Tampa, Fl – March 26 – The $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational is only days away on Saturday evening, March 29 at Raymond James Stadium. This is the top prize money and most prestigious annual event in this country for show jumping competition.

This year, Meredith and Markus Beerbaum have been competing throughout the Winter Equestrian Festival and both have qualified to compete at the Budweiser American Invitational. The Beerbaums have a beautiful 70-acre farm in Thedirghausan, Germany where they reside and run a show jumping business. Both will be representing Germany when they compete in the 31st American Invitational.

Both Meredith and Markus have impressive records as show jumping competitors. Currently, Markus is 15th on the list of qualified riders for the Budweiser American Invitational while Meredith is listed in 11th place. Thirty horse and rider combinations will compete.

Markus this year won the Audi Championate in Berlin Germany riding Leena. His mount for the Invitational, Royal Discovery, is a Dutch Warmblood gelding out of Ramiro Z. Mr. and Mrs. Bertram R. Firestone own Royal Discovery. Markus was sixth with Royal Discovery in the $100,000 Cosequin US Open Jumper Championship on March 9, 2003.

Meredith will ride Shutterfly, a dark brown Hanoverian mare that is owned by Hyperion Farm. Shutterfly and Meredith won the $75,000 Tommy Bahama Florida Open on March 2, 2003. The pair was also fourth in the $50,000 Kilkenny/ICH Internationale on February 9, 2003.

Both Meredith and Markus are very competitive riders and will be going for the win on Saturday evening. Their horses are in great shape and well prepared for the competition.

Note: (For those of you who read this article when it was posted yesterday when it read the Beerbuam's were the only couple to qualify, we apologize and were corrected). There is another husband and wife who have each qualified for the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational. Megan and Eric Lamaze from Canada are both qualified to compete.

Tickets for the Budweiser American Invitational, March 29 at Raymond James Stadium are available at Ticket Master (813) 287-8844 or at Stadium Jumping (877) 909-9436.