Wellington, FL (March 2, 2011) – Scott Stewart is a well-known winner on the hunter circuit, and the veteran hunter rider proved he could take a new horse and ride it into the winner’s circle when he piloted Blessed to The Sanctuary High Performance Working Hunter Division during the seventh week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. The division is sponsored by The Sanctuary at PBIEC, a new world-class full horse therapy and conditioning center located on the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) show grounds.
Stewart, of Flemington, New Jersey, purchased Blessed about a month ago from Derek Braun. The six-year-old gray Holsteiner mare not only took home the championship in the High Performance Working Hunters, but also proved she could handle the International Ring when she navigated the big ring to win a hunter stake class with a score of 90.
Stewart, who is a four-time World Champion Hunter Rider Professional Champion, said he thought the mare might need to stay in the pre-green division for a while, but added that after a few times it the ring he knew she was up for the challenge of competing in the high performance working hunters and the big leagues of WEF. The Sanctuary High Performance Working Hunter Division is a new division at WEF this year and is open to all riders and horses and includes fences ranging in height from 4’ to 4’6”.
“The Sanctuary at PBIEC wants to congratulate Scott and Blessed on their win in the High Performance division that we are sponsoring at WEF this year,” said Brenda McDuffee, General Manager of The Sanctuary. “Scott is one of our country’s leading hunter riders and we look forward to getting to know him when he visits The Sanctuary.”
Stewart was awarded a gift certificate to the new Sanctuary at PBIEC, built in conjunction with Wellington Equestrian Partners, and will have the opportunity to utilize The Sanctuary’s world-class Wellington center. Located near the permanent stabling area at WEF, the beautiful new facility 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 Sanctuary offers the latest in technological equipment designed to promote safe and rapid advancement for horses recovering from injury or in need of training. The Sanctuary also has a 30-acre world-class facility in Ocala, Florida, where they have partnered with the Rood & Riddle Podiatry Center. Vets from the well-known Lexington, Kentucky Rood & Riddle facility travel to The Sanctuary twice a month to work on horses with equine foot problems.
“Our staff is thoroughly trained and knowledgeable, with a passion for horses and the desire to see each horse return well rested, fit and ready to perform at the top of his game. We work hard to help riders keep their horses competing at their peak,” McDuffee said. “We are proud that we have treated four Olympic medal winners, 38 Grand Prix horses, 19 National Titled horses and 47 Stakes Winners or Placers.”
For more information on The Sanctuary at PBIEC, visit their website at www.sanctuaryequinerehab.com.
For more information contact:
Tom Grabe
The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center
1-352-369-HEAL (4325)
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