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Six Young Riders to Compete Against the “Veterans” at the “FETE CHEVAL” February 12 during the 2005 Winter Equestrian Festival

Written by: Lynn Coakley
Client: Equus Foundation, Inc.
Release Date: 2005-01-13

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT: Mason Phelps, Jr. of Phelps Media Group, Inc. at (561) 753-3389 or at info@phelpsmediagroup.com

WEB SITE: Phelps Media Group, Inc. Press Releases and Photos are available for download at http://www.phelpsmediagroup.com

Photo attached: (Left) Georgina Bloomberg at the 2004 Metropolitan National Horse Show in New York City, New York, Photo Credit: Flashpoint Photography. (Right) Alexa Weeks at the 2004 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, Photo Credit: Randi Muster.

Six Young Riders to Compete Against the “Veterans” at the “FETE CHEVAL” February 12 during the 2005 Winter Equestrian Festival

Wellington, FL- January 13, 2005- Six up and coming “Young” Riders will compete against six veteran Grand Prix Riders and six top Trainers at the “Fete Cheval” on Saturday evening, February 12, 2005. The event, the first of its kind at the 2005 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, will benefit The EQUUS Foundation, Inc.

Topping the list of “Young Riders” competing at the “Fete Cheval” is Georgina Bloomberg, who recently won the Liberty Cup and the Metropolitan Cup at the 2004 Metropolitan National Horse Show in New York City and took second place in the $100,000 Lexus Grand Prix at the 2004 National Horse Show in Wellington, Florida.

At age 21, Georgina currently ranks 19th on the USET computer rankings and 6th in the east coast world cup qualifier standings. A student at New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study, Georgina trains with Jimmy Doyle and Gotham North in North Salem, New York. Georgina was a successful hunter rider in her junior career, claiming championships and best child rider honors at every major horse show on the east coast including Devon, Capital Challenge, Pennsylvania National, Washington International, and the National Horse show at Madison Square Garden twice. As an amateur, she won Team gold at the 2002 North American Young Rider Championships (NAYRC), Team silver at the 2003 NAYRC and was the 2003 NAYRC Individual Gold Medalist. She was also named leading Amateur Owner Jumper Rider at the 2003 and 2004 Capital Challenge Horse Show.

Joining Georgina will be Maggie Jayne, age 20, from Elgin, Illinois, who recently turned professional after an outstanding junior career. Maggie took 2nd place in the $100,000 Budweiser AGA Championship at the 2004 National Horse Show in Wellington, Florida and has won six Grand Prix competitions. Maggie won the acclaimed USEF Pessoa Medal Finals at Harrisburg and is a USET Gold Medal Winner. She was also the national USEF Junior Hunter Champion and Prix de States individual winner.

Courtney McKay, age 19, will also compete. As a junior rider with trainers, Bob Braswell and Christina Schlusemeyer, Courtney was Grand Champion at the National Junior Hunter Finals, Winner of the Monarch International Equitation Championships at Capital Challenge, and Reserve Champion in the Maclay Finals. Courtney now shows show professionally in the Hunter divisions for Laureling Farm.

Meghan Moran will also vie for top honors. At age 21, Meghan Moran currently rides with Grand Prix Rider Mark Leone and has had many wins in the high amateur/owner divisions in the past few years. She won Team silver with Zone 2 at the 2003 North American Young Rider Championships (NAYRC). Meghan has competed in four Grand Prix' competitions.

Erin Stewart, age 20, a USET Gold Medal Winner, had a spectacular junior career, training with her father, Don Stewart, and Bill Cooney, culminating with her winning the 2002 ASPCA Maclay Finals. Erin was USEF Junior Hunter Champion in 1998 through 2002 aboard different mounts - Who’s On First, Hilton, Dance Away, What Goes Around, and Fernwalk. Riding Hilton, Erin was Grand Champion at Devon in 2001, Washington in 2001 and 2002, and the National Horse Show in 2002. Aboard Karat, she was a Team Gold Medalist in the 2002 Prix de States. Aboard Dance Away, Erin was Grand Champion at the 2001 National Horse Show. She was also voted Best Child Rider at Washington in 2001 and 2002 and at Harrisburg in 2001. Erin currently trains with her father, Don Stewart, and McLain Ward. Competing in the High Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumper Division, Erin has also placed in several East Coast Grand Prix competitions.

Alexa Weeks, age 20, has competed successfully in the High Amateur-Owner Jumpers for the past couple of years and has placed in Grand Prix competitions in several stops on the East Coast circuit. A sophomore at Rollins College majoring in Art History, Alexa began her riding career under the tutelage of Emerson Burr of the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, Connecticut. She currently trains with Kent Farrington.

Guests at the “Fete Cheval” will enjoy an evening of cocktails, dinner and an auction, but the highlight will be equestrian games performed by famous riders and trainers in the equestrian sport. The event will be held in the Special Events Pavilion overlooking the Internationale Arena where the games will take place. Helen and Thomas Rautenbach of Wellington Show Stables will be donating the horses for the games.

The “Young” Riders will take on featured trainers - Missy Clark, Patricia Griffith, Timmy Kees, Frank Madden, Holly Orlando and Ken Smith and Grand Prix Riders - Molly Ashe, Margie Goldstein-Engle, Alison Firestone, Eric Hasbrouck, Leslie Howard, and McLain Ward. Ralph Caristo, Leo Conroy, and Susie Schoellkopf will be on hand to “judge” the competitors.

EQUUS is seeking $5,000 Event Sponsors. Individual tickets are $150 and VIP tables of six are available for $1,500 and $2,500.

For additional information on the “Fete Cheval” on February 12, 2005, contact the Phelps Media Group, Inc., 13833 Wellington Trace, Unit E-4, #221, Wellington, Florida 33414, or telephone (561) 753-3389, ext. 104 or Email to: lc@phelpsmediagroup.com.

About The EQUUS Foundation, Inc.
The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., established in August 2002, awards grants to charitable organizations that promote the positive use of the horse for the benefit of the general public and the equestrian sport as a whole. The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., operates on an all-volunteer basis without paid staff, and is a federally tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) charitable organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law and are received by both individuals and corporations. In just two years of its existence, The EQUUS Foundation has awarded over $200,000 in grants, helping thousands of horses and people each year.

EQUUS Grant Recipients include:
ASPCA Equine Fund: To enable the rescue & care of Premarin Foals
Bridgeport Police Mounted Unit: To promote the health & welfare of the Bridgeport Police Mounted Unit horses.
City Slickers, Inc.: To help "at risk" youngsters in inner city & suburban Hartford develop in educational & social areas through the use of horses.
Dressage4Kids, Inc: To encourage riders under 21 to become true horsemen with correct position, competitive skills, & knowledge of all aspects of riding & horse care; to offer scholarships to enable competitors to further their education; to have fun & develop good sportsmanship throughout.
Equestrian Aids Foundation: To support individuals in the equestrian community afflicted with HIV or AIDS.
Equine Orthopaedic Research Center, Colorado State University: To improve the orthopaedic health of horses through investigation in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment & prevention of musculoskeletal disease.
Green Chimneys Children’s Services & School: To enable the treatment & schooling of emotionally troubled at risk youth in New York & Connecticut through its Therapeutic Riding Program and Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy Program throughout the year.
Horses in the Hood: To offer a five--day horse camp experience that teaches at-risk children from Los Angeles' Watts community important life lessons through horsemanship & provides these students with the confidence to pursue never before imagined opportunities.
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc.: To provide therapeutic riding & related equine facilitated programs to individuals of all ages who face physical, behavioral & developmental challenges.
The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, Inc.: To provide a horseback riding experience of the highest quality for children who have a life-threatening illness.
H.O.R.S.E of Connecticut, Inc.: To enable the rescue & rehabilitation of abused & neglected horses.
Intercollegiate Equestrian Foundation, Inc.: To provide scholarships to students participating in collegiate equestrian activities & equine programs.
Living Bridges International, Inc., Glenyeare Equestrian Program: To promote the building of confidence & self-esteem in children in New Jersey through the care & training of horses.
New Canaan Mounted Troop, Inc.: To build leadership, management skills, responsibility, & to develop personal character through sound horsemanship.
Pegasus Therapeutic Riding, Inc.: To provide therapeutic horseback riding for individuals of all ages with physical, mental & emotional disabilities in eight barns in Connecticut & New York.
R. W. Mutch Foundation, Inc.: To provide scholarships to recipients who best reflect the personal qualities & horsemanship abilities of the late Ronnie Mutch.
United States Equestrian Federation’s Emerson Burr Horsemanship Awards Program: To promote & perpetuate good horsemanship in young equestrians.
United States Equestrian Team Foundation, Inc.: To support the competition, training, coaching, travel & educational needs of America’s elite & developing International High Performance horses & athletes.
We Will Ride Therapeutic Riding, Inc.: To offer programs of horseback riding & other equine-related activities in the Connecticut/New York area to people with disabilities, aimed at enhancing their physical, mental, emotional, & social functioning in everyday life.

For additional information on The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., visit the website, www.equusfoundation.org or contact EQUUS at equusfoundation@aol.com.