Lexington, KY- September 24, 2010- As riders and horses prepare for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™, the United States Para-Dressage Team, fielded by the United States Equestrian Federation, settles their horses into the Kentucky Equine Research Facility (KER). KER is located just minutes from the Kentucky Horse Park in Versailles, KY. This location will allow the riders and horses to relax before entering the Kentucky Horse Park grounds for competition. During this period of time KER has invited equine enthusiasts, the media, and anyone else interested to an open house to visit the KER research farm.
KER has been a strong supporter of many of the athletes for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™. As a long-time sponsor of the Australian Endurance Team, KER housed the team before their competition and with the arrival of the U.S Para-Dressage horses on September 22, 2010 they are now housing the U.S Para-Dressage Team, which they are the official sponsors for.
The entire KER/U.S. Para-Dressage Team acknowledged KER's generosity. Hope Hand who is executive director of the U.S Para-Equestrian Association noted, "We are so thankful that the Kentucky Equine Research facility are lending their facilities to the Para-Dressage team prior to the World Equestrian Games. The World Equestrian Games will be our first competition as the Kentucky Equine Research/United States Para-Equestrian Team, so we want to make sure our horses are ready to perform to the best of their ability. The Kentucky Equine Research team is an important factor in our debut at the Kentucky Horse Park."
Mary Jordan, a Para-Dressage competitor, commented about KER's official sponsorship, "It's an incredible show of support for the Para-Equestrian Team. In this day and age that kind of generosity from a company makes a statement and is appreciated. Everybody on the team is beyond thrilled and delighted to have that kind of support. The coupling of being offered a world-class facility to train in before the Games, and to have KER take the title sponsorship, has been an incredible blessing to the team."
To view video of Mary Jordan: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid129143420001?bclid=115486125001&bctid=605087360001
Mary Jordan and Paxton Abbey
"Our Para-Equestrian Dressage Team is deeply appreciative of the commitment by Kentucky Equine Research," said Kathy Meyer, SVP of Marketing and Communications at USEF. "We could not be more pleased with the continued support shown by Dr. Joe Pagan and his experienced team here in Kentucky."
There will be two open house opportunity's to visit KER's facility during the games. The first time is Tuesday September 28, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. and the second is Thursday October 7, 2010, at 10:30a.m. There will be a facility tour and an exhibition of the high-speed treadmill used in nutrition and exercise physiology research.
If visitors would like to interview the riders or visit the residences they may contact Kim Brown at [email protected], or call the KER office at 859-873-1988.
Kentucky Equine Research has long been affiliated with top equestrian athletes. With the proper training, care, management, and nutrition, high performance horses will perform better and maintain their peak condition. Kentucky Equine Research (KER) is an international equine nutrition, research and consultation company serving both the horse producer and the feed industry. Its goal is to advance the industry's knowledge of equine nutrition and exercise physiology and apply this knowledge to produce healthier, more athletic horses. Bridging the gap between the equine nutrition research and its applications benefits every animal, equestrian professional, and horse enthusiasts.
On an international stage, KER's founder and president Dr. Joe Pagan has overseen the nutritional needs of world-class horses at several international competitions, including four Olympics Games (1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens, and 2008 Hong Kong) and two World Equestrian Games (WEG, 2002 Juarez, 2006 Aachen).
"The folks at KER want to show the southern hospitality Kentuckians are known for during WEG," commented Kim Brown, KER Global Marketing Manager. "What better way than to open our homes and farm to the US Para-Dressage team? We also will host the Australian team after WEG for a bit before they go back home."
Brown added, "The Para-Dressage competitors are great ambassadors for the horse industry, reaching out to many people who never thought horses could be a part of their lives, and being an inspiration to us all."
About the United States Para-Equestrian Association:
The USPEA includes every equestrian discipline that is practiced by athletes with physical disabilities. Each rider or driver competes under the eighth discipline, The Para-Equestrian discipline, of the United States Equestrian Federation. This year, at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™, the Para-Equestrian discipline will make history. The USEF High Performance Para-Equestrian Dressage team will compete as an FEI sport for the first time at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ held in Lexington, KY.
The USPEA is a recognized affiliated of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). The USPEA provides programs, clinics, and competition opportunities for athletes with physical disabilities. Riders compete under the USEF rules during their national competitions and FEI rules during international competition and many of the athletes compete at the highest level of their sport.
For more information about the USPEA or for donation opportunities, please contact Hope Hand, President of the USPEA, email [email protected] or by phone: (610)356-6481.
To view online information about the USPEA please visit http://www.USPEA.org.