Source:  USEF News Release/Joanie Morris (edited)

Eight Clear Rounds on Day One at the 2012 USEF National Show Jumping Championships/USEF Selection Trials for the U.S. Show Jumping Team

Wellington, FL - Eight was the magic number for clear rounds at the 2012 USEF National Show Jumping Championships at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Of the 37 starters, eight managed clear rounds over Alan Wade's course during Week 11 of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. This event also serves as the USEF Selection Trials for the US Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games.

There is plenty on the line over the four rounds of jumping at the end of which a national champion will be crowned for the first time since 2008, but in the format for the selection trials the most important thing is a clear round.

The eight clear rounds were jumped by:

Kirsten Coe (Thousand Oaks, CA) and her own and Ilan Ferder's Baronez
Mario Deslauriers (New York, NY) and Jane Clark's Urico
Margie Engle (Wellington, FL) and Griese, Gerber, Gladewinds and Hidden Creek Farm's Indigo
Kent Farrington (Chicago, IL) and RCB Farm's Uceko
Charlie Jayne (Elgin, IL) and The London Group's Athena
Reed Kessler (Armonk, NY) and her own Cylana
Laura Kraut (Wellington FL) and Stars and Stripes' Teirra
Christine McCrea (E. Windsor, CT) and Windsor Show Stables' Romantovich Take One

Charlie Jayne and Athena (Photo: SportFot)

McCrea is the double Gold medalist from the 2011 Pan American Games with her 12-year-old KWPN gelding, he returned to the form that won him all the honors in Guadalajara, Mexico last fall.

"My horse felt fantastic," said McCrea. "He was jumping sharp... it was really hot out there."

Olympic Gold medalist from the 2008 Olympic Games Laura Kraut is a veteran of the USEF Trials (she was also on the 2000 Olympic team) and she was already named to the USEF Long List on her veteran campaigner Cedric, but the importance of the occasion isn't lost on her.

"You don't know what to expect," said Kraut about the Trials. "(Chef d'Equipe) George (Morris) told us in the riders meeting that this is a dress rehearsal for London."

Teirra, a diminutive 12-year-old KWPN mare, made light work of the track, jumping confidently around the course.

"She's has an enormous heart," said Kraut. "She's a trier. She's going to give it a good go, I might mess up but she's going to try. I feel fortunate at this moment but there are three long rounds left to jump."

Engle is one of the winningest riders in the sport - notching up Grand Prix victories around the world. Most recently she was on the Silver medal-winning team at the 2006 World Equestrian Games. She and Indigo have been battling a foot abscess in the 12-year-old Dutch gelding's right front foot, and it has taken several weeks to sort it out. Curious about the grey gelding's fitness over the week of jumping because he has missed so much work, Engle was happy to be on a score of zero after round one.

"I'm thanking my horse," said Engle. "He has so much heart."

At the opposite end of the experience spectrum is Reed Kessler, who at age 17 is only barely eligible to jump at the highest levels of the sport (she turns 18 this summer) but has been making an impact at the Winter Equestrian Festival . She jumped two horses in the first round of the Trials, Cylana jumped a clear round and Mika had one rail down for four faults.

Cylana, a 10-year-old Belgian warmblood mare, jumped the first clear round of the day after the course claimed several more experienced riders before she went. Her partnership with Cylana is still relatively new but she and her coaches Katie and Henri Prudent made a plan before the class and Kessler rose to the occasion.

"I'm still kind of in shock," said Kessler after her round. "It's my first trials obviously. I said, 'I hope I can do this,' and Katie said, 'Of course you can do it.' I am shocked and thrilled with how my horses went. I couldn't be happier. I really just wanted to execute the plan to the best of my ability."

Kessler had a successful summer in Europe after representing the United States on the US Young Rider Show Jumping Tour.

Reed Kessler and Cylana (Photo: SportFot)

A very successful Junior Rider, she has made the transition to the Senior ranks with ease but until today, the Selection Trials are unknown territory.

"I felt as ready as I could never having done this," said Kessler. "It helps to have two phenomenal horses."

For those that missed the live stream, round one of the USEF National Show Jumping Championships and the USEF Selection Trials for the US Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games will be available to watch on demand on the USEFNetwork.com presented by SmartPak. Trial Two begins Thursday, March 22 at 1 PM followed by Trial Three at 8 PM. Those will be available LIVE. please visit: www.usefnetwork.com for video, photos and more information.

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