Tampa, FL—February 27, 2002—Show jumping teams from Argentina, Canada, and Ireland are ready to meet a top team of U.S. horses and riders in the first outdoor Nations’ Cup ever held in the U.S.

The $50,000 Samsung Nations’ Cup, presented by Canadian National, is set for Friday, March 8 during the Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club. The Nations’ Cup is sanctioned by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) and will help determine which countries qualify to compete in the 2002 Samsung Nations’ Cup World Final in Donaueschingen, Germany in August.

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) has named a top team that features three of the four riders from the United States’ 2000 Olympic team – Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, Lauren Hough of Ocala, FL, and Laura Kraut of Oconomowoc, WI – in addition to McLain Ward of Brewster, NY. The alternate is Kim Frey of Hume, VA. The riders on the U.S. team were chosen based on their ranking on the USET Computer List as of January 25, 2002. Chef d’Equipe (coach) will be Frank Chapot, the six-time U.S. Olympic rider who has guided the USET show jumping program for the last 20 years.

Riding for Argentina will be Martin Mallo, Guillermo Obligado, Ramiro Quintana and Federico Sztyrle. Three-time U.S. Olympic medalist Joe Fargis of Southampton, NY will be Chef d’Equipe.

Canada will be represented by Harold Chopping, Karen Cudmore, Lauren Hayes and Mark Samuel. Pierre Jolicoeur will be Chef d’Equipe.

Riding for Ireland will be Kevin Babington, Damian Gardner, Darragh Kearins and Cian O’Connor. Jimmy Doyle will be Chef d’Equipe.

In addition to the Samsung Nations’ Cup, the week will feature the $100,000 Cosequin U.S. Open Jumper Championship, presented by Canadian National, on Sunday, March 10. The international field of riders will compete for individual prizes in this Grand Prix which is a featured stop on the American Grandprix Association Series of Show Jumping.

The 2002 Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival offers $3 million in total prizes during an eleven-week series, which runs in Wellington, FL (January 23-March 10) and Tampa, FL (March 13-March 31). The series then returns to Wellington for the culminating event-the American Grandprix Association Championship, April 3-7.

The Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival is presented by the nation’s premier producer of hunter, jumper and dressage shows, Stadium Jumping, Inc. President Eugene R. Mische is known for his innovative, professional approach to horse show management, bringing the finest equestrian facilities, judges, and support staff for an unforgettable series of shows. Bringing the Nations’ Cup to the Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival is yet one more achievement in Mische’s outstanding career. For more information on the Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival and all the exciting events and activities, please call Stadium Jumping, Inc. at (813) 253-2782 or in Wellington at (561) 793-JUMP or visit www.stadiumjumping.com.