The United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. (USEF), the National Governing Body of Equestrian Sport, today announced the riders who will compete in the 2004 World Cup Finals in Milan, Italy, April 21st through the 25th. They are as follows:

From the West Coast League:

Rider Horse

Nicole Shahinian-Simpson El Campeon’s So Long (HAN, Sandro - Domossa)

Will Simpson El Campeon’s Ado Annie (ISH, Errigal Flight - Coolrain Princess)

Richard Spooner Hilton Flight (ISH, Errigal Flight - Occasion VII)

From the East Coast League:

Rider Horse

Norman Dello Joio Quriel (BWP, Aydin des Malais - Dorle)

Laura Kraut Anthem (KWPN, Dutchboy - Ecvalan)

Allegiance (KWPN, Animo - Gosseline)

Laura Linback Remember Me IX (OLD, Rouletto - Iltshiva)

McLain Ward Sapphire

Goldika 559 (HOL, Cor de la Bryere - Zelena II)

The riders qualified by competing in a series of pre-designated classes held between September 2003 and March 2004. There are 9 such classes designated in the West Coast League, and 11 in the East Coast League.

“This is a very strong group of veteran riders and their accomplishments in international competition, including World Cups, the Olympic Games and Pan American Games, speak for themselves,” said Sally Ike, the USEF Team Leader for the World Cup Final. “Several are in peak form right now including Richard Spooner, making his seventh appearance in a World Cup Final, with his horse Hilton Flight who had a big win this year in the $150,000 Ford Grand Prix at Indio, California. Norman Dello Joio had a very solid season in Florida including a win at last week’s $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational in Tampa. Laura Kraut had a sensational 2003 season and in 2004 she has maintained this pace as a top contender. She is bringing two highly successful horses to Milan, Allegiance and Anthem.”

This season Kraut and Allegiance were members of the U.S. team that placed second in the $50,000 Samsung Nations Cup in Wellington, and in 2003 she placed fourth or better in fourteen Grand Prix competitions in the Eastern United States.

McLain Ward is bringing his two best mounts, Goldika 559 and Sapphire. Ward and Sapphire were also on the U.S. team which finished second in the $50,000 Samsung Nations Cup in Wellington, and they then finished third the next day in the $100,000 Cosequin U.S. Open Jumper Championship. Goldika 559 has been consistently placed all season for Ward.

Nicole and Will Simpson join Richard Spooner as the three West Coast League riders. In 2003 they became the first husband and wife team to compete in a World Cup Final. Nicole and El Campeon’s So Long finished second behind Spooner this year in the prestigious $150,000 Ford Desert Grand Prix in Indio, and third in the $50,000 King Shavings Grand Prix. Will has campaigned the consistent El Campeon’s Ado Annie since 2001. In 2003, they won the Pan Am Games Selection Trial 4, won the $35,000 Del Mar Grand Prix, placed third in the $50,000 Kings Shavings Grand Prix in Indio, and fourth in the $75,000 HBO Grand Prix.

Last year Laura Linback participated in the U.S. Equestrian Team’s Developing Riders Tour and was named the leading lady rider at the CSI*** in Royan, France. and was a member of the second place U.S. team at the Grand Prix in Falsterbo, Sweden, her first time on a U.S. team. In each of the four grand prix in which she competed on the tour she finished in the top 7. Laura was again named leading lady rider at the CSI****in San Patrignano, Italy.

The highlight of Laura’s very successful 2003 season was at the CSIO**** Buenos Aires, as a member of the U.S team. Laura’s clear round contributed to an outstanding performance by the team and helped secure the team gold medal by an impressive margin. Her other 2003 highlights include a second in the $50,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix in Culpepper, Virginia and third in the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix in Indio, California.

The United States Equestrian Federation Inc. (USEF), as the National Equestrian Federation of the U.S., is the regulatory body for the Olympic and World Championship sports of dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, reining, show jumping, and vaulting, as well as 19 other breeds and disciplines of equestrian competition. As the country’s largest multi-breed organization, the Federation has over 80,000 members and recognizes more than 2,800 competitions nationwide each year. It governs all aspects of competition, including educating and licensing all judges, stewards, and technical delegates who officiate at these shows.

VISION STATEMENT

The vision of the United States Equestrian Federation is to provide leadership for equestrian sport in the United States of America, promoting the pursuit of excellence from the grass roots to the Olympic Games, based on a foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare of its horses, and embracing this vision, to be the best national equestrian federation in the world.

.