Top Equitation Riders, Trainers of 2005 Win Bates Awards

Cazenovia, NY, November 14, 2005 - After a hotly-contested year in equitation, the Bates USA Equitation rankings have been finalized for 2005. Julie Welles of West Simsbury, Connecticut, who is trained by Missy Clark, finished just 64 points ahead of Maria Schaub of Holmdel, New Jersey, who is trained by Frank and Stacia Madden. The first-placed trainer received $3,000 and second $2,200. The remainder of the $10,000 prize sponsored by Bates, the Australia-based saddle company, is divided among the others with their students in the top ten listed below. The complete list is available at www.batesequitationranking.com.

Rider - Points - Home - Trainer

1 - Julie Welles - 1687 - West Simsbury, CT - Missy Clark

2 - Maria Schaub - 1623 - Holmdel, NJ - Frank & Stacia Madden

3 - Sloane Coles - 1458 - The Plains, VA - Frank & Stacia Madden

4 - Blythe Marano - 1371 - Bedminster, NJ - Missy Clark

5 - Brianne Goutal - 1119 - New York, NY - Frank & Stacia Madden

6 - Maggie McAlary - 989 - Amherst, NH - Andre Dignelli

7 - Natalie Johnson - 974 - Greenwich, CT - Andre Dignelli

8 - Nikko Ritter - 885 - Geneva, FL - Wendy R. Perlta

9 - Lauren Hester - 868 - Rancho Santa Fe, CA - Karen Healey

10 - Jack Hardin Towell - 859 - Camden, SC - Jack Towell

The overall winner receives a Bates Caprilli Close Contact Saddle, and Gold, Silver and Bronze medals were awarded to the top three competitors.

In addition to the awards presented to the trainers of the top ten at the year-end, Bates also awarded $15,000 in prize money to the trainers of the top ten finishers in the National Horse Show ASPCA Maclay Final presented by Bates that was held on November 6 at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament.