March, 13th, 2012 – This May the Georgia International Horse Park will once again play host to the Atlanta Spring Challenge Horse Show. Produced by Aiken, SC based J. P. Godard and Equus Events, the show offers a fitting end to the spring season and a perfect stop for those on their way to Devon. The show now in its 9th year has become a favorite of those attending events at the Horse Park which was site of the equestrian portion of the 1996 Olympic Games.
“We have added new classes and special events each year,” said show organizer J. P. Godard. The show started out a single “A” rated horse show in 2004 and has now grown to a five day “AA” rated event that attracts some of top hunter and jumper riders throughout the country. In today’s economy it takes a lot more than the average horse show to survive and to actually grow throughout the last 8 years is a major feat in itself. Godard believes this consistent growth can be attributed to Equus Events and its staff striving to offer more than just the average horse show.
Details such as the decorative islands adorning the hunter arenas rarely go unnoticed and the daily breakfast and ring hospitality is a welcome sight to tired and weary exhibitors. This year’s feature events include a $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and Derby Party Friday, May 18th and the $25,000 Atlanta Spring Challenge Grand Prix and annual Preakness Party to celebrate the running of the 137th Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May19th. The annual Preakness Party is sponsored by Daniel and Cathy Geitner and their DFG Stables www.dfgstables.net. Both of these feature events will take place in the coveted International Arena which once hosted some of the world’s greatest equestrians and their horses during the Olympic Games.
Sponsorship also plays an integral part in a successful event. Many of Equus Events exhibitors enjoy sponsoring the hospitality each day as a way to make the show extra special. “Fenwick Equestrian www.fenwickequestrian.com and Dietrich and Company Equine Insurance http://www.dietrich-insurance.com have also signed on again for 2012,” said Godard. “We are extremely pleased to have them be part of the team.”
Jumper riders will have the opportunity to square off against courses designed by internationally famed and silver medal Olympian Michel Vaillancourt. Vaillancourt originally from Montreal, Canada was the first Canadian equestrian to capture an Olympic individual medal in the 1979 Games and is one of the world’s most respected course designers. He also holds the distinguished FEI “I” level course designers license. Besides the $25,000 Grand Prix, the jumper offerings include an attractive line up such as Young Jumper Qualifying events, a $5,000 NAL/WIHS Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic, and a $7,500 Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic. Hunter riders are not be left out as the Atlanta Spring Challenge has once again been selected as a prestigious World Champion Hunter Rider sanctioned event and with a $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby plus an array of classic offerings for every division there truly is something for everyone.
May notably has some of the most beautiful weather on record at the horse park so it is a fabulous time to visit. For more information on the 2012 Atlanta Spring Challenge Horse Show or the rest of the Equus Events 2012 event schedule please log on to www.equusevents.com or call 803-643-5698. Select sponsorship opportunities are also available. Please contact Megan Godard at 803-295-2094 or megan@equusevents.com.
Contact: Equus Events, Inc.
803-643-5698