Wellington, Florida – June 30, 2011 – Phelps Media Group announced this afternoon that they have reached an agreement with distinguished equestrian writer Louise Parkes to join the PMG team for coverage of this year’s Alltech National Horse Show, 128th edition, to be held from November 2-6, 2011, at the beautiful new Alltech Indoor Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.
“We’re bringing the entire Phelps Media Group team to Lexington for the Alltech National Horse Show,” said Phelps Media Group President Mason Phelps. “Louise Parkes has worked with PMG in the past and we felt this year’s event would be the perfect time for a reunion. To be honest, the show wouldn’t be complete without her. Her exceptional and wonderfully written reports from the equestrian world add a special international flair to our already first class coverage.”
Parkes reports on major equestrian competitions around the world, including the FEI Nations Cup series, the World Equestrian Games and the Olympic Games, for the FEI, the governing body of equestrian sports.
Married to photographer Tony Parkes, Louise inherited her passion for horses from her father who spent many of his happiest years in the hunting field. In between her busy cycle of assignments she competes at amateur level with the second-greatest love of her life – her Connemara ponies.
Having abandoned the camera for a pen back in 1994, her intuitive writing skills were quickly recognized by the FEI and she has been working on a contract basis for the governing body for equestrian sport ever since. She is also Equestrian Correspondent for the biggest-selling daily newspaper in Ireland, ‘The Irish Independent’, and her distinctive writing style has made her a much-sought-after contributor to top-selling equestrian publications. She has also worked in radio and TV and for media organizations and press rooms around the world. Last year, a book she co-wrote with author and commentator Michael Slavin, which details the history of the Irish Army Equitation School, was a big seller in the Christmas market.
