For many young riders, the North American Young Riders' Championships serves as a springboard to an international equestrian career with the dreams and visions of Olympic glory. This was also the case for Elise Haas. As a 16-year-old Elise won the individual bronze medal in Show Jumping at the 1995 NAYRC at Temple Farms in Wadsworth, Ill.

The United States Equestrian Team spotted talent and potential in the young show jumping rider and selected her for the USET Developing Rider program. This gave her the opportunity to ride for the USA in the Nation's Cup along with teammates, Megan Johnstone, Gaby Salick, Laura Bowery and Christine Tribble. With her trainers Katie Monahan-Prudent and Katie's husband, Henri Prudent as her guides, Haas covered the CSI in Geesteren (The Netherlands), and the CSIO's in Lummen (Belgium), where the team placed second, and Nations Cup team victories in CSIO Falsterbo (Sweden), and Budapest (Hungary).

On the day before Elise won the Amsterdam Grand Prix, she described the Nation's Cup victory of the American Team at the CSI-O Falsterbo, Sweden, as her most memorable experience. "Three out of four riders from the team are girls from California. When I was young I used to look up to them when they rode their hunter ponies. It's very meaningful for me to do it [win the Samsung Nations Cup Trophy] with them," she said.

Her European tour has been one filled with exciting experiences. "The horse shows are the best in Europe. Each show has its own character and atmosphere. The public is so knowledgeable. They form a big enthusiastic crowd that follows the sport," Haas explains. But still, being the rookie among an established pack of show jumping riders, who have an average of 20 years of competitive experience, Elise often feels intimidated. "You have the best riders here in Europe and as a Young Rider I'm nervous and often feel intimidated, but when you remember that you are all facing the same challenge, you get more comfortable."

On a lighter note, Haas confesses her favorite 'food' in Europe is French champagne and misses fresh fruit and vegetables from her home state California. "Although Europe is great the thing I miss most about home is spending time with my friends."