Wylde Takes Lead in Selection Trial 4

Dual World Cup Finals for Las Vegas

Robert Ridland, Show Manager for the 2005 Show Jumping World Cup, announced the first-ever World Cup Finals for both jumping and dressage. “I very strongly endorse the combination of these two disciplines, which traditionally have bonded together,” he explained.

Scheduled in Las Vegas, the 2005 World Cup Finals will follow the format proven successful in 2000 and 2003. Dressage classes will mesh smoothly into the schedule.

“The schedule had a lot of empty spots,” said Ridland. “Saturday night was the one big hole, and now it will be for the dressage final.”

“We're so excited to have this opportunity,” said Dressage World Cup Show Manager Glenda McElroy. She did mention that the size of the Thomas and Mack Arena is “tight” for dressage, and that “The judges will be in the stands.”

About the combination, Ridland said that at the 2004 World Cup Finals in Milan, “I kept hearing people say, 'It's about time.' And I heard in Milan that we'd have a lot of attendance from Europe for the dressage.”

McElroy added that the 1995 Dressage World Cup Finals—the only one ever held in the U.S. to date—sold out. “Dressage has a loyal following.”

The two finals will run April 20-24, 2005. NBC will televise the jumping. For more details, visit www.worldcuplasvegas.com.