Chester County, PA (July 12, 2011) – World Champion driver Suzy Stafford has been long-listed for the 2011 FEI World Pony Driving Championships with her registered half-Arabian mare Miss Josephine, but before Stafford and Josie head to Slovenia the determined driver still has a great deal of work to do. Part of that work includes raising funds for the trip, so Stafford will be hosting an eBay auction beginning Friday, July 15th, featuring a variety of fabulous items both equestrian and non-equestrian.
All proceeds from the auction will go toward funding Stafford and Josie’s World Championship trip to Slovenia. ”I am really excited that people will have the chance to bid on so many great items, from a week’s vacation in Maine to many, many equestrian related items,” Stafford said, adding that she wants to thank her many supporters who donated items to the auction. “I am truly grateful to all my supporters! I would like to thank all the donors of these wonderful items for their on-going support and generosity including Dover Saddlery, Shawn Faust, Jim Graham, Hidden Valley Acres, Bit of Britain, Beth and Dan Steinke, Chester Weber, Dansko, Unionville Feed, Weyerbacher Brewing Company, Vita Flex, Unionville Saddlery, Fridays’s Horse, Jewelry by Moolenschot, Equine Journal, Larry Poulin, Stoltzfus Farm Service, Inc., and Harness by Smucker.”
Some of the items in Stafford’s eBay auction include: a one-week vacation waterfront rental house in Maine; a personal brewery tour and tasting by the owner/brewer of Weyerbacher Brewery in Easton, Pennsylvania; a new deluxe Black with Brass Harness by Smucker; a “signed” Breyer Model of Jamaica, Chester Weber’s Horse of the Year; a “signed” Breyer model of Stafford’s Gold Medal driving pony Cefnopark Bouncer; a new Charles Owen Helmet; a “signed” print from Delaware artist Shawn Faust; a one-hour photography lesson with nationally recognized photo journalist Jim Graham; training with Bronze and Silver Medal Dressage rider and trainer Stacey Parvey-Larrson; a pair of Dansko shoes of your choice; and a new bridle.
“This could be my fourth time to represent the United States at the World Pony Driving Championships, and I feel Josie and I are up for the challenge and ready to bring home medals,” Stafford said. “It always takes a great deal of support to attend the World Championships and this trip will cost over $40,000, which includes round trip airfare for Josie and the freight cost for two carriages and equipment.”
As an international award-winning driver, Stafford has proven that she has the drive to win. She is excited about her new equine partner and said, “I have owned Josie since September of 2010 and she doesn’t have quite the show experience that many of the other ponies I have competed had, but she does have the quality and the talent to win.” Stafford said her own experience will help boost Josie’s confidence. “At the 2005 World Pony Championships I won an Individual Gold Medal with Cefnoakpark Bouncer and in 2007 Bouncer and I won a Team Bronze. Then in 2009, I won an Individual Bronze with Courage to Lead owned by Beverly Lesher.”
Stafford is also excited that Josie, if she competes, will go down in history as the first registered Arabian, or half-Arabian, to ever compete on the driving team for the United States. “We will make history one way or another, and I am thrilled to be in this position again. I am so thankful to everyone who will go online and bid for items in the auction. Being able to raise the money will give Josie and I a shot at representing the United States and bringing home medals,” she said. Stafford is no stranger to having her name written in history books. In 2009 she was awarded the Becky Hart Trophy by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and she also received the prestigious honor of being named an Equestrian of Honor by the USEF. The Chronicle of the Horse named Stafford the 2005 and 2009 Horseman of the Year; Stafford and Courage To Lead were crowned the 2009 National Single Pony Champion at the Kentucky Classic CDE. Courage To Lead was also named a Horse of Honor by the USEF, one of only five horses in the United States to receive the honor. Stafford is a highly sought after clinician and also trains horses and teaches students out of her Stafford Carriage Driving facility.
To bid on items in Stafford’s auction, go to http://myworld.ebay.com/suzyteamstafford. All proceeds will support Stafford’s trip. To learn more about Stafford, visit her website at www.staffordcarriagedriving.com. Donations for Stafford’s trip to the World Pony Championships can also be made directly through her website.
For more information contact:
Suzy Stafford
Stafford Carriage Driving
www.staffordcarriagedriving.com
ponydriverss@aol.com
1-302-540-5162