Gladstone, NJ-December 4, 2002-Sydney Olympian Lauren Hough of Wellington, FL was named United States Equestrian Team (USET) Athlete of the Month for November for winning the $100,000 National Horse Show Jumper Championship on the final day of the 119th annual National Horse Show in Wellington, FL. The Championship was a qualifying class helping to determine which U.S. show jumpers will earn the right to compete at the 2003 Budweiser World Cup Final next April in Las Vegas, NV.

Hough maneuvered her 2000 Sydney Olympic mount Clasiko, a 12-year-old brown Holsteiner gelding, to his first grand prix victory, going clear in the jump-off round in 42.08 seconds, beating out 1992 Olympic individual Bronze Medalist Norman Dello Joio who finished second with a time of 48.98 seconds on Glasgow.

"It's very difficult going first in a two-horse jump-off, especially with Norman behind you," said Hough, who won last year's Grand Prix at the National Horse Show aboard Windy City. "Clasiko is not a very fast horse, but he's been going great."

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.