Lexington, Ky. Jan. 18, 2017 – A packed stadium of spectators turned out for the first Friday Night Freestyle of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival to see Lisa Wilcox and Galant claim the win. For the second year in a row the opening week of the festival was sponsored by the AMCI Group to benefit Brooke USA. Due to the generosity of long-time supporters, Mr. and Mrs. Fritz Kundrun, equine welfare charity Brooke USA headlined the Lloyd Landkamer Memorial CDI-W and FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, presented by AMCI Group to benefit Brooke USA.
Brooke USA supports the overseas work of Brooke, the world’s largest international equine welfare charity with a long track record of successfully improving the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules in impoverished regions of the globe. Brooke has been providing sustainable solutions to many equine welfare issues for 83 years. This year alone, Brooke reached an astounding 2 million equines, benefiting 12 million people in countries where many people earn less than a dollar a day.
But there is much more work to be done because at least 100 million equines are working in the developing world to support the livelihoods of 600 million people. Events like the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle are important in expanding awareness of Brooke USA’s mission.
The Kundruns were on hand Friday night for the awards presentation along with Brooke USA ambassadors Olympic bronze medalist Kasey Perry-Glass and Grand Prix competitor JJ Tate. Tate is the newest Brooke USA Ambassador and was thrilled to be there Friday supporting the important work of Brooke USA.
“I’m extremely excited to be involved in this amazing group of people and what they stand for,” Tate said. “The strength of one woman [Dorothy Brooke] deciding that horses deserve this kind of honor and care and respect, it really moved me. I love that not only are we helping horses, mules, and donkeys but we are helping their people. It’s such a sustainable program.”
Perry-Glass echoed these sentiments. “I got involved with Brooke USA because I really believe in what they do,” she said. “I hold it really close to my heart. I want to make an impact in any way that I can. It means a lot to me to be here tonight to support Brooke USA and the Kundruns.”
Photo by Susan J. Stickle
During the post-show press conference, Mr. Kundrun elaborated on what led him to become involved with Brooke USA.
“As a young man my company sent me to Pakistan and I saw the plight of the working equines there, the donkeys and horses,” Mr. Kundrun explained. “I promised myself that if I ever made it in my career I would dedicate some portion of my earnings to the welfare of these animals. The main reason why my wife and I support Brooke USA is the care of animals. That is our main interest, and also the connection between helping the animals, in turn, help the families that they support, it is also a social cause.”
