Olympic Gold medalist David O’ Connor is offering a course walk of his newly designed cross-country courses at the Colorado Horse Park on Saturday, September 16, 2006 in Parker, CO. Riders and non-riders alike are welcome to join O'Connor for his insights into the design of the courses, as well as his suggestions for how to successfully complete the course. The event includes a walk of the new courses, a lecture and a question and answer session. All participants will also receive an autographed poster of O’Connor.

“We’re very pleased that David has made himself available to the local community,” said Rob Janson, General Manager of the Colorado Horse Park. “Obviously his status as an Olympic Gold Medalist and the president of the U.S. Equestrian Federation is a valuable asset to riding at all levels, not just in Colorado, but throughout the region.”

The newly designed courses are being built by internationally recognized builder Greg Schlappi. The first competition over the new fences will take place September 29-October 1 during the Colorado Horse Park Fall Horse Trials. All levels of courses, from beginner novice and up, have new obstacles and new tracks.

Two sessions of the course walk with Connor are offered on September 16. The first begins at 9:30 a.m. and the second at 1:00 p.m. The cost is $30. The event serves as a fundraiser for the new courses, with all funds going directly to the Colorado Horse Park Three-Day Eventing Program.

A capital campaign for the Colorado Horse Park Three-Day Eventing Program is currently underway. Equestrian Sports Promotions, an award-winning public relations and marketing company specializing in equestrian businesses, became the first to donate to the fund with the naming of one of the new jump complexes. “We are very excited to be part of this new phase of eventing at the Colorado Horse Park,” said Christine DeHerrera, President of Equestrian Sports Promotions.

A variety of naming and sponsorships are available, as well as numerous gift categories, including the Blue Ribbon category for gifts $5-50; the Champion Contributor for gifts $51-150; the Bronze Medalist for gifts $151-$500; the Silver Medalist for contributions of $501-1,000 and the Gold Medalist for $1,001 and up. Sponsorship of the outlying jumps begins at $250 and progresses up to $2,500 for the water complexes. All gifts will be recognized in the Colorado Horse Park program and on the website. Sponsorship packages will be customized to your needs and begin at $3,000.

All donors and sponsors contributing $1,000 or more will be invited to a private dinner with O’ Connor on September 15.

The Colorado Horse Park is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit foundation. Checks should be made payable to the Colorado Horse Park and sent to The Colorado Horse Park, Attn. Eventing Program, 7522 S. Pinery Dr., Parker, CO 80134.

Complete information about the Colorado Horse Park Eventing Program, as well as weekly course updates, will begin on the Colorado Horse Park website on August 8, 2006. Visit www.coloradohorsepark.org for more information or call (303) 841-5550, ext. 10.


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