Gladstone, NJ-September 24, 2001-Jamie Taylor of Tarzana, CA riding Miss Molly, owned by Cindy Margolis, won the 2001 BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search Finals-West held at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, CA, September 20-22. Taylor, who had placed third in last year's Finals, is trained by Nick Karazissis of Far West Farms.

United States Equestrian Team (USET) veteran rider, Hap Hansen, and highly respected equitation judge, Marcia Williams, judged the Finals, in which thirty-five young riders competed.

"It was an amazing win for me and still hasn't sunk in. Having competed in the past, the BET/USET Finals is one of my favorite medal classes to compete in and I really enjoyed every phase of the competition," commented Taylor. The BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search Finals consist of four competition phases designed to provide competitors with a challenging and rigorous final and help the USET identify future international competitors. In the Flat Phase, riders perform specific test of their riding skills without jumps; in the Gymnastic Phase, riders jump combinations of obstacles. During the Jumping Phase, competitors negotiate a grand prix style jumping course of fences. In Phase Four, only the top four riders return to begin a ride off phase. During the final phase, riders compete with their own horse over a course of jumps, and then ride each of the other entries' horses over the same course.

Finals on the East and West coasts are open to riders 21 years old and younger who have qualified through their placement in BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search classes held throughout the year across the United States. The 2001 BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search Finals - East will be held at the USET Headquarters and Olympic Training Center in Gladstone, NJ, October 6-7.

Started in 1965 as the USET Medal program, the BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search encourages Young Rider development and awards USET Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals to competitors who have won BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search classes held at horse shows throughout the United States. In 1982, the program incorporated year-end Finals as a further goal. BET initiated its USET sponsorship program in 1997. Black Entertainment Television and BET On Jazz support the Team's show jumping program as title sponsor of the BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search and as presenting sponsor of the USET Show Jumping Talent Derby held each year at the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions.

The United States Equestrian Team is a non-profit organization that selects, trains, equips and finances equestrians of the highest possible standard to represent our country in major international competition, including the Olympic Games and the World Championships. To accomplish this, the USET seeks out and nurtures the development of talented athletes - riders, drivers and horses - and provides the support and guidance they need to help them attain their fullest potential. For more information on the USET, please call (908) 234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org.