The time schedule for more than 80 hunter and jumper competitions at the upcoming Metropolitan National Horse Show features daytime and evening performances from November 3-7, 2004, at Pier 94 and the Show Piers on the Hudson in New York City. On November 7, there is a daytime performance only, which features the centerpiece of the show – the 2004 ASPCA Maclay Finals.
The show kicks off on Wednesday, November 3, at 8 a.m. with a day of all hunter classes featuring the Green and Regular Hunter divisions. For the evening performance, the show site re-opens at 7 p.m. with Dressage Night, featuring the Continental Cup musical freestyle team competition. The highlight of the evening is the $25,00 Open Jumper Competition.
On Thursday, November 4, the Green and Regular Hunters are back in the ring to complete their bids for the championships starting at 7:30 a.m.. The Amateur-Owner Hunters 18-35 and the Amateur-Owner Hunters 36 & Over begin their quest for titles. Following the second intermission and nearly 20 classes, the daytime performance wraps up with the Manhattan Cup Adult Equitation Championship. Prior to the evening performance, the Friends of the National Reception will be held in The Metro Club starting at 6 p.m. Show jumping competition begins at 7:30 p.m. with the first round of the $50,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Liberty Cup. A vaulting performance will keep the excitement going during the intermission. The evening highlight is the first round of the $100,000 Open Jumper Metropolitan Cup.
Day three of the show, Friday, November 5, starts at 7:30 a.m. with the final classes in the Amateur Owner younger and older divisions, and then juniors and their ponies take over the ring. Competitions are scheduled for Small Juniors 15 & Under, Small Juniors 16 & 17, Large Juniors 15 & Under and Large Juniors 16 & 17. Ladies’ Side Saddle competitions wrap up the day’s classes. Prior to the evening performance, a Junior Exhibitor Party will be held starting at 5 p.m. at The Tavern Café. The evening competition begins at 7:30 p.m. with the second round in the $50,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Liberty Cup. The Northeast Friesian Horse Club Drill Team will perform during intermission. The night wraps up on a high note with the second round of the $100,000 Open Jumper Metropolitan Cup.
The weekend of competition starts early on Saturday, November 6, with ponies in the ring at 7 a.m. Small, medium and large ponies will compete in the Model, Hunter and Under Saddle classes. The afternoon features the final competitions for small and large juniors vying for the championship titles. Wrapping up the day’s performance, the show jumpers take over the ring for the $25,000 Open Jumper Competition. The exciting evening show begins at 7 p.m. with the third and final round in the $50,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Liberty Cup. During the intermission, dressage Olympian Belinda Nairn-Wertman will perform a Grand Prix exhibition riding her Friesian stallion Goffert. High stakes competition wraps up with the final round of the $100,000 Open Jumper Metropolitan Cup. Following the awards ceremonies, starting at 10 p.m., a celebration cocktail party with live and silent auctions will be held in The Metro Club featuring the Pamela Dennis Couture Fashion Presentation.
On Sunday, November 7, The Metropolitan National Horse Show will begin at 7 a.m. with the final classes in the small, medium and large Ponies aiming for the championships. Then the finale begins with the ASPCA Maclay Preliminary Rounds. More than 100 riders from across the country are qualified to compete. Wrapping up the show in all its glory is the final class, the ASPCA Maclay, in which the 2004 champion will be named.
The 2004 Metropolitan National Horse Show Manager is Bob Bell. Judges for the hunter classes are Sue Ashe, Brian Lenehan and Otis Brown. Equitation judges