East Freehold, NJ – August 2, 2025 - The 111th Annual Monmouth County Horse Show, held at East Freehold Park in New Jersey from August 16-20, 2006, is one of the oldest continuous equestrian events in the country. This “AA” rated competition welcomes returning trainer and horsewoman Carol Thompson back for this year’s event. Thompson, who sponsors the Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, has shown at the Monmouth County Horse Show since 1966.
Thompson resides in Colts Neck, NJ, where she owns Quiet Winter Farm. As an equestrian, she represented the United States from 1963 to 1973 as a member of USET Show Jumping team. She has an impressive history that includes the Olympics, numerous international victories, and extensive training with Chef d’Equipe Bertalan deNemethy at Hamilton Farm in Gladstone, NJ. “Spending 11 months in Gladstone to train with the team was the high point of my career,” remembered Thompson. “That was definitely where I learned the most.”
Thompson returns to the Monmouth County Horse Show with a string of students and horses from Quiet Winter Farm and her professional rider Callan Solem.
“We love showing at Monmouth because it’s right around the corner,” stated Thompson. “It’s a great horse show. Leo Conroy and Carol Stillwell have really created a top-of-the-line show, and we look forward to attending every year.”
Solem will compete in the $30,000 Stillwell-Hansen Grand Prix aboard Delilah, a horse owned by Mr. and Mrs. Holik of Czechmate Farm, and Gael Force, a horse owned by Drumnacross Farm. Solem regularly competes with grand prix horses Allison and Mianta, both owned by Thompson; however, they will be resting after an intense summer of showing.
“Callan came to me ten years ago in March,” commented Thompson. “I had injured my neck and wasn’t even allowed to turn my head from left to right. Callan had been a working student the summer before, so I called her and asked if she would come up. She worked very hard, and she still works very hard. She loves to ride and loves the horses.”
The Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classics will be held on Sunday, August 20th in the Stillwell-Hansen Arena at 8:00 a.m.
The 111th annual Monmouth County Horse Show benefits the Jane H. and John Marshall Booker Cancer Center at Riverview Medical Center. This “Ride for Riverview” fundraiser is a charity that enables the Cancer Center to enhance patient treatment rooms. The Booker Cancer Center, which opened in 1998, offers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient oncology services in an environment that is comforting, easily accessible and technically advanced. In 2005, the Monmouth County Horse Show raised over $75,000 for the center.
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