The U.S. Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup hosted a benefit dinner on Sunday evening, July 4, at the beautiful and historic Spindletop Hall in Lexington, KY. The 2010 Gold Medal Gala featured cocktails, dinner and both live and silent auctions. Auction items included stallion breedings, barn visits, rides on very special horses, vacation packages, tack and equipment, and other unique items, including signature-themed baskets designed by the riders of the U.S. team.

The event, which sold out for the first time in its history, raised just over $20,000. All proceeds from the event will support the U.S. World Cup in funding the 2010 teams, hosting the international competition, and promoting saddle seat equitation and saddle seat breeds at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG).

The U.S. Team will be competing at the 2010 International Saddle Seat World Cup competition to be held October 6–8 in conjunction with the Kentucky Fall Classic Horse Show at Shelby County Fairgrounds in Shelbyville, KY. The teams will also be participating in exhibitions at the prestigious Equine Village during the final two days of the WEG. The U.S. will be taking on three- and five-gaited teams from Canada, Germany, Great Britain and South Africa.

The U.S. Team participated in a special presentation during the Friday evening session of the Lexington Junior League Horse Show at the Red Mile. New five-gaited team alternate Alexis Pearson of Salisbury, MA, made her first appearance as part of the U.S. Team during the Gold Medal Gala and team presentation. The members of the 2010 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Teams are:

Three-Gaited
- Nick Maupin (Sussex, WI)
- Brittany McGinnis (Fishers, IN)
- Jessica Moctezuma (Hardwick, NJ)
- Alexis Muniz (Coconut Creek, FL)
- Abby Mutrux (University City, MO)
- Taylor Newton (Alternate) (Lizton, IN)
- Coach/Manager: Jimmy and Helen Robertson (Shelbyville, KY)

Five-Gaited
- Brittany Baird (Hinsdale, IL)
- Jacqueline Beck (Aliso Viejo, CA)
- Drew Taylor Hewitt (Bermuda Run, NC)
- Ali Judah (Louisville, KY)
- Scooter Scheurich (New Orleans, LA)
- Alexis Pearson (Alternate) (Salisbury, MA)
- Coach/Manager: Barbe Smith and James Nichols (New Orleans, LA)

For more information about the teams and the international Saddle Seat World Cup event, including sponsorships, contributions and horse donations, please contact Executive Secretary Christy O’Donnell at [email protected] or (813) 760-0465.

The mission of the U.S. Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup is to expand the presence of Saddle Seat Equitation on both national and international levels through team-based competition and promotion of the discipline by our athletes and officials. The U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup is a registered 501(c)(3) corporation.