A life-sized bronze sculpture of Bruce Davidson and Eagle Lion jumping into the Head of the Lake will likely be unveiled at the Kentucky Horse Park this Fall or at the 2006 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Artist Jean Clagett is hard at work creating the sculpture, which will feature a highlighted patina, and be mounted in the lake at the Kentucky Horse Park in front of a water obstacle, with the horse’s front feet in the water and jets splashing. The presence of this beautiful piece of art will help ensure the permanent recognition of the important role the sport of eventing has played at the Horse Park. The modeling will be completed with photos of the model at this year’s Rolex Kentucky event.

Bruce Davidson boasts the enviable reputation as one of only two riders who has competed at the Kentucky event since its beginnings in 1978, when he won the World Championships. He followed that with wins at the CCI in 1983, 1984, 1988, 1989 and 1993. Eagle Lion is enjoying a well-deserved retirement at Bruce’s Chesterland Farm in Unionville, PA. Bruce and Jean have already worked together, many years ago when she designed the Cesar Trophy, which each December honors the USEA’s Horse of the Year.

The sculpture project has received the USEA’s endorsement, and is being financed through tax-deductible contributions to the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, designated to the Bruce Davidson Sculpture Fund. Approximately 40 percent of the funds have already been raised. A casting maquette (#2 of only six total) will be offered on eBay February 5-15, 2005, with proceeds going to the creation of the sculpture, and a final casting will be on display and raffled off at the 2005 event, to benefit the project; 1,000 tickets at $50 each will be available.

Anyone who donates $25,000 or more will receive one of only six signed and numbered maquette castings, and in the happy event more than $125,000 is raised for the project, the excess will be donated to the USEA toward funding of USEA educational programs.

Tax-deductible donations can be made to the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, Bruce Davidson Sculpture Project, Attention Bill Cooke, 4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511. Cooke can be contacted at (859) 259-4231.