Category Archives: Benefits

McLain Ward to Judge Fete Cheval Riders – Last Chance for Reservations!

McLain Ward at the 2005 Fete Cheval

WESTPORT, CT – March 2, 2012 – Who better to judge the professional riders participating in the Fete Cheval than McLain Ward? Ward set the standard in the Ride-Off at the first Fete Cheval in 2005.

The Fete Cheval, presented by Spy Coast Farm to benefit The EQUUS Foundation, will be held on Friday, March 9, 2012 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Cocktails, dinner and exclusive ringside seating will be held in the International Club starting at 7 p.m. before the revelry begins at 8 p.m. The deadline for dinner reservations is Sunday, March 4, 2012!

The riders vying for the top honor are Max Amaya, Derek Braun, Saer Coulter, Nick Dello Joio, Hillary Dobbs, Jimmy Fairclough, Brianne Goutal, Weston Gracida, Patricia Griffith, Ashley Holzer, Charlie Jayne, Paige Johnson, Kris Kampsen, Laura Kraut, Marcia Kulak, Anne Kursinski, Alexa Pessoa, Rodrigo Pessoa, Brandon Phillips, Kim Prince, Havens Schatt, Louise Serio, Jessica Springsteen, Scott Stewart, Shane Sweetnam, and Jimmy Torano, representing Dressage, Eventing, Hunter, Jumper, and Polo.

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USET Foundation Olympic Gala in Aiken to Benefit U.S. Eventing Team

Aiken, SC – February 28, 2012 – The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is pleased to announce that Phillip and Evie Dutton will be hosting their fourth annual Olympic Gala in Aiken, SC on Friday, March 16, 2012 at 7 pm at Bridle Creek, their winter training facility. The night will bring the Aiken community together to enjoy cocktails, a buffet, dancing, and a silent auction while supporting the U.S. Eventing High Performance programs with a portion of the proceeds going to the USET Foundation.

“We are very excited to be hosting the benefit again for the Eventing Team with the lead up to the London Olympics,” explained Evie. “It’s a great night out for the Aiken community and a lot of fun for everybody while supporting a great cause.”

The event features top event riders Phillip Dutton and Boyd Martin as the Celebrity Hosts. Starting at 7 pm, guests can enjoy the open bar and heavy hors d’oeuvres as they partake in the raffle and silent auction while also dancing to the music of Preston and Weston.

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Second Annual Salute to Driving Benefit Offers Generous Support to USET Foundation

Lisa Singer and Wendy O'Brien at the 2012 Salute to Driving. Photo: Vicki Long

Aiken, SC – February 22, 2012 – For the second year in a row, the ‘Salute to Driving’ weekend benefit hosted a beautiful Dinner & Live Auction on Saturday, February 18, 2012, for the benefit of the United States Equestrian Team Foundation to help support the USEF High Performance Combined Driving. The successful evening was held at Wendy O’Brien’s beautiful Trout Walk Farm in Aiken, SC. The event was held to help raise funds for the USET Foundation that will be dedicated to helping train the best drivers and equines to represent the USA in World Driving Championships with the goal to bring home Team and Individual Medals.

The dinner began at 6:30 pm, and during the evening’s Live Auction, attendees bid on auction items which included lessons with top driver Michael Freund in Florida, lessons with Chester Weber during the Live Oak Driving Event 2012, a dinner for six presented by Jack Wetzel at his newly restored 1780s log cabin in Aiken, a week-long vacation in a four bedroom Victorian home on Block Island in Rhode Island, a Picnic Supper for 20 people at Wendy O’Brien’s Trout Walk Farm hosted by the Bronze medal winning team from the Pony World Driving Championships, and a Ride on a Coach with the Four-in-Hand Club with lunch in the Audubon Nature Preserve. In addition to the live auction, a silent auction featuring 30 quality items was held throughout the day on Saturday, and came to close following the dinner.

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Equestrian Aid Foundation Ready for Second Annual Sidelines Tetrathlon

Jane Forbes Clark to Receive Inaugural Luminary Award; Sarah B. Willeman Also to Be Honored

WELLINGTON, Fla. (Jan. 31, 2012) – The second-annual Sidelines Equestrian Tetrathlon Presented by MeadowView & The Riggio Family to benefit the Equestrian Aid Foundation will be Sunday, February 5, 2012, at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. The wild, wild west-themed evening will feature the best of Palm Beach’s restaurant fare and signature cocktails with guest chefs to tempt your palette; and silent auction items to entice your sense of adventure; with the headline of the night being world-class horsemen and women in the greatest discipline switch ever imagined.

R. Bruce Duchossois, renowned equestrian and member of the board of directors, oversee the festivities with event co-chair R. Scot Evans, the EAF’s president.

Defending Team FarmVet will take on sponsored teams MeadowView, Palm Beach Equine Clinic and newcomer Flintfields Horse Park. Success Equestrian has outfitted the dressage, show jumping and reining horses in the competition with new no-slip saddle pads.

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USET Foundation’s “An English Country Evening” Benefit Raises over One Million Dollars

Tom Tisbo, Jeannie Tisbo, Bruce Springsteen, Hunter Julo, Hunter Harrison, Kaitlin Creel, Keith Creel and Ginger Creel. Photos By: Phelps Media Group

Wellington, FL – January 30, 2012 – On Friday, January 27, 2012, the United States Equestrian Team Foundation hosted a benefit event at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. With over 500 guests in attendance, “An English Country Evening” featured honorary chairs NBC Today Show host Matt Lauer and his wife Annette, an avid equestrian. The celebratory evening included award presentations, an elegant dinner, and a lively auction, which helped raise over one million dollars for the USET Foundation.

“An English Country Evening” was held in the Special Events Pavilion at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, which was transformed into a beautiful English country garden by designer Reed McIlvaine (Renny and Reed), and included an exquisite dinner by Ken Rose catering. USET Foundation President Jane Forbes Clark, Board of Trustee Members Robin Parsky and Bruce Duchossois, and Executive Director Bonnie Jenkins all helped organize the very successful event.

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“Salute to Driving” Benefit to Support the USET Foundation

The "Salute to Driving" will take place February 18-20, 2012. Photo By: Vicki Long.

Aiken, SC – January 4, 2012 – The Second Annual Salute to Driving fundraising event is pleased to announce that it will once again be held in Aiken, and Windsor SC, February 18-20, 2012, and will feature many exciting new additions. Last year’s debut event benefited this country’s High Performance Driving programs for the United States Equestrian Team Foundation, raising over $30,000. The exciting weekend event will feature a beautiful dinner and auction on Saturday evening, multiple driving clinics with some of the world’s top trainers, and a Combined Test Competition for any drivers Preliminary-Advanced on Monday. The Salute to Driving event is being held to help raise awareness and educate different audiences about the discipline of driving.

Salute to Driving will kick off its festivities on Saturday, February 18, 2012, with dressage clinics by Tjreed Velstra of The Netherlands and Hardy Zantke of California at Chateau Log and Courage to Lead Farms. Auditing these clinics is free, and Velstra will lead the USEF long listed drivers while Zantke teaches the developing drivers. Other special events include a hazard demonstration and clinic, harnessing demonstrations, and a carriage exhibit.

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Second Annual Jump for HomeSafe and Seventh Annual Shady Ladies Dinner Set for January 28th at PBIEC

Wellington, FL – December 30, 2011 – With philanthropist and equestrian Paige Johnson as event chairperson, the 2nd annual Jump for HomeSafe event will be an entertaining evening for the hundreds of spectators in attendance on Saturday, January 28, 2012 during the $55,000 Nespresso Battle of the Sexes at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC).

Proceeds from the event will support HomeSafe, a non-profit organization helping victims of domestic violence and child abuse. Each year HomeSafe serves more than fifteen thousand infants, children and families in Palm Beach County and South Florida.

Jump for HomeSafe is a fun and energetic cocktail party that will take place inside the newly expanded Wellington Club at PBIEC. Attendees will enjoy a three-hour cocktail party including hors d’oeuvres, open bar, silent auction, entertainment, special guests, reserved outdoor seating to watch the Nespresso Battle of the Sexes, and horseless jumping competitions (with awards) for children.

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“Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to The Derby” Online Auction of Kentucky Derby Hats Continues with a Chapeau Inspired by Breeders’ Cup Champion Prized

Proceeds to Benefit Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement

GEORGETOWN, KY – NOVEMBER 30, 2011 – “Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby,” a charity auction of fashionable Kentucky Derby Hats, continues December 1st as bidding opens on “The Prized.”

“The Prized” hat is the second chapeau to go on the virtual block in this six-month-long auction, which kicked off November 1st.

Proceeds from this exclusive event benefit Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in central Kentucky, and features beautiful hats handcrafted by milliner Sally Faith Steinmann of Maggie Mae Designs.

Each of the six unique designs are inspired by one of the pensioned racehorses at Old Friends, and a new hat will be offered for bid each month leading up to the most exciting two minutes in sports, the Kentucky Derby, held in 2012 on May 5th at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY.

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The Equestrian Aid Foundation Announces the 2012 Sidelines Annual Equestrian Tetrathlon

Wellington, FL – October 24, 2011 – The Equestrian Aid Foundation is pleased to announce the 2012 Sidelines Annual Equestrian Tetrathlon, Sunday, February 5, 2012. The second annual event will be held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, Florida to benefit the Equestrian Aid Foundation. The event will feature the best of Palm Beach’s restaurant fare and cocktails as well as guest chefs preparing food that will entice your palette. The event will also include both live and silent auction items in tandem with exhilarating entertainment.

Bruce Duchossois and Scot Evans have dedicated their time as Co-chairs for the event to help raise awareness in the equestrian community and raise funds to assist those in need. The Tetrathlon will focus around a “Wild, Wild West” theme, the Gold Rush. The highlight of the evening will be the world-class horsemen and women in the greatest discipline switch to ever be anticipated. The four disciplines include dressage, reining, show jumping and polo.

“This is our major fundraiser for the year,” said Co-chair Duchossois. “This event brings all disciplines together to participate in the fundraiser and give back to the equestrian community.”

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2011 IALHA National Championship and Charity Horse Show Graciously Benefits United States Para-Equestrian Association

Eleanor Brimmer and Vadico Interagro at 2011 NEDA Fall Festival of Dressage CPEDI3*. Photo © Lindsay Yosay McCall

Fort Worth, TX – October 14, 2011 – In 2010 the Para-Equestrian discipline debuted at their first World Equestrian Games, the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The Games launched the Para-Equestrian sport and Para-Equestrians into household names.  The recognition let people know that Para-Dressage, like all equestrian disciplines, requires strength, drive, FEI level horses, and experienced athletes.  As like all equestrian sports it also requires strong support.  The 2011 International Andalusian Lusitano Horse Show Association (IALHA) decided their 2011 IALHA National Championship and Charity Horse Show would benefit the United States Para-Equestiran Association (USPEA).  This is the biggest show of the year for the IALHA which is held October 11-16, 2011 at the Will Rogers Equestrian Center in Ft. Worth Texas.  The IALHA and the United States Equestrian Federation present the National Championship.

“I brought the idea to our committee of having our last big show of the year benefit the USPEA and it was unanimous that it would happen,” smiled 2011 IALHA Show Chair Christina Cardenas.  Christina became captivated by the Para-Equestrians while in Lexington at the 2010 World Equestrian Games.  She noted, “When I saw these riders dancing with their horses and making it look so effortless I knew in that moment I wanted to have a fundraiser for the cause.” Over the course of this week, the IALHA horse show holds a silent auction and has a clothing drive to add to their fundraiser.  It will be support of the patrons, the sponsors, exhibitors, IALHA members, and spectators who will contribute to supporting the USPEA.  As part of the fundraiser the USPEA will receive 50% of all profits.

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