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U.S. Saddle Seat Team Prepared for International Competition at Saddle Seat World Cup

by USEF Communications Department | Jul 21, 2014, 1:25 PM

Lexington, Ky. - The U.S. Saddle Seat Team arrived in Ashville, N.C., this weekend and is ready for the 2014 Saddle Seat World Cup. Beginning July 22, the riders will compete over four days of competition in hope of repeating their double Gold medal performance in 2012. Held during the Blue Ridge Classic Horse Show, teams from Canada, South Africa, and the United States will ride for top honors at the 2014 Saddle Seat World Cup.

The Three- and Five-Gaited U.S. riders had their final training session throughout the week of July 6, during the Lexington Junior League Charity Horse Show in Lexington, Ky. With coaches Nancy Becker and Gary Garone, the team had a productive week and seem poised for success.

The U.S. Saddle Seat Team consists of:

Three-Gaited
Aleia Brown/15/Dayton, Ohio
Quinn Mercier/19/Auburn, N.H.
Macey Miles/14/Rockport, Ind.
Kristen Smith/20/Crestwood, Ky.
Nadine Van Zomeren/18/Leighton, Iowa
Brooke Boyer/17/Johnston, Iowa (alternate)

Five-Gaited
Maisie Benfield/13/Louisville, Ky.
McGee Bosworth/16/Greenville, S.C.
Emily Gutenkunst/18/Pewaukee, Wis.
William Nalty/15/Metairie, La.
Eleanor Rainbolt-Forbes/15/Oklahoma City, Okla.
Sydney Shaw/16/Scottsdale, Az. (alternate)

The Three-Gaited competition takes place Tuesday, July 22 and Thursday, July 24, while the Five-Gaited team members will enter the competition ring on Wednesday, July 23 and Friday, July 25. On their respective days, the riders will perform rail and pattern work in front of the judging panel made up of David Brent (CAN), Michael Craghead (USA), and Hugo Visser (RSA). On Friday afternoon, the Closing Ceremonies will be held announcing the winners of the international competition.

The USA Equestrian Trust and the United Professional Horsemen's Association have provided grant support for 2014. The team and competition are also supported by generous donors 6D Ranch, the Brown Family, and the Rainbolt-Forbes family, amongst other supporters listed on our website.

For more information about the U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team and the 2014 Saddle Seat World Cup, go to www.usasaddleseatworldcup.org.

Watch all of phases of the 2014 Saddle Seat World Cup on USEFNetwork.com.