Horses Helping Horses Returns to Atlanta Summer Classics
Reaching Beyond the Show Ring ~2nd Year Has Exciting Growth
Conyers, Georgia – The Atlanta Summer Classic Week II, June 21-25, 2006 will again present the “Weekend of Giving” featuring the return of the Horses Helping Horses programs benefiting Old Friends Equine Rescue and the Georgia Dept of Agriculture Equine Impound.
Thanks in part to the overwhelming response and support of the public during the debut event in 2005; this year’s Horses Helping Horses programs have expanded to include hunters, jumpers, and proud owners of “OTTB” (Off The Track Thoroughbreds) with an assortment of classes to honor and benefit the horses. Joining this year’s event as new sponsors Southern States & Triple Crown Feed for the Regular Hunter Division, Hunters Lane Farm & Robert Hunt for the Large Pony Hunters, The Plaid Horse magazine for the Lucky Sevens Welcome Stake, and Succeed DCP for the JR-AO Jumpers. Thursday of each week will kick off the theme of this year’s event, “Reaching Beyond the Show Ring”, with a special Thoroughbred Only division now nicknamed the “Old Friends” division presented by Petsmart, which will not only spotlight the breed but is an open invitation to adopted thoroughbreds everywhere to “show” your talent and support to those who still await a second chance. Entry fees for these special classes will be generously donated to the rescue horses. “My co-chairperson Robbi Meisel mentioned her goal this year was to raise down payment funds for Old Friends’ permanent home so I said well we need to add more benefit classes then,” Bob Bell of Classic Company chuckled and added, “the heart of this event is to give back, this is just a fun way to accomplish the mission.”
Exhibitors and guests will have the opportunity to visit with the good folks of both rescue groups as well as learn more about the progress being made through such events as Horses Helping Horses. Videos of the great champions’ racing careers will be played to illustrate how it’s so easy to go from superstardom to certain death in the blink of an eye. “Old Friends started about 3 years ago when it was discovered that 1986 Kentucky Derby winner and 1987 Horse of the Year Ferdinand died in a slaughterhouse overseas for no other reason than his stud abilities were slipping. Our primary goal is to make sure our great American Champions return from abroad when their active breeding careers are over, for a well earned dignified retirement and to help draw attention to lesser known horses in need.” Founder Michael Blowen explained their mission then added, “We’ve brought back 6 Champion Stallions from Japan and now have close to 20 retirees with more coming weekly at Old Friends due in large part to the generous support of Horses Helping Horses creators Robbi Meisel and Bob Bell. Old Friends is open 7 days a week for tours and we hope everyone will come see just how their generosity has transformed an idea into reality. All the humans and horses of Old Friends are eternally grateful to you all.”
The excitement continues under the lights of the Grand Prix arena on Friday June 23rd beginning with a special dinner provided by Outback Steakhouse and a silent auction for Horses Helping Horses to benefit Old Friends Equine Rescue set under a 200-foot marquee ringside. A few of the unique items going up for bidding will include “Moneighs”, paintings actually created by some of the great retired champions at Old Friends such as Sunshine Forever, Ruhlmann, and Popcorn Deelites of Seabiscuit fame. Also available will be an original oil on canvas by nationally known artist and Georgia resident, Henry Patton and for the serious racing collectors a rare Secretariat piece produced in 1980 by the Bloodhorse and signed by Penny Chenery, owner of the late Triple Crown winner. Many other items will available at the auction and several can be previewed in the show office throughout the week. Following the opening festivities EMO Insurance will present the $25,000 Horses Helping Horses Hunter Classic, an event that will host some of the country’s top rated hunter horses and riders including the 2005 USEF National Grand Champion Regular Hunter Horse of the Year, Sequel and owner-rider Terry Brown of Canton, GA. “The concept of Horses Helping Horses for the benefit of Old Friends is a unique and welcome breath-of-fresh-air to the hunter industry. The fact that all entry fees are donated to Old Friends should make for an abundance of entries! Who wouldn’t enter??,” Brown spoke of the show and added a pledge “In the spirit of this concept, and after careful consultation with Sequel, we have decided to donate 50% of any prize money won by Sequel in the 2006 Horses Helping Horses Hunter Classic to Old Friends. I am depending on Sequel to fulfill his obligations (!) as we look forward to a fabulous evening of competition hosted by The Classic Company in the Horses Helping Horses Hunter Classic in Conyers, GA during June.”
Residents and visitors to the Georgia International Horse Park will want to make a complete weekend of it because on Saturday afternoon, Sue Vetsch will host a silent auction in the Carriage Room to benefit the Georgia Department of Agriculture Equine Impound. The evening’s highlight is the feature event; the 2nd Annual $25,000 Horses Helping Horses Grand Prix presented by the Classic Company and Flashpoint Photography along with a “Southern Nights” dinner catered by Proof of the Pudding. Classic Company president Bob Bell said of their relationship with Old Friends, “This event has become a real sense of pride to Classic Co in knowing that we can make a lasting difference for the horses.” Last year’s class hosted 26 talented competitors and expectations are even higher for the 2006 Grand Prix. International course designer Michele Vaillancourt has accepted the invitation of challenging the riders, “it’s a great cause and I’m thrilled to be a part of it,” he commented while in Atlanta this April. Once again show manager Bob Bell is demonstrating where his heart is by donating the Grand Prix entry fees to the horses. “I still have that pinch me I’m dreaming feeling whenever I look at all that’s being done to support this event, to really give something back to the horses,” co-chairperson Robbi Meisel says of Classic Company’s ongoing commitment. “I know why I’m doing this, it’s keeping a promise to a special horse, but I am just humbled by the immense support and growth Horses Helping Horses has received in less than a year of it’s birth; from Bob, Classic Company, the media (I work with the best editors!!), and the outpouring from the public. I’m exhausted, but even happier now that I see what our community can accomplish together!”
The Atlanta Summer Classics begin on June 14th through the 25th at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, GA. Additional highlights will include:
*Pony Equitation – The Atlanta Cup
All ponies that participate in the USEF Pony Medal, National Pony Equitation Classic, or Washington Pony Equitation can enter into the Atlanta Cup. Taking place during the second week of Atlanta will allow ponies both weeks to qualify. The winner will get a very special silver cup.
*Annual Trainers Medal
All trainers should get legged up for this class. Each year, Rolling Acres Farm along with Classic Company presents the $2,500 Trainers Medal. Once again the class will be held in the covered ring and this year will include a BBQ dinner with dessert bar sponsored by Merial, Limited.
* Wide Open Hunter Class (Preview to the big Classic)
We will be offering a class to be held on Wednesday afternoon – evening during week two called Wide Open Hunter. The class is open to all horses or ponies that would like to experience riding a course of 12 jumps in the Grand Prix field. This will be an excellent opportunity for competitors considering the big $25,000 Hunter Classic later in the week.
Due to the high volume of requests some very special Sponsorship packages are still available to those who wish to “Reach Beyond the Show Ring” and Silent Auction donations are still being welcomed. For more information on either of these opportunities please contact Robbi Meisel at 859-734-3713 or email request to [email protected]. Tickets for the benefit dinners will be available at the show grounds and sold by the table — $500 for both nights or $300 for one night with all proceeds going to the charities. Each table includes dinner for eight along with a cash bar.
For more information on the 2006 Atlanta Summer Classics please visit www.classiccompany.com or call 843.768.5503.
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