2004 World Endurance Championship
January 27 - Dubai, UAE USEF News December
The United States
Equestrian Federation (USEF) has submitted a 12-member Nominated Entry List to
the 2004 WEC Organizing Committee (OC). This is the initial entry list, composed
of 12 members of the 15-member US National Team, the maximum number of Nominated
Entries permitted by the OC.
Nominated Entry List (ranked) Meg
Sleeper, DVM Shyrocco Torilus Suzanne Hayes Tezero's Gold Michele Roush,
DVM PR Tallymark Beverly Gray Regalidon Joyce Sousa LV Integrity
Becky Harris Ga Tyfe Mynte Cia Reis Catch A Wave Carolyn Hock GT
Sando Dennis Summers Sha Ebony Rose Susan Summers Raymond Blur Carol
Giles SAR Tiki Stranger Christoph Schork Dwa Sabku
Additional
National Team members, not on the Nominated Entry list, includes Valerie Kanavy,
Crockett Dumas, and Sue White-Hedgecock. In addition to the 2004 WEC, the
National Team members will have priority consideration when USEF submits entries
for the Pan American Championship in Argentina, and the European Championship in
Great Britain.
On December 16 the USEF will submit a Definite Entry List
of 6 riders and horses to the WEC OC. At this point the remaining 6 will be
considered alternates, and available for substitution prior to shipping horses
on January 15. The USEF hopes to ship 3 alternates to Dubai along with the 6
member squad, for on-site substitution if necessary.
Art Priesz, Jr (WEC
Team Chef d'Equip) informs that the National Team is currently in Florida under
the supervision of Mary Lutz (USEF) and Nancy Loving, DVM (Team veterinarian)
for training and coaching in preparation for the WEC. Drs. Jeannie Waldron and
Bob Beecher (Team veterinarians) will arrive in Florida on 04 December. Ann
Stewart (Assistant Chef d'Equipe) and Julie Bullock, DVM arrive 10 December.
Initially upon arrival, the riders have been hand-walking their horses
and will eventuall resume light work under saddle.
The Team Riding
Instructor/Counselor, Daniel Stewart, arrives on 06 December and will work
individually and in groups with the riders on bio-mechanic reminders, balance,
stretching and sports psychology. He will be doing some video-tape critiques and
reviews with the riders. His work will run through 08 December and will be a
great lead-in to Donna Snyder-Smith's Endurance Riding Instruction on 09-11
December. The Team will have adequate opportunity to work their Equine Partners
under saddle in front of and with the Staff, both in the ring and on trail.
Much of the training session in Florida will be spent addressing pace,
rating and Team-Riding. This is a continuation of the Team sessions conducted in
the 2004 season Training and Demo rides. Art Priesz will be arriving in Florida
on December 7, and emphasizes that the USEF is dedicated to the WEC Team
process, "We are looking for the best Team to compete in Dubai."
On 13
December, the USEF staff will conduct a longer Breeze to push the Team as a
group, and appraise the soundness and condition of the horses. The remainder of
December will be a cool down out of that Breeze. After the Holidays, they will
start bringing the Horses back up to travel and peak for late January.
USEF expects to van the horses to Gladstone in mid-January, rest for 30
hours and then ship from JFK for a direct flight to Dubai on the 15th. Horses
and Team/Staff/Crew arrive in Dubai on January 17th, local time. Art Priesz will
fly to Dubai December 28th, in order to have adequate time to make preparations
for the arrival of the US Squad, and to work with the WEC OC and other
Federations to ensure a successful Championship venue.
