Gladstone, NJ--July 31, 2000- Constance Walker of Plainfield, New Hampshire on DML Smoke Silver has been added to the United States Equestrian Team (USET) squad of riders and horses that will represent the United States in the 2000 World Endurance Championship to be held August 26 in Compiegne, France.

Walker, who had been named previously as an alternate, was added to the squad when Jennifer Nice of Orange,CA riding Al Baraaq withdrew for veterinary reasons.

In addition to Walker, already named to the squad of six (in alphabetical order) are:

Darolyn Butler-Dial of Humble Texas on DJB Albanet,

Marcia Smith, DVM of Loomis, California on Saamson CC,

Rita Swift of Worthington, West Virginia on Just Cass,

Stephanie Teeter of Princeton, Idaho on Nature's Kruschev, and

Darla Westlake of Dexter, Oregon on MC Rams Z.

In addition, reigning World Champion Valerie Kanavy of Fort Valley, Virginia has exercised her option to defend her title and will compete as an individual on a horse of her choosing. Kanavy won the 1998 World Championship held in the United Arab Emirates on High Winds Jedi. She had previously won the World Championship in 1994 and placed second to her daughter Danielle by one second in 1996.

The USET also named horse-and-rider combinations as alternates to the World Championship squad. They are:

Melissa Crain of Franklin, Tennessee on Charbiel,

Jan Worthington of Scales Mound, Illinois on GMF Musca Song and

Jazon Wonders of Peteluma, California on Milarepa.

The United States has been a dominant force in endurance riding, having won the individual Gold Medal at every World Championship since the biennial event was first held in 1986. Additionally, the U.S. won team Gold Medals in 1988 and 1996, as well as team Silver in 1992 and 1998.

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.