Tag Archives: Brooke USA

*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Competitions, Fundraisers, Polo

Brooke USA Raises over $210k during Signature Event

April 1, 2021 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Timmy Dutta – GJ Racing © Rachel-Elizabeth.com/Rachel Spencer.

(Wellington, Fla.) March 30, 2021 – Brooke USA’s Sunset Polo® & White Party | Special Edition: Latin America, presented by Lugano Diamonds, proved to be an astounding affair, receiving rave reviews from the Wellington, Palm Beach, and Miami social scenes. Held at the International Polo Club Palm Beach with an exclusive guest list of only 350, the event provided an entertaining evening highlighted by its exciting signature Sunset Polo, gourmet Latin cuisine curated by Celebrity Chef Ingrid Hoffmann, and a live band, the Miami-based Tartara. The event raised more than $210,000 for Brooke USA, whose mission is to alleviate the suffering of working equines in some of the poorest parts of the world.

“We are thrilled with the results of our event, not only financially, but also because it allowed us to further our mission. We made new friends and supporters and educated those present about the plight of working equines and the families who own them,” Chair of the Brooke USA Board of Directors Katherine Kaneb remarked. “It is important to understand that these animals are the engines that fuel the developing world and if they are healthy and cared for, families will benefit from better living and working conditions.”

Brooke USA strives to significantly improve the welfare of working horses, donkeys, and mules and the people they serve throughout Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, and the Caribbean by raising funds and responsibly directing them to the areas of greatest need. The 2021 special edition event focused on the Americas, with program funding benefiting Nicaraguan fodder plots, COVID-19 response and recovery, advocacy to end the donkey hide crisis in the United States, and its newest project, scoping and research of Native American Reservations attitudes towards working equines.

“As Brooke USA grows, so do our investments in this hemisphere. We were thrilled to offer a means of support that focused on our work in the United States and Central America,” stated Emily Dulin, Brooke USA CEO.

The evening began with a thrilling sunset polo match, where three teams played in a six-chukker round-robin polo tournament consisting of three two-chukker games.

The tournament kicked off with Team Celebrity Cruises, made up of Mikey Matz, Whitney Ross, Marcos Bignoli, Tareq Salahi, and John Gobin challenging Team GJ Racing, the 2019 defending champions. Riding in orange for GJ Racing were Ignacio Cabrera, Timmy Dutta, Jake Schaufeld, and Jessie Graham. Salahi scored one goal in the opening chukker to secure the lead, and his alternate, Whitney Ross, made the second goal in the second chukker to take the first win with a 2-0 finish.

With one win under their belts, Celebrity Cruises then faced off against Team Invicta Farm, consisting of Annalise Phillips, Alyssa Braswell, Michel Dorignac, and Milo Dorignac. Salahi scored the first two goals of the second game, while Invicta scored one goal by Dorignac. Celebrity ultimately snatched the win with a 3-1 victory when Mikey Matz scored the final goal to take the win.

In the decisive last two chukkers, Team Invicta challenged Team GJ Racing in a match that went down to the wire as Invicta took the early lead with both Braswell and Dorignac scoring in the fifth chukker. Dutta tied up the game in the final chukker for GJ Racing with two back-to-back goals; however, Milo Dorignac pulled Invicta ahead with the final goal scored, securing the win with a 3-2 finish.

In the end, Team Celebrity Cruises was declared the winner with a final cumulative score of five. Team Invicta finished in second place with a score of four, while Team GJ Racing took third place with a final score of two.

For more information or to donate, please visit www.brookeusa.org.

Awards, EQUUS Foundation

Brooke USA Recognized as the 2020 Humanitarian Award Recipient

January 24, 2021 Associate Editor Leave a comment

The EQUUS Foundation and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) came together in 2009 to establish the Humanitarian Award to recognize the accomplishments of an individual or group of individuals in improving the health and welfare of the horse and promoting and expanding the general public’s appreciation and respect of the diverse role of horses.

Brooke USA received the EQUUS Foundation Humanitarian Award at the virtual USEF Pegasus and Horse of the Year Awards Celebration on Saturday evening, January 17, 2021. Brooke USA, the sister organization to Brooke and a leading funder of its work in the developing world, is best known for improving and advocating for the welfare of working horses, donkeys, and mules and the people they serve throughout Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, and the Caribbean by raising funds and responsibly directing them to the areas of greatest need. Less widely known is Brooke USA’s commitment to America’s horses.

The Work of Brooke USA Worldwide

Over 100 million working horses, donkeys, and mules provide invaluable support to daily life for an estimated 600 million people (eight percent of the world’s population) in some of the poorest places in the world through haulage, transportation, and production.

Healthy working horses, donkeys, and mules help to put food on their tables, send their children to school, and build better futures for themselves and their families.

Brooke USA strategically invests in solution-oriented, community-based partner organizations that address the root causes of problems affecting vulnerable communities around the globe.

Working directly with animals, owners, health services agencies, and governments, Brooke USA supports growths in infrastructure, education, veterinary care, and funding for projects and causes positively benefitting and sustaining working humans and animals in the developing world.

The Work of Brooke USA in the US

Sadly, in the United States, many of America’s horses who empower and heal us face an uncertain future. Tens of thousands become at-risk for abuse and neglect each year. Over 65,000 were shipped across our borders to be slaughtered in 2019.

Since 2016, Brooke USA has stepped up to fund US-based organizations during natural disasters and other emergencies. The COVID-19 pandemic was no exception. Brooke USA came to the rescue in the United States by supporting the relief efforts of national equine welfare organizations, including the EQUUS Foundation, the Foundation for the Horse, the charitable arm of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), and the Humane Society of the United States. Brooke USA also supported the disaster relief efforts of the United States Equestrian Foundation and the Equestrian Aid Foundation as well as other regionally based organizations.

“Brooke USA is thrilled to be recognized for our work in the United States. We have been building up our support of US-based organizations over the past few years, and COVID-19 made our national emergency our very own priority. To date, we have delivered micro-grants 24 fellow nonprofits. It has been about supporting day-to-day operations, providing feed, ensuring vet care, and helping owners. We thank the EQUUS Foundation and the United States Equestrian Federation for the honor of serving as the 2020 the EQUUS Foundation Humanitarian Award recipient,” said John Nicholson, Immediate Past Chair of Brooke USA.

“During this time of extreme hardship, one thing is certain. We are grateful to our first responders and to the individuals and organizations that rise above their own priorities to work for the common good. Brooke USA is one such organization and is most deserving to be recognized as the recipient of the Humanitarian Award,” said Lynn Coakley, EQUUS Foundation President.

To learn more about the EQUUS Foundation and their mission, please visit www.equusfoundation.org.

Community/Charity

Leave Your Footprint and Help a Hoofprint during Brooke USA’s Virtual Fitness Challenge

May 16, 2020 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Lexington, Ky – May 15, 2019 – Across the nation people are doing their part to stay apart, and for those eager to get moving, a virtual race provides the ability to kick-start fitness goals while coming together for a cause. On May 5, Brooke USA, a 501(c)3 dedicated to alleviating the suffering of working equines and the people who depend on them globally, launched its first virtual race. Leave your footprint and help a hoofprint with Brooke USA’s Virtual Race: Between a Walk & a Hard Place. Every dollar raised will directly benefit Brooke USA’s COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund, and with your help, Brooke USA will continue to make a difference in the lives of humans and equines worldwide.

Registration is open at www.CharityFootprints.com/BrookeUSA.

This global initiative is simple to support, and participants can complete it on their own schedule over the course of eight weeks. The goal is to raise funds for the people and animals affected by the aftermath of COVID-19, as well as walk over 140,000,000 steps as a sign of unity and global generosity. The eight-week fitness challenge allows for registrants to not only have their own fundraising page, race chat and teams, but also converts workouts to steps. From Pilates to running, and horseback riding to weightlifting, the Brooke USA Virtual Race encourages fitness for every level, and on any schedule while raising funds and awareness for a cause.

The registration fee is $50, and proceeds benefit Brooke USA’s COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund. The fee includes a finisher’s t-shirt, which will be sent to the participant by mail at the conclusion of the challenge. Brooke USA has assisted with disaster relief in the United States during times of emergency, and in light of COVID-19, the team will once again step up to make a difference by opening the fund to applicants in the U.S. and worldwide.

Since COVID-19 made its way stateside, everyone’s lives have changed dramatically, and this new reality has brought uncertainty to the projects and programs that Brooke USA funds through its grants. To counteract the escalation of poverty and lack of resources in the developing world, Brooke USA is gearing up for the aftermath that is sure to follow in the wake of COVID-19. Brooke USA has set a goal of $100,000 to raise for its COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund, which the virtual race directly supports. For many of the people and animals Brooke USA serves, things will only get worse before they get better. Your donation and/or registration will impact lives.

The race can be completed in whatever way is most enjoyable. For example:

Donate to the race or to an individual/team.
Run or walk with your dog.
Use a treadmill or elliptical.
Practice downward dog while taking a yoga class.
Dance around the house or take a virtual Zumba class.
Garden or go for a swim.

The possibilities are endless.

How does it work?

STEP 1: Register for Brooke USA’s fitness challenge at www.CharityFootprints.com/BrookeUSA. Your registration fee of $50 is a donation to Brooke USA, and at the end of the challenge you will receive a commemorative shirt for your effort and support.

STEP 2: You are registered! Now it is time to download the app and spread the news. Since we are using technology a little bit more today than ever before, let’s lean on it, and rock with it! Tell everyone you know that you signed up for a virtual race and they can support you by joining the race or donating through your personal webpage. Use social media, email, and text messages. You probably already have a few friends in mind who would not mind a little fitness fun. Well, this is the perfect opportunity to put the “FUN” in fundraising and start moving together.

STEP 3: Track your workout exercise of choice (anywhere you are) on the website or by downloading the Charity Footprints App. (It also syncs with your Fitbit, Apple Watch, MisFit, Strava, Google Fit, or Garmin.) Any workout can be converted to steps, and together we will fill in our virtual map by earning 140,000,000 steps. The journey kicks off in Lexington, Kentucky and continues through Brooke USA funded projects in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Cuba, Senegal, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nepal, Pakistan, and India.

The more steps you take, the further we go as a team!

Registration is currently open and will continue until the end of June. It does not matter if your friends and family want to join in week one or week six, every step counts and every donation helps Brooke USA tip the scales as the organization prepares to tackle the repercussions of COVID-19. Register at www.charityfootprints.com/brookeusa. For any questions regarding the virtual place, please email Kendall.bierer@brookeusa.org.

Uncategorized

Brooke USA Launches Fundraising Effort to Fight Coronavirus Pandemic

April 11, 2020 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Lexington, KY (April 10, 2020) – Brooke USA has launched a crisis fundraising campaign for friends and supporters to provide humanitarian aid during the growing global fight against the COVID-19 novel coronavirus.

The Board of Directors of Broke USA will manage the COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund which is designed to address the need for humanitarian aid across the globe. In response to the spread of the coronavirus, Brooke USA is committed to meeting the needs of equine-dependent communities impacted by the pandemic both in the United States and in the developing world.

Countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, and the Caribbean are going to need increased assistance. Brooke USA recognizes that in the developing world there is a lack of health care facilities, medical supplies are not readily available, and living in highly crowded communal situations exacerbates the risk of spread. Moreover, the international community which normally offers aid is hard pressed to help because every nation is dealing with their own problems related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund positions Brooke USA to immediately help where the need is greatest. The current crisis has also impacted the US, leaving horses, donkeys, and mules abandoned and local equine organizations in desperate need of financial support.

Brooke USA Chairman of Board of Directors John Nicholson announced that “the organization has established a $125,000 goal with the understanding that this may change as communities are further impacted and the crisis continues.” He added that Brooke USA anticipates a surge in funding requests from its sister organization Brooke, the leading international charity focused on alleviating the suffering of working equines and the people they serve in the developing world, as well as from other organizations with similar missions. He noted that “we simply want to be ready to help immediately when asked or when we see the need.”

“We hope that equine-friendly businesses, individuals, and philanthropists will join us in this fight against this virus which certainly is global in scale,” said Emily Dulin, Executive Director of Brooke USA.

The funds raised will be used to support response and recovery efforts which will vary from nation to nation and community to community. Brooke USA understands that needs in each area will be individual. In some communities, this may mean providing care for working animals whose owners have been impacted by the pandemic. In others, it may involve helping get food to a family who can no longer work due to illness or economic distress.

To donate to Brooke USA’s COVID-19 Crisis Response & Recovery Fund, visit www.BrookeUSA.org/COVID-19Fund, or contact Emily Dulin at Emily.Dulin@BrookeUSA.org, or send a check or money order to Brooke USA, 2333 Alexandria Drive, Lexington, KY 40504.

Learn more about our response to COVID-19.

Competitions, Polo

GJ Racing Wins Brooke USA’s Sunset Polo Tournament

March 24, 2019 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Wes Finlayson on the Provident Jewelry team races Marwan Mohey-El-Dien, of team Invicta, to the ball.

Polo match supports Brooke USA’s efforts to help working equines and the people they serve in the developing world.

WELLINGTON, Fla. – March 24, 2019 – Brooke USA’s Sunset Polo™ & White Party kicked off a weekend birthday celebration for Hope Arellano. She serves as an ambassador for the organization and played for the winning team, GJ Racing, and was named Most Valuable Player (MVP). The next day Arellano played in the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship final, and Sunday she turned 16 years old.

“It was super fun! I had a blast playing with everyone,” she said after the event at the Wanderers Club. “Brooke USA is a great organization, and I was very pleased to be able to play in a game that benefited them.”

Brooke USA strives to improve the welfare and alleviate the suffering of working horses, donkeys and mules and the people they serve in some of the world’s poorest communities.

Three 8-goal teams competed in the six-chukker round robin tournament composed of three two-chukker games. GJ Racing won the first two chukkers 4-1 over Provident Jewelry, the defending champion. Provident Jewelry’s Henry Porter made the first goal of the game with a midfield missile straight into goal.

The first chukker closed with a goal by former 8-goal player John Gobin, who ran the ball in from a distance and scored on a cut shot for GJ Racing. In the second chukker, he assisted on two Arellano goals. With 30 seconds left in the second chukker, Arellano made the winning goal of the first round. It was a complex play, with Porter on a breakaway until Arellano ran him off it and scored.

GJ Racing won the first two chukkers 4-1 over Provident Jewelry. Provident Jewelry’s Henry Porter made the first goal of the game with a midfield missile straight into goal.

Round two (chukkers three and four) was a 2-1 victory for Provident Jewelry over Invicta. Matías Gonzalez sent a pass to teammate Justin Daniels, who made a long run to goal for Invicta. Sam Farahnak and Wes Finlayson, a Brooke USA ambassador, each scored for Provident Jewelry in the fourth chukker. Finlayson, who had dashed to the Wanderers Club after playing a high-goal game at International Polo Club, blazed past nearly everyone else on the field to score the last goal of round two.

The fifth chukker opened with an Invicta goal by Tony Calle, who moved to Wellington from Quito, Ecuador three years ago. In the sixth chukker Gobin passed the ball on two long shots to Arellano, who tied the game at 2. Gonzalez swooped past Brooke USA ambassador Benjamin Avendaño to score, ending round three 3-2 for Invicta over GJ Racing.

GJ Racing won the tournament with the highest cumulative score. The remaining places were determined by round robin rules, with Invicta second and Provident Jewelry third.

For GJ Racing sponsor Gil Johnston, a longtime sponsor of teams, youth tournaments and the Polo Training Foundation, this was her first time sponsoring a team in Brooke USA’s Sunset Polo™ & White Party event. “It’s for a good cause and a good organization, so why not?” she said, adding that she felt her team played exceptionally well.

Lisa Bair also sponsored a team (Invicta) in this event for the first time. “I couldn’t be more happy and proud,” she said. “I have attended this event for four years, and I’m impressed by Brooke USA’s work, both in its mission to help animals and in how it has raised awareness in Wellington about the plight of these animals.”

Returning sponsor Geoff Fear said Provident Jewelry came back ready to defend the title they won last year. “We wanted to win again, but the important thing is that it was a good competitive game, and everyone had fun,” he said.

Game organizer Gates Gridley said he strived to put the three balanced 8-goal teams together. “There was a lot of young up-and-coming talent on the field today,” he said, adding that the players consider it a privilege to play in Brooke USA’s Sunset Polo™ tournament because they support the organization’s cause.

Emily Dulin, executive director of Brooke USA, said she was grateful to the participating players for “giving their time to this cause to help the working equine world because like us, they truly understand the bond between people and animals.”

Longtime Coca-Cola player Julio Arellano (father of MVP Hope Arellano) selected the best-playing pony. “The last chukker is what decided it for me,” he said. “Marwan [Mohey-El-Dien] came out on a gray mare that played her heart out for him. She got him to a lot more plays than he was in before, and he did great.”

For more information or to donate, please visit www.brookeusa.org.

Uncategorized

Emergency Funds Needed to Help Equine Victims of California Fires

November 14, 2018 Associate Editor Leave a comment

A horse is spooked as the Woolsey Fire moves through a property in Agoura Hills, California, on Nov. 9, 2018. Matthew Simmons / Getty Images Source: NBC News (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-wildfires-thousands-animals-displaced-fires-tear-through-communities-n935251)

LEXINGTON, Ky – Nov. 14, 2018 – Recent low humidity, dry conditions, and warm fast-moving winds have created ideal conditions for blazes to spread across California. Tens of thousands of acres are burning and images are emerging of horses being evacuated, roaming free, or fleeing approaching fires. The situation is devastating.

Stories of courageous rescue volunteers and make-shift shelters are unfolding throughout ravaged California communities – all focused on helping abandoned and displaced equines. The rescue efforts are complicated. Often, animals caught in fires flee or hide, especially when injured.

California’s equines need your help now, and they will need your help in the weeks to come as they are reunited with owners or relocated to new homes. Feed, medical supplies, and veterinary care are necessary to help manage this critical situation.

“Every time there’s an emergency affecting horses, the equestrian community rallies together,” said Emily Dulin, executive director of Brooke USA. “It’s complicated and challenging, but I am always impressed with how this community jumps in and helps. These generous people move heaven and earth to make sure horses are safe.”

Brooke USA is committed to helping. You can make a difference! Donate to our California Equine Emergency Fund, and stay tuned for more information. Funds raised will be donated to organizations directly helping relief and recovery efforts.

To learn more about Brooke USA, please go to www.BrookeUSA.org or contact or 859-296-0037.

Community/Charity

Women 4 Donkeys Match Campaign Funds Critical Equine Welfare Program in Kenya

September 8, 2018 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Wellington, Fla. – Sept. 7, 2018 – When Brooke USA ambassador Margaret H. Duprey introduced her matching campaign, Women 4 Donkeys, earlier this year, the goal was to improve the lives of women and their donkeys throughout Kenya through various educational and developmental programs. Though Duprey’s dollar-for-dollar matching program that raised a total of $100,000 met its goal in July, the campaign has continued to gain momentum from other donors inspired to make a difference.

As the Women 4 Donkeys campaign continues to surpass its original fundraising projections, it will provide support for six communities, equating to 82,000 women and 123,000 donkeys. There are an estimated 1.8 million donkeys that are vital to the Kenyan economy. Donkeys are the most common means of transportation and used for agriculture in Kenya. Although much of the population relies on donkeys, they are often poorly treated and/or neglected due to lack of knowledge. Brooke USA’s funded programs in Kenya will address equine welfare, education and skill-building opportunities. The program will emphasize animal husbandry and develop self-reliance for women.

The campaign is already making significant improvements throughout Kenya, including aid to Lenah Nzuki, a member of the Suvia Ingo’I donkey welfare group in Nuu. Nzuki relies heavily on her three donkeys, Kanini, Ngumbau and Tavia, to carry out various tasks that provide income for her family, including collecting and selling water as well as growing and selling saplings to the community.

The recent drought in Kenya severely impacted Nzuki’s business. Lines to collect water grew as the drought impacted more families, which resulted in wait times increasing to several hours per day. The limited water she was able to collect barely covered the needs of her saplings and they began to wither. The long waiting times also impacted the welfare of her donkeys, who were forced to wait in the heat for longer periods and received less water due to restrictions.

With the financial support from Brooke USA’s Women 4 Donkeys campaign, Brooke East Africa had the opportunity to install a water tank in the community. After receiving water conservation training, the Suvia Ingo’I donkey welfare group oversaw the management of the project. Access to the new water tank has reduced the wait time for locals collecting water, including Nzuki and her donkeys. The sale from excess water at the tank to the community has resulted in the Suvia Ingo’I donkey welfare group’s ability to raise much-needed funds to enable members to purchase medicine, harnesses and feed for their donkeys using group loans.

“At my age, standing in line for more than six hours has been hectic,” Nzuki said. “I had to purchase one jerrycan to avoid the long waiting hours for my donkey during the peak of dry season. The group tank now saves me time and gives my donkeys extra feeding time.”

Fellow Brooke USA supporters, Claudine and Fritz Kundrun, were inspired by Duprey’s generosity and stepped in with a second fundraising match for the Women 4 Donkeys campaign in order to continue providing aid to those in Kenya.

“I am very pleased with the success and the accomplishments the Women 4 Donkeys campaign has achieved so far,” Duprey explained. “I’m proud to support sustainable programs that implement education as well as scientifically proven, practical and culturally relevant solutions to equine welfare challenges. To raise funds for a program I believe in is inspiring and truly reflects the power of the good work Brooke USA is doing for working equines and their owners. Thank you to everyone who has supported the campaign!”

To learn more and to donate to Women 4 Donkeys, please visit www.brookeusa.org/women-4-donkeys.

Fundraisers

Landmark Evening at USEA American Eventing Championships Raises $5,000 for Brooke USA

October 1, 2016 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Mill Spring, NC – September 30, 2016 – Thousands of exhibitors, owners and spectators joined together at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) on Saturday, September 3, to not only celebrate the 2016 Nutrena® United States Eventing Association USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Land Rover, but to also support Brooke USA through the “Celebrity Bartender Showdown” and silent auction. The event took place during the “Sounds of Nashville” Concert presented by Coca Cola®, raising $5,000 for Brooke USA’s “Buy a Donkey a Drink” campaign.

As everyone prepared for the concert, the festivities kicked off at “The Brooke Watering Hole” located at the TIEC’s onsite restaurant patio, Roger’s Diner. Brooke USA Ambassadors and Team USA Eventing members Boyd Martin and Lauren Kieffer were joined by Bobby Costello, Allison Springer, and Lynn Symansky, as well as Brooke USA Board Member Jim Wolf, as the celebrity bartenders throughout the evening.

They concocted cocktails and raised awareness for the “Buy a Donkey a Drink” campaign, which ensures lifetime access to water for 81,000 livestock animals, including 13,500 equines in drought-prone areas of Ethiopia through the construction of five large, permanent water troughs. The project is expected to lower the equine mortality rate in that area by 45 percent, and benefit 67,500 of the world’s poorest people who depend on those animals.

“Our team was incredibly motivated to host an event that would generate awareness for Brooke USA and the ‘Buy a Donkey a Drink’ campaign in an engaging and energetic atmosphere,” said Katherine Bellissimo, Brooke USA Board Member and Principal of Tryon Equestrian Partners. “We’re thrilled with the success of this event and are looking forward to continuing our efforts to maximize exposure for Brooke USA and the mission of the organization at TIEC.”

Guests had the choice to sip on a signature orange sangria, Moscow mule, or orangeade while listening to the sounds of “Raised by the Radio” star Mitch Rossell, who has opened for the legendary Garth Brooks, and country music singer Julia Cole, who has opened for country music sensation Hunter Hayes. Each drink and all tips raised throughout the night benefited Brooke USA, as well as a silent auction.

Starsky, a dwarf miniature pony rescued by The Peeps Foundation and now owned by the Bellissimo family, paraded around “The Brooke Watering Hole” donning a special Brooke USA cooler outfitted with donation pockets. Starsky interacted with guests and served as an ambassador for organization, welcoming attention and contributions.

Brooke USA is now only $9,500 away from raising enough money to construct the fifth and final water trough of the campaign, with the help of the funds raised during the event. For every $9 raised, one working equine will have lifetime access to a water supply, and the campaign will continue to run through the entire 2016 Tryon Fall Series.

“We are so fortunate to have the help and support of the Tryon International Equestrian Center, as well as Mark and Katherine Bellissimo and Jim Wolf,” Executive Director of Brooke USA Emily Dulin said. “The evening was filled with fun, laughter and of course, a greater mission-raising awareness for the 13,500 working equines that will benefit from the ‘Buy a Donkey a Drink’ Campaign.”

Each water trough allows as many as 340 horses, donkeys and mules to quench their thirst with each filling, and will allow other livestock such as cattle and camels to receive life-saving water as well.

For more information about Tryon International Equestrian Center, please call (828) 863-1000 or visit www.tryon.com.

To donate to this lifesaving campaign, go to www.BuyaDonkeyaDrink.org or email Info@BrookeUSA.org. For more information on Brooke USA, go to www.BrookeUSA.org.

About Brooke USA
Brooke USA is a 501(c)(3) charity located at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, which exists solely to support the overseas work of the Brooke, the world’s largest international equine welfare charity. For more than 80 years, the Brooke has been alleviating the suffering of horses, donkeys, and mules who work in some of the poorest communities on earth. The Brooke’s scientifically proven, practical, and sustainable solutions to enormous welfare challenges improve the lives of equine animals and the people who depend on them across Africa, Asia, and Central America. Last year alone, the Brooke reached 1.8 million equines, benefiting 10 million people in the developing world. To learn more, visit www.BrookeUSA.org.

Community/Charity, Eventing/H.T., Tryon

Tryon International Equestrian Center to Host “Sounds of Nashville” Concert on September 3

August 24, 2016 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Mill Spring, NC – August 23, 2016 – Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) is celebrating the culmination of the Nutrena® USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Land Rover from Wednesday, August 31, through Sunday, September 4, with a free “Sounds of Nashville” concert presented by Coca Cola® on Saturday, Sept. 3. “Raised by the Radio” star Mitch Rossell, who has opened for the legendary Garth Brooks, is headlining the concert at 8:00 p.m. Country music singer Julia Cole, who has opened for country music sensation Hunter Hayes, will go on at 6:30 p.m. General admission to the concert is free and open to the public with gates opening at 5:00 p.m. VIP tickets for seating in the Legends Club and Sky Deck are available for purchase by visiting www.tryon.com.

To celebrate the inaugural hosting of the 2016 Nutrena® USEA American Event Championships presented by Land Rover at TIEC, the venue will host a free concert featuring Nashville country music singers, autograph sessions with the top level United States eventing riders, and free, family-friendly entertainment.

Celebrity Bartender Showdown

Prior to the concert at 6:00 p.m., TIEC will host a “Celebrity Bartender Showdown” featuring many of Team USA’s best eventing athletes including Boyd Martin, Lauren Kieffer, and Bobby Costello. The celebrity bartenders will mix specialty cocktails and sign autographs to help raise money for Brooke USA. For every $9 raised, a working donkey or equine in drought-ridden Ethiopia will be provided with a lifetime water supply. Donkeys and equines are the livelihood of families in this region of the world.

American Eventing Championships

The Nutrena® USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Land Rover, beginning on Wednesday, August 31, through Sunday, September 4, is the annual championship for each level of the sport of eventing offered in the United States. The public is invited to watch competitions and attend celebratory events throughout the week including the “Welcome Party” on Wednesday, August 31, the “Cleghorn Adult Shoot Out” on Thursday, September 1, “Dinner & a Movie” on Friday, September 2, and the “Sounds of Nashville” concert presented by Coca Cola® on Saturday, September 3. Tickets are required for some events and can be purchased at: www.AECTryon.eventbrite.com.