Burbank, CA - The 2006 USEF Talent Search Finals West has a record number of entries. Forty riders will contest the three phase competition hosted by the Los Angeles International Jumping Festival (Sept. 20-24). These Finals are one of the most prestigious competitions an equitation rider can contest, and are the only national championship held on the West Coast.

This year, the judges, Anne Kursinski and Carol Hoffman, have elected to run the Talent Search Finals over three days. In some years, the judges elect to hold the Flat Phase and Gymnastics Phase on the same day. Riders will perform in the Flat Phase on Thursday evening (Sept. 21) and the Gymnastics Phase on Friday evening (Sept. 22). Both of these phases will be held in the Los Angeles Equestrian Center’s covered Equidome in order to showcase the event.

On Saturday afternoon (Sept. 23), the riders will take to the Cricket Field for the Show Jumping Phase and Final Ride-off. The grass Cricket Field features natural obstacles, as well as open water and several sizes of liverpools. The Final Ride-off is exciting as the top four riders jump a shortened course on their horse and then the other three horses. This test is modeled after the format used to determine the individual champion at the quadrennial World Equestrian Games, where American Beezie Madden was the 2006 silver medalist, and former Californian Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum was the bronze medalist. Twenty years ago, in 1986, in Los Angeles Michaels-Beerbaum won the USEF Talent Search West (then known as the USET).

To honor the accomplishments of top four riders in the USEF Talent Search, the riders will be honored in a special presentation during the $50,000 Grand Prix of Los Angeles, a World Cup Qualifier, on Saturday night in front of the sell out crowd. Last year’s winner, Alex Maida will be on hand to help make the presentations.

The show also features the USEF Zones 8, 9 10 Hunter Seat Medal Regional Finals and Zones 8, 9, 10 Adult Equitation Regionals.

LEG Up Media will provide regular reports throughout the five day show, including current standings and highlights from the USEF Talent Search Finals West. Updates are sent via e-mail and posted on the Langer Equestrian Group website (www.langerequestrian.com).