Category Archives: Fundraisers

Competitions, Equestrian Aid Found., Equestrian Assistance, Events, Fundraisers, Western/Reining

Who Reins Supreme?: World-Class Equestrians Compete for a Cause

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Third Annual Equestrian Aid Foundation Fundraiser a Success with Reining Competition, Trick Riders, Live Music, and More

Left to right: Chris Hickey, Susie Dutta (dressage), Candice King, Georgina Bloomberg (show jumping), Louise Serio, Peter Pletcher (hunter), Brandon Phillips, Nic Roldan (polo). Photo - Sarah Dodge

WELLINGTON, Fla. (February 8, 2013) – Two world-class riders from each discipline — show jumping, hunter, dressage, and polo — competed in the reining ring at the Equestrian Aid Foundation (EAF) fundraiser, Who Reins Supreme?, presented by Wellington Classic Dressage. Held on Friday, February 1, 2013, at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. The evening raised funds for EAF programs that financially assist equestrians, horsemen and equine-related professionals who are suffering from catastrophic illnesses and injuries, throughout their time of need.

Nic Roldan, Brandon Phillips, Louise Serio, Peter Pletcher, Chris Hickey, Susie Dutta, Candice King, and Georgina Bloomberg showed off their newfound reining skills in a custom-designed reining pattern created by Tom and Mandy McCutcheon and Sarah Willeman Richter. The hunter team was victorious, tackling the speedy spins and sliding stops of reining with poise and precision.

“I am proud to be a winner of this year’s EAF reining competition,” said Louise Serio. “Though Peter and I won in the ring, the real victors are the equestrians and horse-related professionals who will be able to receive financial support from EAF thanks to this year’s unprecedented participation in Who Reins Supreme?.”

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Community/Charity, Fundraisers, Phelps Media Group

Come Join Horse Tales Literacy Project at the Bridles & Backswings Golf Tournament

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Wellington, FL – February 4, 2013 – What child doesn’t grow up dreaming of owning and loving a horse? The Horse Tales Literacy Project, a non-profit organization committed to improving our literacy rate, uses that natural connection between children and horses to motivate children to read. This organization was founded by Tim Farley, son of the late Walter Farley, author of the classic Black Stallion book series, and Mark Miller, owner of the Arabian Nights Dinner Theatre. This program provides a simple but unique approach to motivating children to read by connecting them with a classic book about horses by Walter Farley and then exposing them to the magic of being able to interact with live horses. Since the organizations inception in 1999, the Horse Tales Literacy Project has reached over half a million children and educators in more than 18 states. The Horse Tales Literacy Project invites you to join them on Saturday, March 9th, 2013, at the Bridles & Backswings Golf Tournament, and to help them raise money to support these literacy programs here in Palm Beach County.

The first annual Bridles & Backswings Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, March 9th, 2013 at the beautiful Binks Forest Golf Club in Wellington, FL. with registration opening at 12:30p.m. There will be equine characters on hand from Walter Farley’s classic book, “Little Black, A Pony”, to meet and greet the golfers as they arrive. Then, the afternoon’s play will begin with a 1:00p.m. shotgun start. The afternoon of golf will include course competitions, games, raffles and prizes. After an afternoon of golf, the participants and their guests will enjoy an awards reception with a silent auction. Then, the guest will enjoy a sumptuous BBQ buffet dinner and a live equine reenactment of a scene from Walter Farley’s classic book, “The Black Stallion”, provided by the world-famous Arabian Nights Dinner Theatre from Kissimmee, FL.

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Community/Charity, Fundraisers, Sydney Masters-Durieux

Step by Step Foundation to Benefit from Poker Gives’ Cupids for Charity NL Tag Team Tourney

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Liliane Stransky & Olympic Veteran Margie Engle Planning to Host Charity Game during This Year’s Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida

Liliane Stransky and Margie Engle to co-host ‘All In for Charity’ Poker Tournament during WEF 2013

Wellington, FL – February 4, 2013 – Top poker professionals, veteran players, and amateur supporters have all reserved seats for Poker Gives’ 2nd annual Cupids for Charity NL Tag Team Tourney at the Binion’s on February 17, 2013.  The international children’s charity Step by Step Foundation will be one of the 5 beneficiaries for this year’s tournament at the popular casino at 128 Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada.

“We are very excited to be one of the non-profits chosen by Poker Gives this year,” said Step by Step founder Liliane Stransky of Miami and Wellington, Florida, who is planning on sitting down to take on all challengers at this fun filled game.  “The funds that come with each winning hand will help of our programs, like our Backpacks for Kids campaign.  We have been able to bring backpacks and much needed supplies to children both nationally and abroad, but this support will allow us to expand and help others.”

Getting involved with Poker Gives is a natural for Stransky, who along with the help of Olympic show jumping veteran Margie Engle is planning her third “All In for Charity Poker Tournament.”  They are looking to host the benefit tournament during this year’s Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida.

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Awards, Community/Charity, Equestrian Aid Found., Equestrian Assistance, Events, Fundraisers, Phelps Media Group, Western/Reining

R. Bruce Duchossois to Receive Equestrian Aid Foundation Luminary Award at “Who Reins Supreme?”

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R. Bruce Duchossois

Wellington, FL – January 30, 2013 – Legendary horseman R. Bruce Duchossois will be honored with the Equestrian Aid Foundation (EAF) Luminary Award on Friday, February 1, at “Who Reins Supreme?,” a fundraising event for the EAF at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center.

Duchossois, an Executive Board member of the Equestrian Aid Foundation, is a Trustee of the USET Foundation, Co-Chair of the Development Committee and Chairman of the Nominating Committee. In November, he was named to the Board of Directors of the National Horse Show Association. He is also a member of the USHJA and serves as Co-Chair of the Owners Task Force, and is a member of the Amateurs Committee and the Zone 4 Committee. He’s a Board member of The Aiken Training Track and a lifetime member of the USEF, the AQHA and the U.S. Eventing Association.

Duchossois, from Aiken, SC, is one of the country’s leading exhibitors in the Adult Amateur Hunter division and has been deeply involved in numerous aspects of equestrian sports, as has his family. Duchossois’ mother competed on Saddlebreds, and his father owned Arlington Park near Chicago, IL.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Competitions, Equestrian Aid Found., Equestrian Assistance, Events, Fundraisers, Phelps Media Group, Western/Reining

Wellington Classic Dressage Wants to Know “Who Reins Supreme?”

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Wellington, FL – January 29, 2013 – Wellington Classic Dressage is proud to be the presenting sponsor of “Who Reins Supreme?,” a February 1 charity event at Palm Beach County Jim Brandon Equestrian Center benefiting the Equestrian Aid Foundation.

“Who Reins Supreme?” fields teams of world-class equestrians from dressage, show jumping, hunter and polo, who will tackle a custom reining test of speedy spins and sliding stops. The teams win bragging rights as to “Who Reins Supreme?” across multiple equestrian disciplines. The 6 p.m. event also features special guest Tom McCutcheon, World Equestrian Games’ reining double gold medalist, as well as a Taste of Charity showcase, auction items and live music. There will also be a presentation of the Equestrian Aid Foundation Luminary Award honoring R. Bruce Duchossois. The evening begins with cocktails at 6 p.m., followed by the competition and Taste of Charity at 7:30 p.m., with music starting at 9 p.m.

Wellington Classic Dressage (WCD) is contributing the expensive infrastructure already in place at Jim Brandon for the World Dressage Masters CDI5* Palm Beach for the event. WCD Managing Partner, John Flanagan, is a staunch supporter of the Equestrian Aid Foundation and said he is glad to help.

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Auctions, Driving, Events, Fundraisers, Phelps Media Group

SAVE THE DATE! “Salute to Driving” Benefit to Support the USET Foundation

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The "Salute to Driving" will take place March 1-3, 2013. Photo By: Vicki Long

Windsor, SC – January 25, 2013 – The Third Annual Salute to Driving fundraising event is pleased to announce that it will once again be held in Windsor, SC, March 1-3, 2013. Each year, this event benefits the country’s High Performance Driving programs for the United States Equestrian Team Foundation. The exciting weekend 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 Sunday. 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 Friday, March 1, 2013, with dressage clinics by Michael Freund and Sterling Graburn at Chateau Log and Courage to Lead Farms. Auditing these clinics is free, and Freund will lead the USEF long listed drivers while Graburn teaches the developing drivers. Other special events include a hazard demonstration and clinic, harnessing demonstrations farrier demonstration, and a carriage exhibit.

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Community/Charity, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Fundraisers, Phelps Media Group

Debbie McDonald and Mason Phelps Return to the Ring for Challenge of the Americas

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Debbie McDonald and Mason Phelps

Wellington, FL – January 24, 2013 – Olympians Debbie McDonald and Mason Phelps are teaming together in a dressage pas de deux exhibition at The Challenge of the Americas March 9 to help raise funds for breast cancer research.

Both Olympians came out of retirement to plan the ride. “It was a collaborative effort to challenge each other to get back in front of the public and it is all for a good cause,” Phelps said. “Debbie and I are thrilled to be helping raise money for breast cancer and we couldn’t have done it in such a big way without the help of so many generous sponsors and helpers.”

Top names are behind the duo, including Carl Hester, who is helping choreograph the freestyle, Terry Ciotto Gallo, who is donating the musical compilation for the disco-themed ride, Samshield, who donated top-of-line helmets for the pair, and Stoddard Oliver, who is tailoring the costumes.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Equestrian Aid Found., Equestrian Assistance, Events, Fundraisers, Western/Reining

Who Will Rein Supreme? Find Out … Feb. 1

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Presented by Wellington Classic Dressage at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Presenting the 2013 EAF Luminary Award to R. Bruce Duchossois!

Join us for a spectacular night of reining with world-class dressage, show jumping, hunter and polo teams! Featuring great food and drinks at the Taste of Charity sponsored by Tito’s Vodka, exciting auctions and a fun country western band.

Buy your tables and tickets now!

Don’t miss the best event of 2013!

See the Nov. 2012 press release here.

Equestrian Aid Foundation | 11924 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 22-377 | Wellington | FL | 33414

*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Fundraisers, Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping

Kent Farrington and Dynamo Win $100,000 Trump Invitational Grand Prix CSI 2*

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The Voice Winner Cassadee Pope Rocked Opening Ceremonies; Money Raised to Benefit the FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge

Kent Farrington and Dynamo jump over the Veuve Clicquot fence. Photo © Sportfot

Palm Beach, FL – January 7, 2013 – The first ever $100,000 Trump Invitational Grand Prix CSI 2* debuted to rave reviews on Sunday, January 6, at the beautiful Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, FL. With some of the world’s top show jumpers competing on the lawn of Donald Trump’s scenic estate overlooking South Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway, U.S. rider Kent Farrington jumped to victory in the inaugural class aboard Amalaya Investments’ Dynamo.

The Trump Invitational benefits the 2013 FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge (FTI GCC), present by Fidelity Investments, one of the hallmarks of Equestrian Sport Productions’ FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. The event has raised and distributed over $2.7 million to local Palm Beach charities over the last three years. In addition to the grand prix competition on Sunday, a wild card charity was drawn for the 2013 FTI GCC, The Voice winner Cassadee Pope performed some of her top songs as well as the national anthem, and Olympic Dressage duo Tina Konyot and Calecto V performed their winning freestyle exhibition.

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Driving, Events, Fundraisers, JRPR

Dine with Four-in-Hand Champion Chester Weber and Nourish Sunshine Pony Club

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Chester Weber and his wife My Elisabeth will be hosting a table during the U.S. Pony Club’s First Annual Fund Raiser Winter Gala at BG Farms in Ocala, Florida. (Photo courtesy of Chester Weber)

Ocala, FL (December 27, 2012) – If the question ‘Who would be your perfect dinner companion?’ sparks your imagination, don’t miss the Sunshine Region of the U.S. Pony Club’s First Annual Fund Raiser Winter Gala at BG Farms in Ocala, FL, giving members and guests an unbridled opportunity for “dinner with the stars” of the horse world.  Nine-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion, Chester Weber, is one of 30 FEI-level equestrians hosting tables at the event, including Olympic and Pan American Games medalists, Maclay finalists, and ‘A’ and ‘B’ Pony Clubbers. Tickets are still available for the dinner, December 29, from 6:30pm to 9:30 pm, at $100 each for the chance to break bread and enjoy conversations over a fine meal with veteran horsemen at http://sunshineregionponyclubs.org.

Weber and his wife, show jumper My Elisabeth, have long been dedicated to seeing more young people get involved in horses, lending their influence and expertise to the combined driving, show jumping, and dressage communities and charities.  In 2012, they debuted FEI CSI** show jumping at Live Oak International, adding to the already prestigious program of the premier North American combined driving event, and were co-chairs for the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation Noche de Gala benefit for Shands Hospital for Children and the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation mission to create a state-of-the-art children’s hospital at the University of Florida.

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