The U.S. Team (US Endurance Athletes Association, Inc.)

Lexington, KY – Five talented endurance riders have travelled to Tarbes, France to represent the U.S. at the FEI World Endurance Championship for Juniors and Young Riders. The United States will be looking to secure a podium finish at the prestigious competition, which will be held on July 27, 2013.

Leading the U.S. effort in France are Mary Kathryn Clark and Mustafa Tehrani’s 12-year-old Arabian gelding Chasing The Wind. Clark (Eatonton, GA) will use her wealth of championship experience, which includes representing the U.S. at the 2011 FEI Junior and Young Rider World Endurance Championship, in Saturday’s race. Additionally, she helped the USA Southeast Team capture the Silver medal at the 2011 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North.

Katherine Gardener (Coventry, RI) will also represent the U.S. at the FEI World Endurance Championship for Juniors and Young Riders. Riding Pamela Weidel’s 14-year-old Arabian gelding AF Big Bucks, the Colby-Sawyer College student will look to showcase the form that earned her the Individual Gold medal at the 2012 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North.

Sarah Jack will travel to France from her home in Nottingham, New Hampshire. Jack has competed in endurance rides throughout the U.S. and aims to make a splash in her first competition overseas with Nicki Meuten’s nine-year-old Arabian gelding FYF Dutch.

The U.S. will also be represented by rising star Christina Kimery in France. Kimery (Bixby, OK) earned her FEI Elite Young Rider status in March of this year and looks to impress in her first international championship. The 15-year-old will ride Amy Wallace-Whelan’s 11-year-old Half-Arabian gelding Wallace Hill Shade on Saturday.

Rounding out the U.S. effort in France is Kelsey Russell who will ride Valerie Kanavy’s talented 10-year-old Anglo-Arabian mare My Wild Irish Gold. Russell (Williston, FL) brings a wealth of experience having competed at the 2011 FEI World Endurance Championship for Juniors and Young Riders. At the 2011 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North, the 17-year-old and My Wild Irish Gold captured the Individual Gold medal.

Chef d’Equipe Emmett Ross has high expectations for the U.S. performance in France and believes the talented combinations are ready to peak on Saturday.

“We are fortunate to have a group of talented Young Riders who will be competing with some of the best Endurance horses competing today,” said Ross. “Team Veterinarian Dr. Dwight Hooton and I have every expectation of a great performance from these athletes and horses in Tarbes.”

To learn more about the 2013 FEI World Endurance Championship for Juniors and Young Riders, visit: http://www.endurance-equestre65.com/en/home.

Follow the 2013 U.S. Endurance Team here.