Source:  News Release/Classic Communications

Duel in the Desert: International Show Jumpers and National Reined Cow Horse Riders Switch Saddles at 2015 FEI World Cup™ Finals in Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada - The world's top show jumping athletes have earned their golden ticket to the "Entertainment Capital of the World" for the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, concurrently held with the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final, April 15-19.

On Saturday night, April 18, immediately following the $75,000 Canadian Pacific Show Jumping Grand Prix of Las Vegas will be a special exhibition with three show jumpers teamed with three National Reined Cow Horse Association riders in the "Duel in the Desert."

2013 FEI World Cup™ Champion Beezie Madden as well as 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ Team Bronze Medalist Lucy Davis from the United States and Olympic Gold Medalist Steve Guerdat from Switzerland will grab that Western saddle horn aboard a cow horses and cut a cow and then do a short fence work run, while National Reined Cow Horse riders Tucker Robinson, Zane Davis and Brandon Buttars will test out their English saddle skills riding through a jumper course.

National Reined Cow Horse riders:

Tucker Robinson

Zane Davis

Brandon Buttars

A solid team player, Beezie Madden has won two Olympic Team Gold Medals and an individual Bronze Medal. She is also a four-time United States Equestrian Federation Horsewoman of the Year and the first woman to surpass $1 million in career show jumping earnings. She will be teamed with Zane Davis, the newest Million Dollar Rider in the National Reined Cow Horse Association. His diverse background includes championships in bareback and saddle bronc riding and has also competed in the Extreme Mustang Makeover Challenge. Could this pairing add the Duel in the Desert title to their impressive resumes?

The youngest participant in the Duel is 22-year old Lucy Davis. Her accomplishments include winning the prestigious 2013 Grand Prix in Lausanne, Switzerland on the Global Champions Tour, and to date is the youngest rider to win on that circuit.  In her teens she won four consecutive grand prix classes in a row, including the Lamborghini Grand Prix of the Desert. She will be teamed with Tucker Robinson, who won the 2010 Snaffle Bit Futurity Championship and has over a half-million dollars in lifetime cow horse earnings.  This could definitely be a dynamic duo in the Duel in the Desert. 

Steve Guerdat, the 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist and three-time Olympian from Switzerland, will represent Europe and team up with Brandon Buttars.   A true example of what a reined cow horse rider is all about, Buttars has made the finals in every major event he has competed in. Could this team bring home the Gold in the Duel in the Desert?

Jumping riders:

Beezie Madden

Lucy Davis

Steve Guerdat

See the action Saturday night in the Thomas & Mack Arena.

Started in 1979, the FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final is an annual international showdown among the world's best show jumping horses and riders. In the 36 Finals held through 2014, Germany (10) and the United States (9) have emerged with the most titles, having won the championship nineteen times between them. Previous FEI World Cup™ Jumping Finals held in the United States include Baltimore (1980), Tampa (1989), Del Mar, CA (1992) and Las Vegas (2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009).

For further information on the 2015 FEI World Cup™ Finals in Las Vegas, or to order tickets, please visit www.WorldCupLasVegas.com.

To watch live streaming of the 2015 FEI World Cup™ Finals in Las Vegas, please visit:www.FEITV.org

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