SYRACUSE, NY—March 12, 2003—The Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament, a new year-end championship horse show set for October 29-November 2 in Syracuse, NY, is initiating the sport’s first equitation computer list.

The USA Equitation Computer List will rank the nation’s equitation riders utilizing a system and format similar to the USET Show Jumping Computer List. The list will be managed and maintained by Ryegate Show Services of Annville, PA, the company that maintains the USET Computer List.

“We see this as an important step forward for our sport,” said noted hunter-jumper trainer John Madden who is producing the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament. “We think that this will help the equitation divisions at both small and large horse shows.”

As with the USET List, rankings will be based on riders’ finishes and the strength of the competition in each class. Results from Maclay, Medal, USET and Washington equitation classes will be used, although horse shows hosting other equitation classes are invited to apply for inclusion. “When a horse show has a special equitation class, we encourage them to apply to our Equitation Committee,” Madden said. “It is our intention that all classes of significance be included.”

The Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament Equitation Committee comprises some of the sport’s most respected names including Frank Madden who serves as chairman, Bobby Braswell, Mary Chapot, Missy Clark, Jeff Gogell, Karen Healy, Alex Jayne, Tim Kees, Ken Smith and Geoff Teall.

Madden explained that the top 100 riders on the equitation list will qualify to ride in the equitation final at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament this fall. Madden said that in addition to awards and prizes for the riders, there will be a minimum of $15,000 awarded to the trainers of the top 10 finishers in the final plus at least $10,000 additional to the trainers of the top 10 riders on the computer list of November 3, the day after the conclusion of the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament.

The rankings of the new USA Equitation Computer List will be issued weekly beginning with classes held during the week starting May 19