Wellington, FL—January 15, 2003—For the second year, the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) will host the Samsung Nations’ Cup, presented by CN, as part of its 2003 run, January 22 – April 6 in Wellington and Tampa, FL.

The Samsung Nations’ Cup, presented by CN, an international team show jumping competition recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), will take place during the Cosequin Wellington Finale CSIO***, March 5-9, the final week of the WEF’s seven-week stay at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, FL.

The United States, Canada, Great Britain, Russia, Argentina, Ireland, and Saudi Arabia have all accepted invitations to compete in the Nations’ Cup and CSIO. Germany, France, and the Netherlands have also been invited to compete, but have not yet submitted their entries.

In 2001, Wellington was the host of the U.S.’s first-ever outdoor Nation’s Cup competition. Wellington became only the fifth U.S. location for a Nations’ Cup since the first Nations’ Cup was held in London, England in 1909. The first Nations’ Cup in the U.S. was at the National Horse Show in New York in 1911. The National Horse Show continued to host Nations’ Cups through 1998, missing only the years 1914-1924 and 1942-1945. Other U.S. cities to host Nations’ Cups are Boston (1929-1932), Harrisburg (1948-1963, 1965-1966, 1969-1972) and Washington D.C. (1973-2001).

The United States squad of Margie Goldstein-Engle, Lauren Hough, Laura Kraut, and McLain Ward won last year’s Samsung Nations’ Cup, presented by CN. Finishing in second behind the U.S. was Canada, and Ireland took third. Argentina finished in fourth.

In addition to its seven weeks of competition in Wellington, the 2003 Winter Equestrian Festival will also include three weeks of competition in Tampa, FL, culminating with the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational in Raymond James Stadium on March 29.

The WEF then returns to Wellington for the American Grandprix Association National Championship, April 2-6.

Several FEI-recognized dressage competitions will also be held at the Winter Equestrian Festival, including qualifiers for USET selection trials for the 2003 Pan-American Games to be held this summer in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Other WEF highlights include the following:

$430,000 Amateur-Owner Jumper Series
$350,000 USA Equestrian ‘AA’ Hunter Series
$230,000 Junior Jumper Series
$96,000 Adult Amateur Jumper Series
$25,000 Windsome WEF Dressage/Jumper Spectacular
$16,000 Pony Jumper Series
R.W. Mutch Equitation Championship

The 2003 Winter Equestrian Festival also includes the WEF $1,000,000 Grand Prix Series featuring the following:

Nutrena/Western Hay Grand Prix of Palm Beach
Bayer/USET Wellington Cup, presented by Fleet Financial
Kilkenny/ICH Internationale Cup
Idle Dice Classic
Zada Enterprises, LLC Masters Cup
Tommy Bahama Florida Open, presented by RV Sales of Broward
Samsung Nations’ Cup, presented by CN
Cosequin U.S. Open Jumper Championship, presented by CN
Grand Prix of Tampa
Budweiser American Invitational, presented by The Tampa Tribune

Admission to the Winter Equestrian Festival at Wellington is free every Wednesday, and children under 12 are always admitted free. Adult admission is $5.00 on Thursdays and Fridays, $10.00 on Saturdays, and $15.00 on Sundays. Senior citizens are $5.00 every Thursday through Sunday. All adults who attend the Festival any Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday will receive a coupon entitling them to a two-for-one admission on that weekend.

For more information on the Winter Equestrian Festival and all its exciting events and activities, please call Stadium Jumping, Inc. in Wellington at (561) 793-JUMP or visit www.stadiumjumping.com.