 |
Pan
American Games Show Jumping Competition Opens Wednesday
|
Santo
Domingo, DR—August 12, 2003—The United States Equestrian
Team (USET) Show Jumping squad had their first look at the competition
arena at the Palmarejo Equestrian Center while participating in
the Training or “Friendly” round of jumping at the Pan
American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on Tuesday,
August 12.
The Training is a warm-up for the horses and riders that participate
in the Show Jumping events that begin on Wednesday with the Individual
Qualifier. The results from the Individual Qualifier are carried
forward to Thursday’s Nations’ Cup and count in determining
the team medals.
The U.S. squad battling for gold consists of Margie Goldstein
Engle of Wellington, FL on Hidden Creek’s Perin, owned by
Hidden Creek Farm; Lauren Hough, also of Wellington, FL, riding
Windy City, owned by Peppercorn Ltd; Chris Kappler of Pittstown,
NJ, aboard Royal Kaliber, owned by Kappler and Kathy Kamine; and
Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, NY, aboard Conquest II, owned by Mr.
and Mrs. Joseph Patton. Madden, originally the team alternate,
replaces Laura Kraut of Oconomowoc, WI, and her horse Anthem,
who withdrew from the team because of veterinary reasons.
The
U.S., along with the other eight nations competing, are all looking
to qualify for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
The gold and silver team medalists of the Nations’ Cup will
earn a spot in Athens, while the country with the best score counting
all four team member performances will also qualify.
Kappler,
one of the two riders subjectively chosen for the U.S. squad,
feels the U.S. team is well prepared. “We have some pressure
as a team because it’s a qualifier, but we are taking it
like every other bigger competition,” said Kappler. “We
had a good prep event at Aachen and I feel we are as ready as
we can be.”
Engle, a member of the Silver medal winning Show Jumping team
at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada, agrees with
Kappler. “It’s do or die here, but we have been in this
situation before,” said Engle. “We had to qualify for
the Olympics in Winnipeg and we got it done. We will do our best
here to qualify again.”
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
.
