Contact:
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
4047 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington, KY 40511-8483
Tel: (859) 258-2472
Fax (859) 231-6662
Web site: www.usef.org
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 11, 2008

By Stacey Meier and Melissa Davis

Lexington, KY- In a unanimous decision by the judges, Brooke Jacobs defeated four talented riders in the 2008 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final. Despite the heat, Jacobs completed the rail and pattern work to outshine the competition at the Lexington Junior League Horse Show at the famous The Red Mile racetrack.

Jacobs, of Georgetown, KY, claimed the title aboard CH My Southern Charm, a bay Saddlebred gelding owned by Werk Way Stables and trained by Brent Jacobs. Though Jacobs has been riding CH My Southern Charm for about four years, he is new to equitation classes. Even so, Jacobs was very pleased with her ride.

"This is the second equitation pattern he has really ever had to do," said Jacobs. "He is a little green on patterns but we knew he could do it and we were hoping he would do it in the ring. I was very pleased when we were done. He got through it and actually did pretty well."

The USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final is in its eighth consecutive year. Jacobs has been competing in the competition since the inception in 2001 when she claimed her first title in 2006 riding Callaway's Show Me When.

Riders that compete in the USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final are only allowed to win the title twice. With Jacobs win today, it was bittersweet for her but she was very excited to have won the title again to become the only rider to have done so.

"It's going to be sad to not be able to show in it again but I'm happy that I won so it's a little bit of both," said Jacobs. "It's really been a lot of fun."

In addition to showing the rest of the summer, Jacobs has been selected to compete on the U.S. World Cup Team this September in South Africa.

The USEF Medal Final is one of the most prestigious Medal Finals in the country dating back to 1937. Historically, the Medal program represented the top level of competition for junior riders. It was decided in 2001 that a Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final would give adults the ability to continue to compete for the prestigious honor. Riders are judged fifty percent on rail work as a group and fifty percent on individual tests (a pattern).

Following the awards presentation, all exhibitors were honored at the annual USEF reception where each participant and instructor received commemorative gifts.

Final Results of the 2008 USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Finals: 1. Brooke Jacobs, Georgetown, KY, riding CH My Southern Charm 2. Victoria McHenry, New Orleans, LA, riding Creditworthy 3. Morgan Wolin, Chicago, IL, riding Linus Van Pelt 4. Christie Milbury, Bow, NH, riding Spirited Edition 5. Lindsey Greenwald, Tomball, TX, riding Santana On Broadway

Judging this year's Finals were Richard Harris, Tim Lockard and Rick Wallen.

For more information, please contact Carrie Mortensen, USEF Director of Breeds and Western Discipline at (859) 225-6986 or via email cmortensen@usef.org.

ENDS

The vision of the United States Equestrian Federation(r) is to provide leadership for equestrian sport in the United States of America by promoting the pursuit of excellence from the grassroots to the Olympic Games, based on a foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare of its human and equine athletes.