Gladstone, NJ-June 4, 2003-Chris Kappler of Pittstown, NJ, and Lauren Hough of Wellington, FL, have been named United States Equestrian Team (USET) Co-Athletes of the Month for May. Kappler and Hough were subjectively chosen for two of the four positions on the show jumping team that will represent the United States at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic. This marks the first time since 1990 that any places on a U.S. show jumping team competing at a continental or world championship or Olympic Games will be held by riders chosen subjectively.

The Pan American Games selection process, developed initially by the Active Riders Committee and approved by the Executive Committees of both the United States Equestrian Team and USA Equestrian (USAE), allowed "Selectors to nominate one or two horse-and-rider combinations to the team before the conclusion of the trials."

When Kappler and Royal Kaliber, owned by Kappler and Kathy Kamine, won both the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational and the American Grandprix Association Championship within an eight-day period earlier this spring, the Selectors felt that these performances, plus the horse's impressive record last year, made it in the Team's best interest to have Kappler and Royal Kappler on the Pan American Games Team. Kappler and Royal Kaliber confirmed the strength of the Selectors' recommendation by winning the Grand Prix at Devon in Devon, PA, at the end of May.

Competing with a broken collar bone and separated shoulder suffered in early April at the AGA Championships in Wellington, FL, Hough and Windy City, owned by Peppercorn Ltd., jumped clear rounds in the first two of six selection trials in Lexington, KY. After considering her performance at Lexington, as well as her earlier international success, the Show Jumping Selectors voted unanimously to recommend that she be put on the Pan Am team.

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.