July 8, 2005 - A record number of entries, including Olympic riders, will compete in the Cosequin Stuart Horse Trials & CIC**, July 21-24th at Victor, NY. A total of 340 entries are scheduled to take part at different levels from Novice through to the CIC** competition for a total purse of $8,500 plus in excess of $50,000 worth of prizes. The CIC**, which is part of the United States Eventing Association Gold Cup Series has 70 horse and rider combinations including former Olympian Mara DePuy Dean and Pennsylvannia-based, Buck Davidson, who has two rides, Idalgo and Private Treaty, in the CIC** division.

Last year’s winners, 3-time Olympian Karen O'Connor and Joker’s Wild, will fight to repeat the victory against 2004 Olympic team bronze medalist, Darren Chiacchia, who won here in 2002 and 2003 aboard Dr. Timothy Holekamp’s 13 year-old Trakhener stallion, Windfall 2, (Habicht-Wundermaedel). Chiacchai is the popular local hero from Springville, NY, and seasoned veteran O’Connor is based in Virginia.

The increased number of entries, which features riders from Canada, Germany, and India, has extended the event to four days of competition. Organizer, Wezo Pierson, Victor, NY, is delighted with the continued support that has made this one of the most popular and successful horse trials in the calendar attracting some 15,000 spectators.

The competition will begin with the dressage phase at 07:30am on Thursday, July 21st followed by novice cross-country. Dressage and novice show jumping will run on Friday. Cross-country for training through CIC** is on Saturday the 23rd. The competition will finish with show jumping on Sunday, July 24th. For a full schedule of classes and other activities, which includes a US Pony Club Mounted Games and a veterinary seminar, please visit www.stuarthorsetrials.org/schedule.html

For more information, please contact Wezo Pearson at (585) 924-2514.

For more information about the sport and directions to the event, please visit the Cosequin Stuart Horse Trials & CIC** website at http://www.stuarthorsetrials.org

The Cosequin Stuart Horse Trials & CIC** was first held in 1989 as a local event at the novice and training levels. It remains the highlight of local competitors' event schedule. However, with the addition of preliminary and intermediate courses, the trials attract top international level riders and their horses. The 2003 competition saw over 300 competitors representing 16 states as well as riders from Australia, Canada, Finland, and Scotland. Over the past fifteen years Stuart Horse Trials has hosted championships for Area 1 (New England and New York) and the region (Eastern United States). In 2001, SHT added two international divisions of Concours Internationale Combined (CIC** - Intermediate level) and CIC* - Preliminary level, which are qualifiers for Three-Day competitions and run under rules of the international governing body; Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) - http://www.horsesport.org.

Cosequin or Nutramax Laboratories® - http://www.nutramaxlabs.com/index.cfm - provides nutritional products for people, animals, and plants. Nutramax Laboratories leads dietary supplement manufacturers in researching products and in setting high manufacturing and quality control standards.