Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has announced the riders who will represent the United States at the CSIO Wellington, March 9-13 during the Winter Equestrian Festival at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, FL. The USEF has also announced that Frank Chapot will serve as chef d’equipe.

Under the direction of Chapot, 2004 Olympic Show Jumping Team Silver medalists McLain Ward and Beezie Madden will join Kimberly Frey and Lauren Hough representing the United States at CSIO Wellington. The four riders were chosen based on their rankings on the USEF Computer List as of January 28, 2005, with the exception of first-ranked Peter Wylde, who declined to be considered, as he is presently based in Europe. Three alternate riders have also been selected: Laura Kraut, Schuyler Riley and Anne Kursinski.

The youngest rider to surpass $1 million in prize money, McLain Ward, of Brewster, NY, continues to add an impressive list of wins to his career highlights. Just three weeks into the 2005 season, Ward won round one of the $25,000 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) Challenge Cup. In 2004, Ward claimed a 5th place finish at the $100,000 AGA Championship and 1st place finish at the $100,000 National Horse Show Jumper Championship CSI-W, both in Wellington, and first place finishes at the $100,000 International Open Jumper President’s Cup Grand Prix in Washington D.C., the $75,000 New Albany Classic Invitational Grand Prix in New Albany, OH, and the $35,000 CSI-W Lexington Grand Prix in Lexington, KY.

Starting the 2005 competition season off on strong footing, Beezie Madden, of Cazenovia, NY, won the $35,000 Farr XTN Grand Prix of Palm Beach at the WEF in Wellington, FL. Madden’s 2004 placings include a 3rd place finish at the $34,000 Syracuse Cup and a 6th place finish at the $75,000 Budweiser Grand Prix, both in Syracuse, NY, a 5th place finish at the $100,000 International Open Jumper President’s Cup Grand Prix in Washington, D.C., and numerous international victories, including a 2nd place team finish at the Nation’s Cup in Aachen, Germany.

Making a name for herself as a consistent performer in 2004, Kimberly Frey, of Hume, VA, finished 5th at the $75,000 Budweiser Grand Prix in Syracuse, NY, 1st at the $40,000 Ariat Congressional Cup Grand Prix in Upper Marlboro, MD, 3rd at the $35,000 CSI-W Lexington Grand Prix in Lexington, KY, 1st at the $75,000 American Gold Cup CSI Level International in Devon, PA and 1st at the $75,000 HITS Grand Prix in Saugerties, NY.

Lauren Hough, of Wellington, FL, finished 2004 on a strong note with a 4th place finish at the $100,000 National Horse Show Jumper Championship in Wellington, FL, a 2nd place finish at the $100,000 International Open Jumper President’s Cup Grand Prix in Washington, D.C., a 2nd place finish at the $75,000 New Albany Classic Invitational Grand Prix in New Albany, OH, and a 2nd place finish at the $35,000 CSI-W Lexington Grand Prix in Lexington, KY.
~~~For more information, please contact Sarah Lane, Public Relations Manager at (859) 225-6974 or via email at [email protected]. USEF press releases are available on our web site – www.usef.org.