Jerez de la Frontera, Spain–August, 10, 2002–The 2002 World Equestrian Games, the fourth ever held, officially began on Tuesday with a spectacular opening ceremony that included a special message from HRH La Infanta Dona Pilar, the President of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and HRH King Juan Carlos I of Spain, who declared the Games open. Over fifty nations are expected to compete in the WEG, which hosts World Championships in seven disciplines of equestrian sport.

The US athletes from all seven disciplines – dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, reining, show jumping, and vaulting – were well represented in the Parade of Nations, entering the arena just before the home country of Spain. The theme of the ceremony was the Pure Spanish Horse (PRE) which included the Royal Guard, Jerez Military Stud, and the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art that performed a series of incredible movements featuring the “airs above the ground” and the “cobra”, all representative of the Andalusian equestrian culture. The unique ceremony’s message was to show the enthusiasm of Jerez, known as the horse capital of Spain.

Competition begins on Wednesday with the first day of Grand Prix (team) Dressage and Team Vaulting. Riding on Wednesday for the United States Equestrian Team (USET) will be Susan Blinks, riding Flim Flam, owned by Fritz Kundrun and Dressage Sponsor Corporation, and Debbie McDonald and Brentina, owned by Peggy and Parry Thomas. Guenter Seidel riding Nikolaus 7, owned by Dick and Jane Brown, and Lisa Wilcox on Relevant, owned by Gundula Vorwerk and Dr. Claus Crone-Munzebrock, will ride on Thursday. The USET Vaulting squad, represented by the Free Artists Creative Equestrians (FACE) Team of California, will also be competing on Wednesday. For more information on the teams of all seven disciplines and for complete WEG coverage, visit the USET website at www.uset.org.

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.