Debbie McDonald Wins the U.S. Freestyle Championship Presented By USA Equestrian. Steffen Peters Will Represent U.S. at World Cup Final

In a stunning performance, before a sold out crowd at the Los Angeles
Equestrian Center, Debbie McDonald captured the U.S. Freestyle Dressage
Championship aboard Mrs. Peggy C. Thomas' 11-year-old Hanoverian mare,
Brentina, with a combined score of 75.64%.

The U.S. Freestyle Championship was held in combination with the U.S. League
Final for the Dressage World Cup on February 23-24, 2002 in Burbank, CA. In
the field of nine qualified for the U.S. Freestyle Championship, seven
declared their intent to compete for the U.S. slot at the 2002 Dressage
World Cup Finals which will be held in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, March 21-24, 2002. Steffen Peters, riding Mrs. Lila Kommerstad's 14-year-old Dutch gelding, Grandeur, placed second (72.196%) in the Freestyle Championship and will represent the United States at the Dressage World Cup as McDonald chose not to participate to
concentrate her efforts toward the World Equestrian Games.

Final Results:
1. Debbie McDonald Hailey, ID Brentina 75.640
2. Steffen Peters Escondido, CA Grandeur 72.196
3. Guenter Seidel Del Mar, CA Nikolaus 7 71.876
4. Cherri Reiber Toronto, Ontario G - Tudor 68.265
5. Kamila duPont Lutjensee, Germany Reveille 67.383
6. Susan Dutta Wellington, FL Gumshoes-DC 64.610
7. Tami Crawford College Grove, TN Dakota 64.041
8. Leonie "Button" Baker Thousand Oaks, CA Masterpiece 63.913
9. Belinda Nairn-Wertman Kirkwood, PA Kirby 63.510

USA Equestrian Inc., as the National Equestrian Federation of the U.S., is the regulatory body for the Olympic and World Championship sports of dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, reining, show jumping, and vaulting, as well as 19 other breeds and disciplines of equestrian competition. As the country's largest multi-breed organization, the Federation has over 77,000 members and recognizes more than 2,800 competitions nationwide each year. It governs all aspects of competition, including educating and licensing all judges, stewards, and technical delegates who officiate at these shows.