USEF : WEC Update

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.