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Santo Domingo, DR—August 16, 2003—The United States won two individual Show Jumping Medals at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on Saturday. Chris Kappler of Pittstown, NJ, riding Royal Kaliber, owned by Kappler and Kathy Kamine captured the Silver with a cumulative score of 10.40 penalties and Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, took the Bronze on Hidden Creek’s Perin, owned by Hidden Creek Farm with a final score of 12.22. The Gold Medal went to Mark Watring of Puerto Rico who led from start to finish with a score of 5.83, riding Sapphire.

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) entered the Individual Final with all four riders in contention for a medal. Kappler was the best hope for the U.S. standing in second place with a score of 2.40. Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, NY was third with 5.16 faults, riding Conquest II, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Patton. Engle held the fifth spot with 8.22 faults and Lauren Hough of Wellington, FL aboard Windy City, owned by Peppercorn Ltd, was in eighth place, but elected not to go. A combination of factors affected her decision not to ride. Hough, with 12.28 faults, felt she was a little too far out of contention for a medal. Additionally, Windy City lost a shoe in the Nations’ Cup team competition and Hough was worried about causing further damage to the hoof. Mark Watring of Puerto Rico was still at the top of the leader board, with a combined score of .83 faults, riding Sapphire.

At the conclusion of the first round, there were two surprises. The first was that Madden and Conquest II were eliminated after having two refusals at the third part of the combination (fence 11C). The other surprise was that Kappler’s horse, Royal Kaliber, tried to jump the middle standard of fence six, which had a left/right option, taking it all down with his hind legs.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Kappler. “I was going over the fence and thinking to myself, I think I just jumped the standard, and then I heard everything fall.”

That unfortunate mishap gave Kappler four faults and a combined score of 6.40, widening the gap between himself and Watring, who completed another clear round and keeping his tally at 0.83. Engle and Perin also went clear and moved up two places for the third spot for the final round. The eleventh fence with a three-part combination seemed to cause the most trouble, allowing only three clears out of thirty- four competitors.

The final round of competition was extremely exciting as only two rails separated the top three. The rules called for the riders to come back in reverse order of merit, with the best competing last. None of first twenty-six riders were able to manage faultless performance until Gerrardo Tazzer of Mexico, riding fifth from last and managed a clear round. His cumulative score of 15.32 put the pressure on the remaining riders four riders, including the two from the U.S. Federico Fernandez, also of Mexico, followed Tazzer but fared less well than his teammate. Fernandez had a rail down as well as time faults for a final score of 18.75. Engle entered the ring with only one rail in hand. Fortunately, that was all Hidden Creek’s Perin knocked down and the pair ended up with 12.22, which assured the U.S. of at least one medal.

“I think the angled it too much to the planks,” said Engle. “My horse jumped super all week though. I was really pleased with how well he finished up.”

Kappler had it down too, but he also had a rail in hand and clinched the silver with a cumulative score of 10.40 faults. Owners Kathy and Hal Kamine were thrilled.

“Chris was great,” said Kathy. “We can’t thank him enough for his wonderful work with Kaliber.”

This was the first time Kappler ever rode for the team at a major games and he was pleased with the results in both the team and individual competitions.

“From the moment I was pre-selected I felt pressure”, said Kappler. “It was an incredible relief to win the team gold medal and now the individual silver. I hope this event is just the beginning of bigger things yet to come.”

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, vaulters 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. Photos available from info@cmannphoto.com.

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United States Wins Gold With Decisive Victory at Pan American Games

By Jennifer Ward

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – There was no doubt that the gold medal belonged to the United States as they won the Team Show Jumping competition in decisive fashion at the 2003 Pan American Games. (Pictured at left, the USET's Pan American Games Show Jumping Gold Medal Team - Margie Goldstein Engle, Chris Kappler, BeezieMadden and Lauren Hough, with Chef d'Equipe Frank Chapot.)

Mexico fought the good fight, but their solid effort was not enough to surpass the Americans. Three faultless efforts in the first round meant the United States added nothing to their opening total of 1.66 earned in the First Qualifier on Wednesday. Counting an eight-fault round from Lauren Hough riding Windy City and a four-fault effort from Beezie Madden and Conquest II in the second round, the United States won the gold medal with a final total of 13.66 penalties compared to the 21.87 posted by Mexico.

“Everyone had a super day,” said Chris Kappler, 36, who led his Team to the gold medal with two faultless performances riding Royal Kaliber. “We came here to qualify for the Olympics, and I’d like to thank my teammates for being so super.”

All four United States Equestrian Team members – Hough of Wellington, FL, Madden of Cazenovia, NY, Margie Goldstein-Engle of Wellington, FL, and Kappler of Pittstown, NJ, finished in the top eight individually.

Mexico put the pressure on with a nine-fault effort in the first round and came back with a six-fault effort in the second round. Although it wasn’t enough to beat the Americans, it was enough to earn the Silver Medal and an Olympic berth.

“Our first objective was the Olympics, the silver medal is just a nice touch,” noted Gerardo Tazzer, the Mexican Team anchor rider.

While the Brazilians captured the Bronze Medal, they failed to qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games. Under International Equestrian Federation (FEI) rules, gold and silver medallists automatically earn Olympic berths while the team with the lowest score without using a drop score secures the third spot. All nine countries competing at the Pan American Games were looking for Olympic qualification.

“We have won team bronze medals at the last two Olympic Games and now we are out,” said Alvaro Neto Miranda, riding as the Brazilian Team anchor. “It is very disappointing for us, but we knew the rules coming here.”

Given their total score, Argentina was the lucky recipient of the third Olympic spot available. Sitting in third position following the First Qualifier, Argentina finished fourth overall with a total of 56.57 penalties.

Chile, Canada, Colombia, and Guatemala all finished in that order, while Ecuador was eliminated.

Peru Leads Individual Standings
Two clear rounds for Puerto Rico’s Mark Watring moved him from third to first individually. His speed score of .83 penalty points was earned riding Sapphire, an 11-year-old grey Holsteiner gelding by Liostro. Watring is the only representative from Puerto Rico riding at the 2003 Pan American Games.

The only other rider to post double clear rounds, Kappler made an impressive leap from ninth to second position with Royal Kaliber, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion by Ramiro.

Adding four faults to her score, teammate Madden sits in the Bronze Medal position with a two-day total of 5.16 penalties riding Conquest II, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion by Concorde.

Mexico’s Federico Fernandez is fourth with Bohemio while another American, Goldstein-Engle, is in fifth position with Hidden Creek’s Perin.

The leader following the First Qualifier, Michelle Navarro of Peru, suffered disappointment when she fell in the second round after having 24 faults in the first round with her Argentinean-bred Holsteiner stallion, Osho.

Held at the newly constructed Palmarejo Equestrian Center in Santo Domingo, all 40 riders who completed the first two days of Qualifying Competition are eligible to compete in Sunday’s Individual Final on Saturday, August 16. The first round is set to go at 10:30 a.m. while the second round will begin at 3:30 p.m. Medal presentations are scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

For further information on the equestrian events at the Pan American Games, please visit the Dominican Republic Equestrian Federation’s website at: www.ecuestrerd.com and the official 2003 Pan American Games website at www.santodomingo2003.com.

Final Team Standings – Show Jumping

GOLD:
Lauren Hough, USA, Windy City, (0.28) (4) (8)
Beezie Madden, USA, Conquest, (1.16) (0) (4)
Chris Kappler, USA, Royal Kaliber, (2.40) (0) (0)
Margie Engle USA, Perin (0.22) (0) (8)
Totals (1.66) (0) (12)
TEAM TOTAL 13.66

SILVER:
Santiago Lambre, MEX, Marcos W, (1.80) (9) (1)
Federico Fernandez, MEX, Bohemio, (1.75) (5) (1)
Antonio Chedraui, MEX, Xallapam, (5.51) (4) (4)
Gerardo Tazzer, MEX Chanel, (3.32) (0) (12)
Totals (6.87) (9) (6)
TEAM TOTAL 21.87

BRONZE:
Cesar Almeida, BRA, Chapmann Rouge,(7.81) (12) (8)
Karina Johannpeter, BRA, Faust de Raon, (11.92) (35) (0)
Bernardo Alves, BRA, Fort de Neuville, (3.03) (4) (4)
Alvaro Miranda Neto, BRA, Oliver Metodo, (4.55) (4) (4)
TOTAL (15.39) (20) (20) (8)
TEAM TOTAL 43.39

FOURTH:
Ricardo Kierkergaard, ARG, Pedro, (8.40) (12) (5)
Gregorio Werthein, ARG, Calwaro, (8.87) (9) (1)
Justo Albaracin, ARG, Graveline de Sivry, (3.78) (12) (13)
Martin Dopazo, ARG, Furka du Village, (1.39) (8) (8)
Totals (13.57) (29) (14)
TEAM TOTAL 56.57

5. Chile 68.16
6. Canada 70.15
7. Colombia 89.79
8. Guatemala 92.06
9. Ecuador Eliminated

Current Individual Standings – Show Jumping:
1. Mark Watring, PUR, Sapphire, 0.83
2. Chris Kappler, USA, Royal Kaliber, 2.40
3. Beezie Madden, USA, Conquest II, 5.16
4. Federico Fernandez, MEX, Bohemio, 7.75
5. Margie Goldstein-Engle, USA, Perin, 8.22
6. Bernardo Alves, BRA, Fort de Neuville, 11.03
7. Santiago Lambre, MEX, Marcos W, 11.80
8. Lauren Hough, USA, Windy City, 12.28
9. Antonio Chedraui, MEX, Xallapam, 13.51
10. Gerardo Tazzer, MEX, Chanel, 15.32

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Marty Bauman, (508) 698-6810 or uset.pr@verizon.net

Jamie Saults, (646) 522-1352 or jmsaults@aol.com

United States Equestrian Team Maintains Lead After First Round of Nations Cup

at 2003 Pan American Games

Margie Goldstein Engle leads individually; all four U.S. riders in top six

Santo Domingo, DR—August 14, 2003— The United States Equestrian Team (USET) maintained its lead at the conclusion of the first round of the Nation’s Cup in the show jumping competition at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The U.S. leads with a score of 1.66 faults. Mexico is second with 15.87 and Brazil is third with 35.39.

Individually, U.S. rider Margie Goldstein Engle of Wellington, FL, leads with a score of 0.22 on Hidden Creek’s Perin, owned by Hidden Creek Farm. Mark Watring and Sapphire of Puerto Rico stand second with 0.83 penalties and U.S. rider Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, NY is third riding Conquest II, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Patton, with 1.16 faults. The other two U.S. riders are third and sixth respectively. Chris Kappler of Pittstown, NJ, has a score of 2.40 on Royal Kaliber, owned by Kappler and Kathy Kamine. The only rail for the U.S. squad in the first round of the Nations Cup came when Lauren Hough, also from Wellington, had a foot in the water to add four faults to her score for a total of 4.28 on Windy City, owned by Peppercorn Ltd.

The results from the Nation’s Cup, with the first day’s speed class results carried forward, determine the team medals, but more importantly give two nations an automatic bid for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. The gold and silver team medalists will earn a spot in Athens, while the country with the best score counting all four team member performances will also qualify. With only the second round of the Nations Cup to go, it looks like the United States and Mexico are battling it out for the gold medal and the two Olympic berths. Brazil, Argentina, who has a score of 42.57, and Canada, standing on 45.15, all have a chance for the third qualifying spot.

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United States Equestrian Team Leads After First Round of Show Jumping
at 2003 Pan American Games
Individually, U.S. Riders Stand Second, Third, Fifth and Ninth

Santo Domingo, DR—August 13, 2003— The United States Equestrian Team (USET) had an outstanding first day of Show Jumping competition, capturing the lead at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with all four riders placing in the top ten. The US squad finished the Individual Qualifier, whose scores carry into Thursday’s Nations’ Cup, without knocking down a single rail. The U.S. finished with a team score of 1.66 faults based on converted penalties in the speed class format. Mexico is in second with 6.87 faults and Argentina is third with a score of 13.57.

Michelle Navarro of Peru won the Individual Qualifier, negotiating the course without fault in a time of 78.12 seconds on Osho. Second place went to the USET’s Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, who went clear in a slightly slower time of 78.56 with a carryover score of .22 faults, riding Hidden Creek’s Perin, owned by Hidden Creek Farm. Another U.S. rider, Lauren Hough, also from Wellington, finished third on Windy City, owned by Peppercorn Ltd, with a clear round in a time of 78.68 and a score of .28 penalties. The remaining two U.S. competitors were also impressive, with both placing in the top ten. Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, NY, was fifth on Conquest II, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Patton, in a time of 80.44 with 1.16 faults (Madden replaced Laura Kraut, who withdrew her horse for veterinarian reasons); and Chris Kappler of Pittstown, NJ, ended up ninth on Royal Kaliber, owned by Kappler and Kathy Kamine, with 2.40 penalties in a time of 82.91.

Hough was the first rider to go for the United States and set the tone for the day by going clear. “I like going first,” said Hough. “You just try to do your best and have a good start and hope it carries through. I had one jump, the rollback to fence ten where my horse looked at the cameraman and took an extra stride, but my horse tried extra hard and was able to leave the rails up. He is an amazing animal and really came through for me today.”

Engle was the last to go for the U.S. squad, but credits her second place finish to her teammates. “Going last was great,” said Engle. “I was in the catbird seat because all of my teammates were so great. They really took the pressure off me. My horse was a little fresh at the beginning because I don’t think I warmed him up enough, but he settled down and finished great. It’s hard to know in the heat how fresh to leave him because we have such a long way to go.”

USET Chef d’ Equipe Frank Chapot was not surprised with the first place standing of the U.S team. “There were no surprises today, especially with our team,” said Chapot. “They were all professional and did just what they were supposed to do.”

The results from the Individual Qualifier are carried forward to Thursday’s Nations’ Cup and count in determining the team medals. 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 will earn a spot in Athens, while the country with the best score counting all four team member performances will also qualify.

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August 10, 2003
For Immediate Release

Individual Gold For Canada’s Leslie Reid in Dressage, Mexico Wins Silver,
Santo Domingo’s Own Yvonne Losos Earns Bronze

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – Canada’s Leslie Reid captured the individual gold medal in the equestrian sport of dressage on Sunday at the 2003 Pan American Games. Mexico’s Bernadette Pujals took the silver while Santo Domingo’s own Yvonne Losos de Muñiz earned the individual bronze in her first-ever Pan American Games competition.

Having celebrated a team silver medal win for Canada on Thursday, Reid of Langley, BC, won all three phases of the individual competition to claim the gold medal, including the final leg, the Intermediaire Freestyle to Music, where she earned a score of 76.25%. Reid’s incredibly high marks gave her a total of 222.10 points and allowed her to defeat her nearest competition, Pujals, who finished with a score of 213.40, by almost nine full points. A three-time veteran of Pan American Games competition, Reid had previously won a team gold medal at the 1991 Pan Am Games in Havana, Cuba.

“They say you are lucky if once in your lifetime you have a horse like this to ride,” said Reid, who was riding Mark, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Marie Andrews, also of Langley, BC. “I am absolutely ecstatic!”

With an outstanding Freestyle performance, Pujals moved from third to second overall. Riding Vincent, her Hannoverian stallion, the resident of Mexico City earned the individual silver medal after leading the Mexican team to a bronze medal earlier in the week’s competition.

“I was very nervous today, but I decided to just go for it!” commented Pujals.

Making her Pan American Games debut in front of a hometown crowd, Yvonne Losos de Muñiz won the individual bronze medal. With Inatana Las Marismas, her 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, Losos de Muñiz proudly represented the Dominican Republic and finished the three phases of competition with a final score of 212 points. The 2003 Pan American Games mark the first time the Dominican Republic has fielded a dressage team, and Losos de Muñiz’s individual bronze is the first the Dominican Republic has ever won in equestrian competition.

“For me, this bronze medal feels like ten medals!” exclaimed Losos de Muñiz. “When we set out on the Pan Am path three years ago, I had a goal of finishing in the top 12. In the future, we’re going to try to improve the quality of dressage in this country and improve our results.”

Losos de Muñiz’s teammate, George Fernandez, 23, also enjoyed a strong performance, finishing tenth overall riding Joris Las Marismas.

The top five individual placings were captured by five different nations. Dr. Cesar Parra, representing Colombia, finished fourth overall riding his Hannoverian stallion Pik L while United States competitor Jan Ebeling of Moorpark, CA, was fifth overall riding Feleciano, an eight-year-old Westphalian stallion. Of the original 43 horse starting field, only the top 15 qualified for Sunday’s Individual Final.

Show jumping is now set to take the stage at the Palmarejo Equestrian Center. The horse inspection will be held Monday morning, and competition will get underway on Wednesday, August 13 and continue to Saturday, August 16. For further information on the equestrian events at the Pan American Games, please visit the Dominican Republic Equestrian Federation’s website at: www.ecuestrerd.com and the official 2003 Pan American Games website at www.santodomingo2003.com.

Dressage – Final Individual Results:
Gold medal: Leslie Reid (CAN), Mark, 222.10
Silver Medal::Bernadette Pujals (MEX), Vincent ,213.40
Bronze Medal: Yvonne Losos de Muñiz (DOM), Inatana Las Marismas, 212.00
4. Cesar Parra (COL), Pik L, 209.97
5. Jan Ebeling (USA), Feleciano, 206.75
6. Pierre St. Jacques (USA), Lucky Tiger, 203.70
7. Carol Lavell (USA), Much Ado, 202.90
8. Ashley Holzer (CAN), Gambol, 201.27
9. Evi Strasser (CAN), Quantum Tyme, 200.20
10. George Fernandez (DOM), Joris Las Marismas, 197.45

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U.S. Wins Dressage Gold Medal at 2003 Pan American Games

Santo Domingo, DR- August 6, 2003– The United States successfully defended its Championship title from 1999 by winning the Team Gold Medal in dressage by the slimmest of margins with a score of 206.550 at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Canada won the Silver scoring 206.300 and Mexico came in third for the Bronze with a score of 195.350 just slightly ahead of the home team of the Dominican Republic with a score of 194.850.

The U.S. bested eight other nations, the largest equestrian contingent in the history of the Pan Ams, for top honors. The USET squad consisted of Jan Ebeling of Moorpark, CA riding Feliciano, owned by New Horizons Dressage, LLC; Pierre St. Jacques of Boscawen, NH on Lucky Tiger owned by St. Jacques and Lisa Belcastro; Carol Lavell of Loxahatchee, FL, riding her Much Ado and Kristina Harrison-Naness of Burbank, CA on her Kantor.

The Dressage team competition took place over two days, but it all came down to the last rider on the final day. The fourth U.S. rider, Jan Ebeling, impressed the judges enough to score a 70.400%, forcing Leslie Reid of Canada, riding Mark, to give the performance of her life. As the anchor rider, Reid had all the pressure, but she came through with a score of 72.150%, the highest in the competition, but not good enough to give her team the gold.

Waiting for the results, the tension in the air was thicker than the humidity and when the scores were announced no one was sure who really finished first. In the end, the gold was captured by only one-quarter of one percent.

After hearing the results, Ebeling could not contain his excitement.

“This is so great!” said Ebeling. “It was so great to be a part of this team. It was such an unbelievable experience, to look at the flags and say “WOW! I’m here! I can’t believe it! It was so much fun.”

Pierre St. Jacques was the first U.S. rider on the second day and he scored 69.35%, the second highest on the U.S. squad. St. Jacques was elated, especially at the end of the test.

“When we were going down the center line I had the best feeling. I knew we put in a solid, clean test,” said St. Jacques. “I couldn’t have done it without my wife, though. Everything that happened in there was because of her.”

U.S. Equestrian Team (USET) Chef d’ Equipe Jessica Ransehousen was thrilled with the performances of all the U.S. riders.

“They were wonderful,” said Ransehousen. “I knew we would have to work for the gold, but I was not surprised when we won. The U.S. continues to do our best over and over.”

The top 25 riders move onto the next round of competition, the Intermediaire I test, which takes place on Friday. The U.S. has three in the top ten and all four qualified to ride; Jan Ebeling is in third individually, Pierre St. Jacques stands sixth, Carol Lavell is eighth and Kristina Harrison-Naness currently stands in 13th place. On Sunday, the top fifteen move on to the final test, the Intermediaire Free Style, which determines the individual medals.

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