USET To Send Show Jumping Team To CSIO Athens Berth in 2004 Samsung Super League At Stake

GLADSTONE, NEW JERSEY—September 18, 2003—The United States Equestrian Team (USET) is sending a show jumping team to compete in CSIO Athens, October 2-5, 2003. The decision, approved by the Executive Sub-Committees of the USET and USA Equestrian upon recommendation of the Show Jumping High Performance Committee, was made to give the U.S. a chance at qualifying for the 2004 Samsung Super League.

Named to the team are Joe Fargis with Edgar, Laura Kraut with Allegiance, Debbie Stephens with Cosequin’s CEO and Candice King with Camillo.

The Samsung Super League began in 2003. This important series limits participation in eight select CSIO competitions (La Baule, Rome, St. Gallen, Aachen, Dublin, Hickstead, Rotterdam, and Barcelona) to the eight countries (France, Ireland, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, and Italy) who qualified for the series in 2002 according to results in that year’s Nations’ Cup competition.

Participation at the level offered in the Samsung Super League events is a critical component of the USET’s strategic plan for Olympic and international success. However, participation in Samsung Super League events as a “wild card” is often difficult to obtain. While the US was granted entry this year for CHIO Aachen, requests for invitations to Hickstead and Dublin were denied. Consequently, the best way to gain this invaluable international competition experience is to be one of the eight Super League countries.

Each year, the country finishing last in the Super League drops off and is replaced by the country finishing first in the year-long series of the seventeen CSIOs outside the Super League. With three CSIOs remaining this year (CSIO Zagreb, Croatia; CSIO Athens, Greece, and CSIO Buenos Aires, Argentina), the US is tied for first place with Switzerland and thus in a possible position to move into the Super League for 2004. Given this unexpected opportunity, the Show Jumping High Performance Committee recommended entering a team at Athens.

The USET will provide financial grants to the riders selected to the Team. The USET will also fund the expenses to send a Coach/Chef d' Equipe.

The United States Equestrian Team is a non-profit organization that selects, trains, equips and finances equestrians of the highest possible standard to represent our country in major international competition, including the Olympic Games and the World Championships. To accomplish this, the USET seeks out and nurtures the development of talented athletes - riders, drivers and horses - and provides the support and guidance they need to help them attain their fullest potential. For more information on the USET, please call (908) 234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org