Stellenbosch, South Africa - Excitement is building for the 2016 International Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup getting underway this week in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Under the guidance of  coaches Kent Swalla (Columbia, Mo.), David Cater (Dunbarton, N.H.) and Pam Roush (Lutz, Fla.), the U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team will compete against teams from Canada, Namibia, and South Africa for the coveted Three- and Five-Gaited World Cup trophies. Team practices began Monday, July 4 and will continue on Tuesday, July 5, with the competition to be held July 7-9.  The judging panel will consist of Cindy Mugnier (Belchertown, Mass.), Aretha van Rooyen (South Africa), and Terry Johnson (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada).

The International Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup is a bi-annual competition which originated in the early 1980s with an informal exchange of saddle seat athletes in the United States and South Africa. The event features amateur athletes who compete for individual scores, which ultimately accumulate toward a total team score. The athletes compete on horses they are not familiar with which are supplied by the host competition – a true test of their riding skills. The competition consists of four segments, to be completed in two phases held over three days: rail work, where the athletes compete as a group, and then individual workouts.

The U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team consists of the following athletes:
Three-Gaited
Aleia Brown (Dayton, Ohio)
Cameron Kay (W. Bloomfield, Mich.)
Courtney McGinnis (Santa Barbara, Calif.)
Faith Robbins (Carmel, Ind.)
Kasey Saccocia (Halifax, Mass.)
Molly Codeanne (Wethersfield, Conn.)

Five-Gaited
Allie Poovey (Winston Salem, N.C.)
Ashley Brandies (Jesup, Ga.)
Ashley Stewart (Pfafftown, N.C.)
Cailin Bridges (Salisbury, Mass.)
Catherine Wheeler (Keswick, Va.)
Rose Marie Wheeler (Anchorage, Ky.)

The U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team is proudly sponsored by USA Equestrian Trust, United Professional Horsemen’s Association, ModJods, Becker Brothers LLC, Ceil and Kenny Wheeler, Clifton Foundation Inc., Kim and John Stewart/Scriptor Software, Michael and Lori Robbins, The Schaffel Family, and other generous donors.

For more information about the event and a complete list of supporters, visit www.usasaddleseatworldcup.org or contact Lori Nelson, USEF Senior Director of National Affiliate, Competition and Alliance Partner Relationships, at [email protected]. 

The 2016 International Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup will be live streamed by SilverMane Media. The link will be on their web page, www.internationalshowhorse.com, as well as on the Show Horse App. Follow their Facebook page for daily updates on schedules.

The U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team has taken over the USEF Snapchat account. Be sure to check it out to get a behind-the-scenes look at the International Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup.