DEL MAR, CA-AUGUST 6, 2000-The United States Equestrian Team (USET) announced its four-rider show jumping squad for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games following the final two selection trials Sunday at the Del Mar Horse Park. The team headed for Australia is Margie Goldstein-Engle of Wellington, FL with Hidden Creek's Perin owned by Hidden Creek Farm; Nona Garson of Lebanon, NJ with Rhythmical owned by Garson and the Kamine Family; Laura Kraut of Oconomowoc, WI with Liberty owned by the Summit Group and Lauren Hough of Ocala, FL with Clasiko owned by the Classiko Group.

Hough is the youngest on the team and was a bit surprised to make the team. Entering Sunday's competition, Hough was in sixth place and was not really expecting to go to Sydney. She dropped her reins in excitement when it was announced that she had jumped into fourth place. "I saw the standings going into the second round, but I really didn't want to think about it," she said. "I knew going into the last line that I had a chance. It hasn't hit me yet. I'm in shock."

The only rider of the top three that jumped in the second round was Engle who took two fences with Hidden Creek's Perin. The pair had only four faults in the first round and had clinched her spot on the team but she chose to ride because, "He had never jumped a vertical over the water before and I wanted to give him the chance to do it. What he lacks in experience he makes up for in heart," Engle continued. "I never feel like it's hard for him. Whatever the course, it never takes much out of him."

"I owe everything to Katie (Prudent) and my horse," Kraut said. "Katie convinced me to go to France; if it had not been for her, I would not be here."

"I couldn't be more pleased with my horse," said Garson who was part of the USET's Bronze Medal team at the 1995 Pan American Games. "He jumped beautifully and I am so happy that he's given me a trip to the Olympic Games." best scores (fewest faults) from phase one in June and the best four of five scores from phase two which ends August 6.

The 11 finalists qualified for the final selection trials after the first five trials held at the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions at the USET Olympic Training Center in Gladstone, NJ in June. Trials six through eight were held Wednesday and Friday at Oaks/Blenheim in San Juan Capistrano with trials nine and ten at the Del Mar Horse Park on Sunday.

Full scores and selection trial standings are available on the USET website at www.uset.org