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Three
United States Dressage Riders in Top Ten at 2003 Pan American
Games
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Santo
Domingo, DR- August 8, 2003- Three U.S. Dressage riders are in
the top ten following the Intermediaire I at the 2003 Pan American
Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Two
U.S. riders are in medal contention going into Sunday’s culminating
Intermediaire I Freestyle. Jan Ebeling of Moorpark, CA riding
Feleciano, owned by New Horizons Dressage LLC is and Pierre St.
Jacques of Boscawen, NH on Lucky Tiger owned by St. Jacques and
Lisa Belcastro.
Ebeling
is the highest U.S. rider and the best shot for a medal in fifth
place overall with a combined score of 137.800. Ebeling dropped
from third when he received of 67.750% in the Intermediaire I,
placing him in sixth place for the day. Teammate St. Jacques is
just behind Ebeling in sixth overall with 137.800, but St.Jacques
seems to be improving ending up fifth for the day with a score
of 68.450%. Carol Lavell of Loxahatchee, FL, riding her Much Ado
is in tenth place with 131.750 and Kristina Harrison-Naness of
Burbank, CA and Kantor finished with 128.800 in 13th place.
The
leader once again is Leslie Reid of Canada, riding Mark. Reid
won the class with a 73.700% score and a combined score of 145.850.
Sitting in the silver medal position is the Dominican Republic
rider, Ivonne Losos, riding Inatana Las Marismas. Losos finished
fourth on Friday with a score of 69.400, but her combined score
of 141.200 kept her in second overall. Bernadette Rujals of Mexico
riding Vincent is in third overall with a combined score of 140.600.
Cesar Parra of Columbia, but who resides New Jersey, is on the
bubble in fourth with a combined score of 138.950.
Ebeling
and Feleciano had a little mishap in the ring that really affected
their score..
“Some
kids were playing on the bleachers and spooked my horse,”
said Ebeling. It was unfortunate, but I think I am still in the
running and I am going to go for it on Sunday. Things like that
happen and you just have to understand and move on. My horse felt
great and the only way I can catch up with this gang is to go
for it.”
The
top fifteen move on to the Intermediaire I Freestyle, but only
three from each team are allowed to ride, so Harrrison-Naness
will not participate. She was still happy to have had the experience
at the Pan Ams.
“You
do the best you can,” said Harrison-Naness. “I am very
thankful for the horse that I have and that I am able to enjoy
him. He was so honest and good, the whole experience here was
great. I will still be back on Sunday to support my team. ”
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
.
