Wellington, FL-January 22, 2004-The $50,000 Samsung Nations' Cup, presented by CN, an international team show jumping competition recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), will take place at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington on Friday evening, March 12. The Nations' Cup is one of the highlights of the CSIO United States Cosequin Finale, held a week before the Winter Equestrian Festival moves from Wellington to Tampa.
This marks the consecutive third year that the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) is hosting the Samsung Nations' Cup, presented by CN. This year, for the first time, the Nations' Cup is being held under the lights of the Internationale Arena at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington.
The United States, Canada, Australia, Columbia, England, Ireland, France and Mexico have all accepted invitations to compete in the Nations' Cup and the week-long CSIO. Germany, Italy, Spain and Holland also have been invited to compete, but have not yet submitted their entries.
An exciting and unique addition to this year's competition is the musical quadrille, to be ridden by 6 internationally-experienced dressage riders during the break between jumping rounds of the Samsung Nations' Cup. The quadrille will be ridden by American riders George Williams, Betsy Steiner, Lynda Alicki and Pamela Goodrich, Mexico's Patrick Burssens and Denmark's Bent Jensen. The freestyle will include Grand Prix movements choreographed by Terry Gallo of Klassic Kur, to music of the late '70s and '80s. This will be a special treat for spectators as they watch the incredible horse-and-rider pairs "rock and roll" to some very memorable tunes. Due to the difficult nature of this quadrille, practice has already begun and will continue until the day of the event.
In 2002, Wellington was the host of the U.S.'s first-ever outdoor Nations' Cup competition. Wellington became only the fifth U.S. location for a Nations' Cup since the first Nations' Cup was held in London, England in 1909. The first Nations' Cup in the U.S. was at the National Horse Show in New York in 1911. The National Horse Show continued to host Nations' Cups through 1998, missing only the years 1914-1924 and 1942-1945. Other U.S. cities to host Nations' Cups are Boston (1929-1932), Harrisburg (1948-1963, 1965-1966, 1969-1972) and Washington D.C. (1973-2001).
The United States squad finished victorious in both the 2002 and 2003 Nations' Cups at Wellington. In 2003, the U.S. team included Margie Engle, Lauren Hough, Beezie Madden, and McLain Ward. Finishing in second behind the U.S. was Ireland, and Canada took third. In 2002, the U.S. finished first. Canada took second and Ireland took third.
In addition to its eight weeks of competition in Wellington, the 2004 Winter Equestrian Festival also includes two weeks of competition in Tampa, FL, culminating with the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational held on the field of the Raymond James Stadium on Saturday evening, April 3.
Several FEI-recognized dressage competitions are also being held at the Winter Equestrian Festival, including qualifiers for USET selection trials for the 2004 Olympic Games to be held this summer in Athens, Greece.
Other WEF highlights include the following:

" $280,000 Amateur-Owner Jumper Series
" $350,000 US Equestrian 'AA' Hunter Series
" $210,000 Junior Jumper Series
" $98,000 Adult Amateur Jumper Series
" $25,000 Windsome WEF Dressage/Jumper Spectacular
" $9,500 Pony Jumper Series
" R.W. Mutch Equitation Championship

The 2004 Winter Equestrian Festival also includes the WEF $1,420,000 Grand Prix/Open Jumper Series featuring the following:

" Farr XTN Grand Prix of Palm Beach, presented by Western Hay, CSI**
" Bayer/USET Wellington Cup, CSI***
" Kilkenny/ICH Internationale Cup, CSI***
" Idle Dice Classic, presented by Palm Beach Post, CSI-W
" PDP Capital Masters Cup, CSI***
" Samsung Nations' Cup, presented by CN, CSIO****
" Cosequin U.S. Open Jumper Championship, CSIO****
" Grand Prix of Tampa, presented by Kilkenny/ICH, CSI-W
" Budweiser American Invitational, presented by The Tampa Tribune

Admission to the Winter Equestrian Festival at Wellington is free every Wednesday, and children under 12 are always admitted free. Adult admission is $5.00 on Thursdays and Fridays, $10.00 on Saturdays, and $15.00 on Sundays. Young adults, 13-18, and senior citizens are $5.00 every Thursday through Sunday.
For more information on the Winter Equestrian Festival and all its exciting events and activities, please call Stadium Jumping, Inc. in Wellington at (561) 793-JUMP or visit www.stadiumjumping.com.

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