Lexington, KY ­– Following this weekend's final North American League qualifying competitions in Loxahatchee, Florida and Burbank, California, two horses and riders have been named to represent the United States at the 2008 FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final in 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, on March 27 - 30.

Courtney King of New Milford, Connecticut partnered with Christine McCarthy's classy veteran Idocus put in a solid performance at the PhelpsSports.com Palm Beach Dressage Derby (CDI-W/Y) to stay on top of the North American League leaderboard with an overall point total of 221.85. King rode the 18-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion to a sixth place finish in the 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Final in Las Vegas, and were Grand Prix Reserve National Champions at the 2007 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions in Gladstone, New Jersey.

In a tight point race for the second World Cup invitation and a trip to The Netherlands on the line, it took an outstanding ride to earn the ticket. Jane Hannigan of Harvard, Massachusetts proved she was up to the challenge, riding her own Maksymilian, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, to a tremendous freestyle performance in Loxahatchee. Earning a score of 72.85 percent edged Jane and Maksymilian into second place in League standings with an overall point total of 212.26 and a chance to represent the United States for the first time in international competition.

For more information please contact Joanie Morris, High Performance Communications Manager at: [email protected]