Maggie Jayne, 18, of Elgin, Illinois, defeated a field of 259 of the nation's top junior riders to win the 2002 USA/Pessoa National Hunter Seat Medal Final held Sunday, October 13, at the Pennsylvania National in Harrisburg, PA.

George Morris of Pittstown, NJ, and Kip Rosenthal of Brewster, NY, judged this year's championship. The championship was decided after three rounds of competition and judged on equitation, the rider's ability to ride their horses with control, competency and compatibility.

The USA/Pessoa Hunter Seat Equitation Medal is a coveted USA Equestrian prize and proves to be a significant stepping-stone for international competitions as 30% of past winners have gone on to represent the U.S. internationally. This year over a thousand Hunter Seat Equitation Medal qualifying classes were held at USA Equestrian recognized horse shows through out the country, resulting in approximately 400 young riders qualifying for this event.

Maggie Jayne adds her name to the Adrian Van Sinderen Memorial Trophy, joining famous winners from the past including Victor Hugo-Vidal, George Morris and Katie Monahan-Prudent. This year's winner received a special keeper trophy, a Triple Crown Custom horse cooler, a Pessoa saddle and a Mountain Horse Classic Rider Jacket.

Results:

• 1. Maggie Jayne, Elgin, IL
• 2. Katie Gardner, Westlake Village, CA
• 3. Derek Braun, Ocala, FL
• 4. Kathryn Volk, Blissfield, MI
• 5. Allison LaJoie, Laguna, CA
• 6. Lara Gay, Ridgefield, CT
• 7. Katelyn Denby, Somers, CT
• 8. Michael R. Morrissey, Bradenton, FL
• 9. Clara Linder, Cincinnati, OH
• 10. Whitney Hollinger, Medfield, MA
• 11. Kate Landau, Purchase, NY

For more information, please contact Sarah Holt, Public Relations on (859) 225 6974 or via email at sholt@equestrian.org. USA Equestrian press releases are available on our web site - http://www.equestrian.org/ .

USA Equestrian Inc., as the National Equestrian Federation of the U.S., is the regulatory body for the Olympic and World Championship sports of dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, reining, show jumping, and vaulting, as well as 19 other breeds and disciplines of equestrian competition. As the country's largest multi-breed organization, the Federation has over 80,000 members and recognizes more than 2,800 competitions nationwide each year. It governs all aspects of competition, including educating and licensing all judges, stewards, and technical delegates who officiate at these shows.

VISION STATEMENT
The vision of USA Equestrian is to provide leadership for equestrian sport in the United States of America, promoting the pursuit of excellence from the grass roots to the Olympic Games, based on a foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare of its horses, and embracing this vision, to be the best national equestrian federation in the world.