Brooke USA ambassador and international three-day eventer Boyd Martin (Brooke USA)
Brooke USA had a booth generously donated by Equestrian Events Inc at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Board member Jim Wolf was on hand along with volunteers to help spread the word about Brooke USA to more than 82,000 spectators who gathered for the international event.
Brooke USA exists to support the work of the Brooke: the world's largest international equine welfare charity. For more than 80 years, the Brooke has alleviated the suffering of working equines in some of the poorest countries on earth. By helping these extremely hard-working animals, the Brooke also helps the people who rely on them in communities where people often earn less than one dollar a day.
Last year alone, the Brooke reached an astonishing 1.8 million horses, donkeys, and mules, benefitting 10 million people. But there is much more work to be done, because at least 100 million equines are working in the developing world to support the livelihoods of 600 million people. Events like Rolex are important in expanding awareness of Brooke USA's mission.
On Friday, April 30, Brooke USA advocate Sinead Halpin spent time at the booth signing autographs and taking photos with fans. Halpin is one of the top competitors in the sport, having been on the 2014 Word Equestrian Games (WEG) team. She was joined by her husband, fellow eventing rider and Brooke USA advocate, Tik Maynard. Fans were thrilled to have a chance to meet the two eventing stars, while also learning about the mission and goals of Brooke USA.
Brooke USA advocate and Eventing Rider Sinead Halpin (Brooke USA)
The Brooke USA booth had a bit of fun for everyone. A stuffed pony was generously loaned by Pony Pal Stables, allowing kids and more than a few adults to entertain themselves by dressing up with available props and posing with the mascot, clad in a miniature orange Brooke USA horse blanket. Sunday was an exciting day at the booth with top rider and Brooke USA Ambassador Boyd Martin stopping by for some fun, while signing autographs. Boyd was the top placing U.S. rider at both the 2014 Alltech FEI WEG in Normandy, France, riding Shamwari 4, as well as in the 2010 WEG in Lexington, riding Neville Bardos; he was also a member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team, and he is one of the leading event riders in the world. He finished sixth at this year's Rolex Kentucky aboard Blackfoot Mystery.
In addition to the autograph signing, the Brooke USA booth also held opportunities for visitors to become "Equine Guardians" by making donations toward some of the programs they offer. The Equine Guardians program allows donors to gear their gift towards a specific goal. For example, the "Vet Meds" help to keep the Brooke's veterinarians in developing countries supplied with all that they need to continue providing free veterinary treatment to working equines. Donors could also provide working animals with some much-needed water in hot climates. In some countries where they are working, temperatures can climb well over 100 degrees. The Brooke teaches owners to provide adequate amounts of water to keep their animals hydrated and to lower the risk of heat stress during strenuous labor. The Brooke also provides portable and permanent water troughs to alleviate suffering and keep working animals healthy.
The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is the only four-star, three-day event in the Americas and one of the premier eventing competitions in the world. The 2016 event was an official trial for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Eventing team.
Follow Brooke USA's Facebook page. To support Brooke USA in its effort to fund equine welfare projects around the world, go to www.BrookeUSA.org.
About Brooke USA
Brooke USA is a 501(c)(3) charity located at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, which exists solely to support the overseas work of the Brooke, the world's largest international equine welfare charity. For more than 80 years, the Brooke has been alleviating the suffering of horses, donkeys, and mules who work in some of the poorest communities on earth. The Brooke's scientifically proven, practical, and sustainable solutions to enormous welfare challenges improve the lives of equine animals and the people who depend on them across Africa, Asia, and Central America. Last year alone, the Brooke reached 1.8 million equines, benefiting 10 million people in the developing world. To learn more visit www.BrookeUSA.org.
For more information about Boyd Martin, please visit his website: www.boydandsilvamartin.com. For more information about Brooke USA, contact Cindy Rullman, 859-296-0037, [email protected], or visit the website: www.BrookeUSA.org.
Photos are available to accompany this release by contacting Cindy Rullman, 859-296-0037 or [email protected].