November 3, 1999-The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Show Jumping squad won the Samsung Nations' Cup at the 41st annual Washington International Horse Show, October 24-31, at the USAirways Arena in Landover, MD.

In the two-round Nations' Cup competition, the USET finished on top with 8 faults. Switzerland finished second with 16.75 faults, followed by Italy with 20.5 and Canada with 36.75. Riding for the U.S. squad were Alison Firestone of Upperville, VA; Margie Engle of Wellington, FL; Leslie Howard of Westport, CT; and Peter Wylde of Dover Plains, NY. This is the same four-rider squad that won the team Silver Medal at the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada last summer.

The Nations' Cup featured 16 riders, four members to a team. In the first round, Firestone on Royal Future, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Bertram R. Firestone, and Engle on Hidden Creek's Alvaretto, owned by Hidden Creek Farm, both posted clear rounds for the U.S, while Howard, on Jane Clark's Clover Leaf, finished with four faults. Wylde and Macanudo DeNiro, owned by Chestnut Ridge Farm, completed the course with two rails down and their eight-fault round became the drop score (best three team scores per round count towards team total).

In the second round, Firestone and Wylde each rode clean, while Howard scored four faults. Fourth in the order of go for the USET, Engle did not have to ride in the second round, as the USET had already clinched the win. The USET has won the Washington International Horse Show's Nations' Cup a record 17 times.