The United States Equestrian Team (USET) announced its four-rider show jumping squad for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games following the completion of the second phase of selection trials at Oaks/Blenheim in San Juan Capistrano, CA and The Del Mar Horse Park in Del Mar, CA.

Named to the team are Margie Goldstein-Engle of Wellington, FL with Hidden Creek’s Perin owned by Hidden Creek Farm; Nona Garson of Lebanon, NJ with Rhythmical owned by Garson and the Kamine Family; Laura Kraut of Oconomowoc,WI with Liberty owned by the Summit Group and Lauren Hough of Ocala, FL with Clasiko owned by the Classiko Group.

This marks the first time that all four riders on a U.S. Olympic show jumping squad are women. Hough is the youngest on the team and was a bit surprised to make it. Entering the final day of competition, Hough was in sixth place and was not really expecting to go to Sydney. She dropped her reins in excitement when it was announced that she had jumped into fourth place.

“I saw the standings going into the second round, but I really didn’t want to think about it,” she said. “I knew going into the last line that I had a chance. It hasn’t hit me yet. I’m in shock