Due to torrential rains earlier in the week, the decision was made on Friday to move Saturday's Grand Prix from the grass Jumper Field to the Emerson Burr Ring with all weather footing.
George N. Venizelos representing Wells Fargo Advisors was on hand to present the well-earned blue ribbon, along with Laura Totten of Coca Cola and Michel Nischan of Wholesome Wave and The Dressing Room, Show Co-Chairs, Alison Ashman, Catherine Herman, and Jennifer Ross, and Lynn Coakley, President of The EQUUS Foundation.
Thanks to the professional expertise of Show Manager William Glass and the Fairfield County Hunt Club staff led by General Manager Carla Nelson, spectators and over 400 guests at The EQUUS Foundation Grand Prix Benefit Luncheon were afforded ringside views to watch these riders and horses triumph over the difficult course designed by Olympic Course Designer Steve Stephens.
The show's generous individual and corporate sponsors included: the show's Official Vehicle Sponsors, Buick & GMC; Magazine Sponsor, Moffly Media; Gold Medal Sponsors Avenue Capital Group, Fairfield Equine Associates, and Newmark Knight Frank; Silver Medal Sponsors, Coca Cola, Corinthian Partners, LLC, D'Addario Industries, Gary Goldberg Financial Services, Hi Ho Petroleum, Hospital for Special Surgery and Imperial Dental Associates; and Bronze Medal Sponsors, Agriventures Agway and Margaret Bondy Interiors. These sponsors presented awards all week long to the winners of the 250 separate equestrian competitions, which culminated with the Grand Prix on Saturday.
The Buick & GMC Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumper Classic originally scheduled for Thursday was moved to Friday, with Lillie Keenan aboard Veronieque owned by Chansonette Farm LLC claiming the blue ribbon, for the second year in a row.
Ken Silverman of GMC and Dave Whitlock of Buick presented the trophy to thirteen year old Keenan, one of the top young riders in the country, who also came in 5th place in Saturday's Grand Prix aboard Vanhattan.
Amanda Steege emerged triumphant over a field of 32 competitors in the $10,000 New England Hunter Derby presented by the Friends of the Global Fund for Children.
Steege claimed first place aboard Majestic owned by Anthony Arena; second place aboard Aiden owned by John Yozell; fourth place aboard Duval owned by Randi Vladimer; and sixth place aboard Caschmier owned by Judy Rutkowsky. Brooke Baldwin DeGrazia, winner of the 2010 Fairfield Hunter Derby, was on hand to present the blue ribbon to Steege, along with Sam and Rebecca McGoldrick and John E. Franzreb III.
All horse show class sponsorships directly benefited The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., a 501 (c)(3) national charitable foundation whose mission is to improve the quality of life of horses and the people who benefit from their unique abilities to empower, teach and heal.
"We are very grateful to the Fairfield County Hunt Club for selecting The EQUUS Foundation as the show's charity and to the hundreds of individuals and corporations who made donations this year," said Lynn Coakley. "The Foundation has awarded over $1.6 million in grants to horse-related charities across the United States."
For additional information, contact The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., 168 Long Lots Road, Westport, CT 06880, or telephone (203) 259-1550, or Email to: [email protected], or visit the EQUUS website at www.equusfoundation.org.
ABOUT THE EQUUS FOUNDATION, INC.
The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., established in August 2002, as a 501(c)(3) national charitable foundation, seeks to raise public awareness of the value of the horse in society through education and the awarding of grants to charities that use the horse to benefit the public, promote the health and welfare of horses, and elevate the equestrian sport as a whole. The Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life of horses and people who benefit from their unique ability to empower, teach, and heal.
Thanks to the generosity of its donors, The EQUUS Foundation helps thousands of people and horses each year. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. For more information, please contact The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., at 168 Long Lots Road, Westport, CT 06880, Tele: (203) 259-1550, E-Mail: [email protected], website: http://www.equusfoundation.org.