Gladstone, NJ-June 5, 1998

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) is excited and pleased to announce that Cosequin and Bayer have expanded their USET sponsorships to include the USET's newest discipline, Reining. In January of this year, the USET Board of Trustees took a bold step forward into the 21st century by voting to adopt Reining as its first Western riding discipline. With this step, the USET began to reach out to the world of Western riding, cognizant that 80% of Americans who ride horses do so in a Western style of riding.

The move has been heralded as a progressive step toward the future expansion of the USET's universe of supporters and the USET is happy to welcome Cosequin as title sponsor of the USET Reining program and Bayer as the presenting sponsor.

"Both Cosequin and Bayer have been outstanding sponsors of the USET," said USET Executive Director Robert C. Standish. "Their unwavering support of our other disciplines and programs has been invaluable in reestablishing the USET as the world's number one equestrian power. All of us connected with the USET want to thank these two sponsors who, through their support, will play a key role in developing the USET's Reining program to the same level of excellence we have established for our other five disciplines."

The Cosequin/USET Reining Program, presented by Bayer, will debut with a demonstration at the 1998 Bayer/USET Festival of Champions at the USET Headquarters and Olympic Training Center in Gladstone, NJ, June 18-21. The first championship competition will take place at the same Festival in 1999 with the first Cosequin/USET Reining Championship, presented by Bayer. "This is truly a historic moment for the USET and we are indebted to Cosequin and Bayer for stepping forward with additional support for our programs," Standish said. "The generosity of these two sponsors is most appreciated and we are honored to be associated with these outstanding companies."