Wellington, FL (February 3, 2011) – Professional rider Peter Pletcher has proven that he and NLF Shakespeare’s Rhythm are a winning team, as the duo has captured impressive hunter titles across the country. During the third week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, Pletcher and NLF Shakespeare’s Rhythm, owned by Nordic Lights Farm and Elisabeth Bruheim, added another championship to their resume when they won The Sanctuary High Performance Working Hunter division.
The new USEF division, with fences ranging in height from 4’ to 4’6”, is sponsored at WEF by The Sanctuary at PBIEC. A new world-class full horse therapy and conditioning center located on the grounds of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), The Sanctuary at PBIEC features some of the most advanced conditioning and therapy equipment in the world. Pletcher and NLF Shakespeare’s Rhythm were awarded a gift certificate for services at the new world-class Wellington facility.
Pletcher and NLF Shakespeare’s Rhythm earned two firsts, two seconds and a third place ribbon in the High Performance Working Hunter division to ride away with the championship. Pletcher was thrilled with NLF Shakespeare’s Rhythm’s success in the new division and said the horse also excels at hunter derbies.
Nordic Lights Farm is located in Tomball, Texas, and is home to Pletcher’s students Erin Bruheim, 18, and Lene Bruheim, 16. Both girls compete in the hunter and jumper divisions. “I know the Bruheim’s and Peter will be thrilled with the new Sanctuary at PBIEC facility,” said Brenda McDuffee, General Manager of The Sanctuary. “Being the most advanced facility of its kind in the world, The Sanctuary is proud of its reputation amongst leading horsemen whose horses have experienced the benefits of our cutting-edge therapies while rehabilitating from injury or conditioning for world-class events.”
Built in conjunction with the Wellington Equestrian Partners, The Sanctuary at PBIEC was founded on the principles of trying to help equine athletes reach their peak condition or, if injured, reach complete recovery so they can return to competition as quickly as possible. All of the therapies used at The Sanctuary are based on methods used for human rehabilitation and conditioning.
The Sanctuary at PBIEC features above ground water treadmills, cold saltwater leg spa treatment, two vibration plates with solarium, laser therapy, electromagnetic pulse therapy and a respiratory machine. “The laser therapy, electromagnetic pulse therapy and respiratory machine are all mobile therapy equipment which means the Sanctuary staff can take the equipment out on a golf cart and treat horses in their stalls if they are stabled on the show grounds,” McDuffee added.
The Sanctuary at PBIEC, which also has a 30-acre, state-of-the art facility in Ocala, is located near the FEI barn and permanent stabling area on the show grounds. Open Houses will be held at the new center, and dates for those will be announced soon.
For more information on The Sanctuary at PBIEC, visit their website at www.sanctuaryequinerehab.com or call 352-369-4325. For more information on the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival and the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, please visit www.equestriansport.com.
For more information contact:
Tom Grabe
The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center
1-352-369-HEAL (4325)