Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – August 12, 2003 - With the horse inspection and the training day now complete, the show jumping events are set to begin at the 2003 Pan American Games with the first phase of competition scheduled for 8 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

Held at the newly-constructed Palmarejo Equestrian Center in Santo Domingo, a total of nine nations will comprise the Team competition. Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico and the United States will field full teams while individuals representing the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, and Peru will also be competing.

Scores from Wednesday’s competition will be carried forward to Thursday’s Team Final, run under the Nations Cup format, and will be used to determine the team medals. Following a day of rest, the Individual Final will be held on Saturday, August 16.

For the nine nations competing, more than medals hang in the balance as only three can earn a berth to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. The gold and silver medal teams will earn their ticket to the Olympics while a third country will qualify by totaling all four team members scores following the Team Final.

With a strong team, Brazil will be looking to defend the gold medal earned at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada. The United States, who claimed silver four years ago, will be looking for a gold medal performance this time around while Canada, the 1999 bronze medallists, will face stiff competition from Mexico and Colombia.

Individually, Ian Millar, 56, of Canada, making his ninth consecutive Pan American Games appearance, will be looking to defend his gold medal riding Promise Me, his nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding.

Mexico’s Javier Fernandez will act as course designer for the show jumping events while respected Colombian course designer and architect by trade, Juan Carlos Tafur, has designed and constructed obstacles that reflect the culture and heritage of the Dominican Republic. Footing expert Hugh Kincannon of the United States has ensured that the arena surfaces are of a true international standard. Sydney Olympic course designer and FEI Vice President Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela, who will act as the Technical Delegate, has been heavily involved in the design of the Palmarejo Equestrian Center, host to both the dressage and show jumping events.

Francois Ferland of Canada, President of the Ground Jury, Colombia’s Yolanda Matallana and Bernardo Lopez Davidson of El Salvador will officiate over the show jumping events.

For further information on the equestrian events at the Pan American Games, please visit the Dominican Republic Equestrian Federation’s website at: www.ecuestrerd.com and the official 2003 Pan American Games website at www.santodomingo2003.com.