July 13, 2007 – Buffalo, New York – United States Equestrian Team member Darren Chiacchia of Buffalo, NY, is set to defend his Individual Gold Medal at the Pan American Games taking place July 13 to 29 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Chiacchia, 41, will compete for the United States in the equestrian discipline of eventing. Having won the Individual Gold Medal in 2003 riding Windfall 2, this time his partner will be Better I Do It, a 14-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding owned by Adrienne Iorio.

"We have all believed in this horse for a long time and he deserves the opportunity to get out there and put a great mark on his record," said Chiacchia of the horse he has been riding for the past year and a half. "My horse has been going very well. In the final team outing, he won the dressage and then had a good run on cross-country. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to compete at the Pan American Games and defend my title."

Originally listed as an alternate for the U.S. Eventing Team, Chiacchia only learned on Wednesday that he would be competing in Brazil and that both he and his horse would be traveling to Rio de Janeiro the following day.

"As the alternate, you are there to support your team mates, and yet you have to be ready to step in if you are needed. It is a very important job," noted Chiacchia, who had spent ten days prior to departing for Rio at a United States Eventing Team training camp in Florida. "I am so glad to be going. I didn't want to get my hopes up, but now that the horses have flown, I am really, really excited."

Similar to triathlon, the Olympic sport of eventing features three distinct phases of competition, dressage, cross-country and show jumping, held over three consecutive days. During the 2007 Pan American Games, the three days of eventing competition will take place July 20, 21 and 22. Team and Individual medals will be awarded at the conclusion of competition on Sunday, July 22.

In addition to earning the Individual Gold Medal at the 2003 Pan American Championships, Chiacchia successfully represented his country at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, and was a member of the Bronze Medal Team at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Chiacchia, who operates Independence Farm, divides the year between his training facilities in Ocala, FL, and Springville, NY, just outside of Buffalo. In addition to operating one of the country’s top eventing breeding, training and sales barns, Chiacchia is committed to the improvement of the sport and volunteers his expertise on several committees of the United States Eventing Association. As an instructor, Chaicchia has been extremely successful and has coached several talented junior and young riders to numerous victories.