Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (US Equestrian) has named eight show jumping athletes to the Short List for the FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG) Tryon 2018 NetJets® U.S. Show Jumping Team. Athletes named to the Short List will compete at two of the following NetJets U.S. Show Jumping Team observation events: FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Poland, June 14 – 17; The Netherlands, June 21 – 24; CSIO5* Aachen, Germany, July 17 – 22; and Ireland, August 8 – 12. 

The following eight athletes have been named to the Short List (in alphabetical order):

Jamie Barge (Malibu, Calif.) 

Margie Engle (Wellington, Fla.)

Lillie Keenan (New York, N.Y.)

Laura Kraut (Wellington, Fla.)

Beezie Madden (Cazenovia, N.Y.)

Devin Ryan (Long Valley, N.J.)

Adrienne Sternlicht (Greenwich, Conn.)

McLain Ward (Brewster, N.Y.)

Selection was conducted over two phases with Phase I concluding in December 2017 and Phase II concluding in April 2018. The following information explains how U.S. Show Jumping Chef d’Equipe and Technical Advisor Robert Ridland, in consultation with the Advisors, selected each athlete for the Short List:

Phase I

In accordance with the U.S. Show Jumping Selection Procedures for the WEG, the four highest-ranked athletes on the December 15, 2017, Rolex/USEF Show Jumping “Average Ranking List” were named to the Short List.

Madden

Ward 

Kent Farrington (Wellington, Fla.) and Lauren Hough (Wellington, Fla.) were originally named to the short list on April 27, 2018, based on the December 15, 2017, Rolex/USEF Show Jumping “Average Ranking List”. As previously announced, Farrington and Hough opted to withdraw themselves from the short list. 

View the December 15, 2017, Rolex/USEF Show Jumping “Average Ranking List” here.

Phase II

In accordance with the U.S. Show Jumping Selection Procedures for the WEG, the three highest-ranked athletes on the April 6, 2018, Rolex/USEF Show Jumping Ranking “Horse List”, who had not been previously selected, were recommended to the Short List.

Engle

Kraut

Sternlicht

In accordance with the U.S. Show Jumping Selection Procedures for the WEG, the highest placed U.S. athlete in the final overall standing of the 2018 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping™ Final, who had not been previously selected to the Short List, was recommended for the Short List provided that the athlete finished in the top-10 of the final overall standings.

Ryan

In accordance with the Selection Procedures for the for the WEG, the Chef d'Equipe, in consultation with the Advisors, named two athletes to the Short List based on discretion.

Barge

Keenan

Jessica Springsteen (Colts Neck, N.J.) was originally named to the Short List on April 27, 2018, based on discretion. Springsteen has withdrawn herself from consideration. As such, Lillie Keenan (New York, N.Y.) replaced Springsteen on the Short List, as approved by the US Equestrian Board of Directors and in accordance with the WEG U.S. Show Jumping Team selection procedures.

Following the FEI Nominated Entries deadline of August 13, 2018, and no later than the closing date for the FEI Definite Entries for the Event of September 10, 2018, the Chef d’Equipe, in consultation with the Advisors, will recommend up to five athletes and 10 horses to the Squad, subject to the recommendation of the USEF Jumping Sport Committee or its designees and the approval of the Board of Directors or an Ad Hoc Selection Group approved by the Board of Directors. 

By no later than the to-be-determined assigned time for the declaration of starters, the Chef d’Equipe will evaluate the horses and athletes on the Squad and will name the Team of four athlete/horse combinations that will compete as well as the fifth athlete and/or horse that will serve as the Traveling Reserve.

U.S. Show Jumping can earn its qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games if they place in the top-six in the team event at the WEG. 

View the complete U.S. Show Jumping Team Selection Procedures for the WEG here.

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