North Salem, NY – Poetic, owned and ridden by Maggie Boylan, was named Champion in the Amateur Owner Hunter 18-35 division at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, held at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY.

Boylan secured the division championship by winning three out of the five classes in the division. Poetic also had the points, due to those three wins, to be named Grand Amateur Owner Hunter Champion.

Boylan, who resides in Patterson, NY, is currently attending Texas A&M University and schedules her riding between her school responsibilities. Boylan has owned Poetic, a 10 year-old Westphalian gelding, for the past four years. She began her relationship with Poetic showing in the Children’s Hunters. They went on to have much success in the junior hunter ring and are now off to a good start in their first year together in the Amateur-Owner Hunters.

Katie Robinson rode Deeridge Farms’ Lady O to the Champion title in the Amateur Owner 36-Over division. Robinson’s trainer, Andre Dignelli, found this special mare for her and they have amassed an impressive show record in less than a year together, including this week’s first, second and third place ribbons.

In the hotly contested Masters Jumper Classic, Olivia Fry Weeks rode Ronan to victory with double clear rounds and a jump-off time of 28.466 seconds. Ronan, who is owned by Alexa Pessoa, covered the ground effortlessly to give Weeks the win.

Entering the ring to receive her award, Weeks stopped to chat with the woman presenting ribbons for the class sponsor, Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate, who happened to be fellow competitor Sally Slater.

“What is great about this is that we are all amateurs and we do this because we love the sport,” said Weeks. “People who support classes for people our age is so special and so kind and so nice. This was very special to all of us. This group is very close and supportive of each other and we all just want to be safe even though we are all so competitive. It is such a beautiful field and a beautiful venue it is amazing! We really appreciate the sponsors. They are the reason we can be here.

“I am very spoiled because my children all compete at the higher levels and when I decided I wanted to go back to riding, my children all said ‘Mom you are only going on something that has done the World Cup Finals.’ My motto is: bring and uzi to a knife fight. We are all very well mounted in the Masters. Both my horses are 16 and smart. If I do something wrong they stop. They are not going to die for me, so I am very lucky.”

The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows benefit the Old Salem Farm Foundation. The goal of the Old Salem Farm Foundation is to use the Spring Horse Shows as a vehicle to help support charitable organizations and create an opportunity for Corporate Sponsors and Equestrian Athletes to benefit the community during the annual sporting event. The Old Salem Farm Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation.

This year, the Old Salem Farm Foundation is providing support to several charities including Voss Foundation, Pegasus Therapeutic Riding, ASPCA and Just World International.

Voss Foundation is dedicated to providing access to pure, clean water to rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. At the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, Voss Foundation will present a gallery exhibit of limited edition photographs taken by world-renown photographer Stuart Franklin which will be on display in the Main Bar throughout the duration of the horse shows. The photographs will be available for purchase through a silent auction, and all proceeds will help support Voss Foundation's 2011 initiatives.

In addition, the Old Salem Farm Foundation will be supporting Pegasus Therapeutic Riding, whose mission is to provide the therapeutic benefits of horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities to physically, emotionally, and developmentally challenged individuals at facilities and stables in Connecticut and New York.

Also receiving support from the Old Salem Farm Foundation is JustWorld International, a charitable organization dedicated to providing basic education, nutrition, health and hygiene programs, and vocational training for children in impoverished communities in Honduras, Cambodia, Guatemala, Brazil, and Senegal.

The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows partnering with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to hold a special Animal Adoption Day on Saturday, May 14. The ASPCA's Mobile Adoption Van, full of loving dogs and cats available for adoption, were on-site at the horse show.

The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows offer more than $220,000 in prize money and is highlighted by the $40,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix on May 15, $25,000 North Salem Grand Prix on May 20, and the $75,000 Empire State Grand Prix, presented by Land Rover, Mt. Kisco and Larchmont, on May 22. The shows also feature a $20,000 Speed Derby of North Salem on May 21, $15,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, a member event of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame on May 22, $10,000 United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) International Hunter Derby on May 21 and $10,000 Leading Hunter Rider Award, which will be announced on May 22.

Over the years, Old Salem Farm has played host to major competitions including Selection Trials for U.S. teams for World Championships and Olympic Games. Old Salem Farm boasts a state-of-the-art stabling facility, its historic pristine grass Grand Prix field as well as outstanding show and schooling rings, all surrounded by one of the nation’s most quaint and picturesque settings.

Old Salem Farm is located one hour north of New York City. In addition to hosting more than 20 horse shows besides its flagship spring horse shows, it maintains state-of-the-art stabling facilities for year-round boarding. Old Salem Farm’s training staff offers training for every level of riding from Short Stirrup to Grand Prix! Exceptional horses are also available for sale or lease.

Admission to the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows is $20.00 per carload on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Seating in the Patron Tent, which overlooks the Grand Prix field, is available Wednesday – Sunday, with a catered luncheon on Saturday and Grand Prix Sunday. For reservation information, please visit www.oldsalemfarm.net.  

For more information on Old Salem Farm, including its year-long horse show schedule, clinics, boarding, lessons and training, as well as the Spring Horse Show Prize List, please visit www.oldsalemfarm.net  or call 914-669-5610.

For more information on Voss Foundation, please visit www.thevossfoundation.org.
For more information Pegasus Therapeutic Riding, please visit www.pegasustr.org.  
For more information on JustWorld International, please visit www.justworldinternational.org.