Tallahassee's Red Hills Horse Trials, Inc., which began nearly a decade ago and has grown into one of the nation's top eventing equestrian competitions, will have a change in leadership following the March 2006 event. Red Hills Co-Organizers, Sallie Ausley and Sylvia Ochs, announced this week they will step down from their leadership roles following the March 2006 Trials.

An initial search to locate an individual or individuals to succeed the co-organizers proved unsuccessful and it appeared the Red Hills Horse Trials would end after the 2006 event. At that point, Colin Phipps, benefactor and creator of the Cross County Course, agreed to assume the chairmanship of the Red Hills Trials and coordinate all future competitions. Phipps indicated the event will be downsized and will not include international-sanctioned levels, but will continue to be a quality equestrian event.

"When the idea of Red Hills Horse Trials was created we never imagined it growing to where it is today," Ausley said. Initially envisioned to be a small or medium-sized event for the equestrian community, Red Hills’ popularity mushroomed and quickly attracted competitors from all over the world.

"It was a great ride," said co-organizer Sylvia Ochs. "Red Hills introduced Tallahassee to many people who otherwise might not have visited the city. We provided three fantastic days of family entertainment to spectators each year, and made a viable contribution to the local economy. We could not ask for more."

Each spring the Red Hills Horse Trials lured crowds reaching 40,000 to the Elinor Klapp Phipps Park to see two hundred or more of the worlds top equestrians perform and compete for spots on their national Olympic teams. Since 2003, Red Hills was one of four World Cup qualifying events recognized by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) allowing riders to vie for slots in the World Cup finals. Red Hills is also one of nine elite venues nationwide where riders compete for the United States Eventing Gold Cup.

"We are delighted the Red Hills Horse Trials will continue," Ausley said. "We are most appreciative of our generous sponsors, and the 600 volunteers who made everything click." It is estimated volunteers devote in excess of 12,000 hours annually to put on the Trials, which has raised over $300,000 for the Elinor Klapp Phipps Park and Tall Timbers Foundation, Inc.

The Trials have gotten bigger and better every year, and this year will be no exception. Competitors will be chasing almost $30,000 in prize money, with the winners of the World Cup Qualifier sharing $15,000 in prize money plus the first place-winner will drive a brand new BMW automobile for one year, courtesy of Capital Eurocars.

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