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U.S.
Wins Dressage Gold Medal at 2003 Pan American Games
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Santo
Domingo, DR- August 6, 2003– The United States successfully
defended its Championship title from 1999 by winning the Team
Gold Medal in dressage by the slimmest of margins with a score
of 206.550 at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican
Republic. Canada won the Silver scoring 206.300 and Mexico came
in third for the Bronze with a score of 195.350 just slightly
ahead of the home team of the Dominican Republic with a score
of 194.850.
The
U.S. bested eight other nations, the largest equestrian contingent
in the history of the Pan Ams, for top honors. The USET squad
consisted of Jan Ebeling of Moorpark, CA riding Feliciano, owned
by New Horizons Dressage, LLC; Pierre St. Jacques of Boscawen,
NH on Lucky Tiger owned by St. Jacques and Lisa Belcastro; Carol
Lavell of Loxahatchee, FL, riding her Much Ado and Kristina Harrison-Naness
of Burbank, CA on her Kantor.
The
Dressage team competition took place over two days, but it all
came down to the last rider on the final day. The fourth U.S.
rider, Jan Ebeling, impressed the judges enough to score a 70.400%,
forcing Leslie Reid of Canada, riding Mark, to give the performance
of her life. As the anchor rider, Reid had all the pressure, but
she came through with a score of 72.150%, the highest in the competition,
but not good enough to give her team the gold.
Waiting
for the results, the tension in the air was thicker than the humidity
and when the scores were announced no one was sure who really
finished first. In the end, the gold was captured by only one-quarter
of one percent.
After
hearing the results, Ebeling could not contain his excitement.
“This
is so great!” said Ebeling. “It was so great to be a
part of this team. It was such an unbelievable experience, to
look at the flags and say “WOW! I’m here! I can’t
believe it! It was so much fun.”
Pierre
St. Jacques was the first U.S. rider on the second day and he
scored 69.35%, the second highest on the U.S. squad. St. Jacques
was elated, especially at the end of the test.
“When
we were going down the center line I had the best feeling. I knew
we put in a solid, clean test,” said St. Jacques. “I
couldn’t have done it without my wife, though. Everything
that happened in there was because of her.”
U.S.
Equestrian Team (USET) Chef d’ Equipe Jessica Ransehousen
was thrilled with the performances of all the U.S. riders.
“They
were wonderful,” said Ransehousen. “I knew we would
have to work for the gold, but I was not surprised when we won.
The U.S. continues to do our best over and over.”
The
top 25 riders move onto the next round of competition, the Intermediaire
I test, which takes place on Friday. The U.S. has three in the
top ten and all four qualified to ride; Jan Ebeling is in third
individually, Pierre St. Jacques stands sixth, Carol Lavell is
eighth and Kristina Harrison-Naness currently stands in 13th place.
On Sunday, the top fifteen move on to the final test, the Intermediaire
Free Style, which determines the individual medals.
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
.
