The $60,000 Adequan ® USEA Advanced Final came to an exciting conclusion on Friday evening at the United States Eventing Association (USEA) American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds (AEC) . The Advanced division also served as the USEF Advanced Horse Trials National Championship, and Liz Halliday and Miks Master C won the national champion title as well as the legendary Jack Le Goff Trophy after leading the field from start to finish. Halliday...

Lexington, Ky. – Two athlete-and-horse combinations participated the U.S. Dressage European U25 Tour this spring and summer and scored top results. Ben Ebeling and Status Royal OLD competed in Belgium and France, while Erin Nichols and Elian Royale competed in the Netherlands. USEF Dressage Youth Coach George Williams advised the U.S. athletes to help them achieve strong scores in European competition. Ben Ebeling and Status Royal OLD compete in Crozet, France. (Photos Les Garennes)...