Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation® (USEF) announced the newest addition to www.usef.org – the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) content area. Found online at www.usef.org/weg2006, this interactive media tool includes a description of each of the seven international disciplines that will be represented at the WEG in Aachen, Germany, August 20-September 3, as well as bios on the more than 40 U.S. athletes. The U.S. athletes range in age from 10 to 63. In addition, more than 40 horses make the journey overseas for these equine championships, which are held in a different location every four years.

Equestrian sports enthusiasts will find the latest news from the event, with daily competition coverage beginning August 21 on the USEF.org homepage, and also on the special WEG content area online. In addition, fans can currently read official news from the USEF leading up to the Games.

During the WEG, check out our “live from Aachen” blog written by correspondent Brian Sosby, Editor of EQUESTRIAN magazine. Get an insider’s view of the activities surrounding the Games, plus interesting insights into the city of Aachen, Germany, and the non-stop energy and excitement that surround the world’s most prestigious international equestrian competition.

With 500,000 fans expected to attend, this is truly an international equestrian showdown. The disciplines showcased at the 2006 WEG are dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, reining, show jumping and vaulting. U.S. equestrian athletes will compete for team and individual honors among other top riders from around the world. Over 400,000 tickets have already been sold, and nearly 1,000 athletes from 61 countries are preparing to show the world their best efforts.

The U.S. is currently one of only seven countries that will be sending teams and individuals to compete in all seven disciplines.

At the 2002 WEG in Jerez, Spain, the U.S. walked away with a total of eight medals: three in reining (Individual Gold, Individual Silver and Team Gold), one in eventing (Team Gold), one in dressage (Team Silver), one in driving (Team Silver), one in show jumping (Individual Bronze) and one in vaulting (Individual Bronze).
~~~For more information, please contact Jeannie Blancq Putney, National Marketing Communications, at (859) 225-6974, or via e-mail at [email protected].