National Endurance Team/Short List Selected for the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation(r) is pleased to announce the selection of the National Endurance Team/Short List for the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games. Twelve horse and rider combinations and six ranked alternates were selected to continue training for the traveling team that will represent the U.S. at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, August 20 - September 3. The endurance competition will begin on August 21, 2006, the first competition of the Games.

The top 12 horse and rider combinations are listed alphabetically as follows:

* Betty Baker of Honey Brook, PA, riding Synematic, a 9-year-old Arabian gelding, owned by Betty and Steve Baker
* Julie Bullock of Grottos, VA, riding Iron Wyll, a 9-year-old Arabian/Quarter Horse gelding, owned by Julie Bullock
* Kathryn Downs of Somerville, ME, riding Pygmalion, a 10-year-old Arabian gelding, owned by Kathryn Downs
* Joseph Mattingley of Scales Mound, IL, riding SA Laribou, an 11-year-old Arabian gelding, owned by Michelle and Joseph Mattingley
* Jennifer Niehaus of Cloverdale, CA, riding Cheyenne XII, a 14-year-old Arabian gelding, owned by Ruth Waltenspiel
* Stephen Rojek of South Woodstock, VT, riding Finch, a 10-year-old Arabian gelding, owned by Stephen Rojek
* Christoph Schork of Moab, UT, and Taj Rai Hasan, a 7-year-old Arabian gelding, owned by Christoph Schork
* Margaret Sleeper, DVM, of Frenchtown, NJ, riding Shyrocco Troilus, a 14-year-old half Arabian gelding, owned by Margaret Sleeper
* Joyce Sousa of Hydesville, CA, riding LV Integrity, a 13-year-old Arabian gelding, owned by Joyce and Dennis Sousa
* Susan Summers of Gifford, WA, riding Mags Motivator, a 10-year-old Arabian gelding, owned by Susan and Dennis Summers
* Barry Waitte of Los Gatos, CA, riding LV Cambridge, a 14-year-old Arabian gelding, owned by Carol and Barry Waitte
* Susan White-Hedgecock of Park City, UT and AA Montego, a 16-year-old
Arabian gelding, owned by Tony Hedgecock

The six ranked alternates are as follows:

1. Heather Stevens of Ashland, MT, riding RSA Count LaQuen, a 10-year-old Arabian gelding owned by Bill Stevens
2. Valerie Kanavy of Ft. Valley, VA, riding Bahia Gold, an 8-year-old Arabian gelding, owned by Valerie and Larry Kanavy
3. Dennis Summers of Gifford, WA riding SHA Ebony Rose, a 14-year-old Arabian cross mare, owned by Susan and Dennis Summers
4. Sandra Connor of Conowingo, MD, riding Elegant Pride, an 11-year-old Arabian gelding, owned by Lana Wright
5. Candy Barbo, of Duluth, MN, riding CR Windsor, an 8-year-old Arabian gelding, owned by Candy Barbo
6. Sara Hunt-Engsberg of Fairburn, GA, riding Koweta Vanna Kaye, a 12-year-old Arabian mare, owned by Sarah Hunt-Engsberg

The list was created through an extensive selection process by a committee who observed the horses and riders at various events during the past two years. The final six horses and five riders will be selected at the completion of two training events that take place in early July.