The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation is pleased to announce that it awarded grants totaling $2,295,000 to the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) for high-performance programs in 2007.

The USET Foundation funding provided support, in whole or in part, for athletes in seven high-performance disciplines to participate in national and international events. The high-performance disciplines are dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, reining, show jumping and vaulting.

"The USET Foundation was able to provide funding for high-performance athletes through its fundraising efforts and the generous donations of contributors nationwide," said USET Foundation Executive Director Bonnie B. Jenkins. "We offer our heartfelt thanks to all those who support the sport through their contributions. Our donors have directly helped U.S. athletes succeed as representatives of the United States in international competition."

USEF CEO John Long noted, "In 2007 the USET Foundation continued its commitment towards funding our country's international high-performance sport programs. Other large countries can rely on government funding and even lottery proceeds to fund their high-performance equestrian programs. We rely on the men, women and families who contribute to the Foundation each year. On behalf of the USEF, we wish to both thank and congratulate the USET Foundation and all those that participated in the fundraising efforts on another spectacular year."

Highlighting the list of accomplishments for high-performance athletes in 2007 was the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the U.S. teams brought home eight medals, including Team Gold and Individual Gold and Silver in dressage; Team Gold and Individual Gold, Silver, and Bronze in eventing; and Team Bronze in show jumping.

USET Foundation funding also provided support for the U.S. driving team at the FEI World Combined Pony Driving Championship, where the U.S. won Team Bronze and Miranda Cadwell claimed the Individual Gold Medal in the Pairs—a first-time accomplishment for the United States, and support for show jumpers competing in the 2007 Samsung Super League tour, where the U.S. finished in fourth place. The Foundation fully funded the 2007 Show Jumping Developing/Young Rider Tour, which fielded a squad of five top-notch riders, ages 18 to 25, for a three-city European tour winning the Nations Cup competition in Falsterbo, Sweden, and Hamina, Finland.

Training programs also benefited from USET Foundation funding. Four of the best three-day event riders in the U.S. met in Ocala, FL, for a training session with Captain Mark Phillips, Chef d'Equipe of the U.S. Three-Day Event Team. Vaulters honed their skills at a training camp in Woodside, CA, with three world-class clinicians.

"Our mission is to support our athletes, promote international excellence, and build for the future, and with that mission in mind, the USET Foundation will strive to increase our annual fundraising totals each year," said Jenkins. "With the 2008 Olympic Games and 2010 World Equestrian Games fast approaching, we look forward to providing our athletes with the best programs and opportunities to succeed at these international venues."