First a correction - I said in yesterday's "Notes" that the first scheduled broadcast on ESPN Desportes was at 4:30 PM. That should have been 4:00 PM. Sorry about that.

The excitement is mounting and I think you'll feel it in the messages received from the Team today. The schedule is:

-The jog for the dressage competition takes place on Friday, July 13 at 8:00 a.m., and the draw for order of go will be held at 9:00 a.m.

-The Team then rides at 11:00 AM for the last time before the competition starts.

-The Team then goes back to the hotel for a quick change and then on to the Opening Ceremonies.

-The PSG will be held tomorrow, Saturday, July 14 and Sunday, July 15 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM each day for the team medal.

-Team medals will be awarded on Sunday afternoon, July 15.

-Monday, July 17 the top 25 pairs will compete in the Intermediare I. This is the qualifier for the individual medals. The top 15 riders in this class move on.

-Wednesday, July 19 the top 15 horses will compete in the Intermediare I Freestyle. The individual medals will be determined by combining the I-1 and the I-1 Freestyle scores.

Check out a nice story about the team on Dressage Daily:

http://horsesdaily.com/news/tour/2007/07panam/dressage/07-12-team-ready.html

And there is more on the Hyperion Farm Pan Am links page. And in a very short while we will have a selected number of Team USA photos on the Hyperion Farm website. Thank you, Melanie in Rio and Kirby in New York!

http://wwww.hyperionfarm.com/opt6-PanAm.asp

On to the news from Rio:

1. Thursday, 7/12 at 3:14 PM from Susie Dutta of Team USA

We had a great day!!

Ok, it rained while we were riding... No one seemed to mind.. All the horses were super today!!!! The horses were not bothered by the big stadium and it felt amazing!!!!

Our trip to the Pan Am Village was pretty cool. All the different athletes and their colorful team outfits.

I had some great therapy done in the medical facility. This was a day I will remember for along time.....

By the way, my Pik L has been a baby doll to be around!! I am having so much fun with this horse and will miss him when goes back to Mikala.... More news later, Susie

2. Thursday, 7/12 at 3:35 PM from Susie Dutta of Team USA

Tim [Dutta] is in the air right now with the [Team USA] Eventing team!!! They be in around 11. Hopefully in the venue within a few hours after that. Tim texted me that it is a nice bunch of horses and all so far good shippers! I am looking forward to having them in the barn.

3. Thursday, 7/12 at 5:16 PM from Chris Hickey of Team USA

Regent felt great today- he was PROUD to go into the main coliseum today- puffed up and said "oh, its time for business!"

We are all ready for the jog in the am, horses look great and we have some nice outfits to wear too!

We will all ride like the people in those stands are all Americans who are there to back us on our horses, we won't let you down!!! My plan is to ride in as I did at Gladstone- surrounded by my dear friends!

4. Friday, 7/13 at 5:37 AM from Lauren Sammis of Team USA

Morning. Off to the barn we go. It is 6 am. The sun is rising. Its so beautiful.

The jog is at 8 and a couple of the horses need to be moved around instead of coming out cold. The girls have our jog outfits and Chris is handsome as always.

We will be riding at 11 then rushing back to the hotel to change for the opening ceremony. I am so excited about that. What a privilege to walk for the US. To be surrounded by athletes that have trained for most of their lives for this moment is quite an experience. I can't wait!

5. Friday, 7/13 at 11:55 AM from Lauren Sammis of Team USA

I go tomorrow at 10:10 AM.