North Salem, NY – April 24, 2014 – The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows return for their 32nd year in 2014 with two weeks of exceptional equestrian sport on May 6-11 and May 13–18 at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. The shows feature over 130 hunter and jumper classes each week, bringing together top competitors, including Olympic show jumpers, from across the country to compete for almost $500,000 in prize money. In addition to fantastic competition, the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows welcome many great local charities to their event each year and have some great activities planned throughout the two weeks. The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows enjoy the opportunity to support the efforts of their local charities and give them a platform to get their word out to the public.
During week one, the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows will be joined by Pegasus Therapeutic Riding, who will host an ice cream party on Saturday, May 10, from 3-4 p.m. The ice cream party is open to everyone with delicious ice cream generously donated by Ben & Jerry’s of Mt. Kisco, NY. Pegasus will also join the horse show with volunteers and will have some fun activities for kids on Welcome Day, Sunday, May 4.
The ice cream socials are a big hit every year at Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows.
Pegasus Therapeutic Riding is a non-profit organization that provides equine-assisted activities to people with special needs, veterans and at-risk individuals. Pegasus is a PATH International Premier Accredited Center with four chapters throughout Putnam, Westchester and Fairfield counties, including Pegasus Farm, a 20-acre permanent facility in Brewster, NY. PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) establishes industry standards for program safety, instructor training and certification, and insurance provisions.
Pegasus will also have The Rider’s Closet on location during the horse shows so that exhibitors can drop off their gently used riding clothing and boots. The Rider’s Closet is a program started by local show jumper Georgina Bloomberg in August 2006. The program aims to make riding clothes more accessible to therapeutic riding programs, pony clubs, intercollegiate riding programs and individual riders who are in need. Familiar with Pegasus’ philanthropic mission and services, Bloomberg has partnered with Pegasus to bring The Rider’s Closet to Pegasus Farm.
In week two another local charity, Wolf Conservation Center, will be on hand to spread the word about their mission and join in the fun of the horse show. They will host the ice cream party on Saturday, May 17, from 3-4 p.m. The party is once again open to everyone with ice cream generously donated by Ben & Jerry’s of Mt. Kisco, NY. Wolf Conservation Center invites everyone to visit their information booth on the weekend to hear about their conservation efforts.
Atka, a representative from the Wolf Conservation Center in Brewster, NY, visited Old Salem Spring Horse Shows last year.
The Wolf Conservation Center (WCC) is located in South Salem, NY, and is currently home to 20 wolves. The WCC teaches people about wolves, their relationship to the environment and the human role in protecting their future. They also participate in two federal programs (species survival plan) for the critically endangered Mexican gray wolf and the red wolf. They are both a breeding and holding facility for both species of wolf.
Rebecca Bose, Curator at the Wolf Conservation Center looks forward to attending the horse show and spreading the word about what they do. WCC will have a booth at the show all week, and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, there will be volunteers available to answer questions about the wolf center, pass out information and offer merchandise.
“As a fellow equestrian I have been coming to Old Salem Farm since I was a child,” Bose stated. “The spring show has always been something that I have attended and look forward to each year. I have been with the WCC for almost 15 years and always thought it would be great to one day be one of the featured charities. It, of course, gives us a tremendous amount of exposure and allows us to be part of and support Old Salem Farm.”
The local ASPCA will also be in attendance during week two. On Sunday, May 18, they will be visiting with their Adoption Van from 12-4 p.m. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing cruelty towards animals. Based in New York City since its inception in 1866, the organization’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.
The ASPCA Adoption Van will visit the horse show on Sunday, May 18.
The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows look forward to welcoming these wonderful local charities to their events as they host two weeks of exciting competition in May. The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Show’s USEF 6* rated jumper section includes world-class international competition as well as open, junior and amateur-owner jumpers. Each week the show will host two grand prix classes.
Week one will feature the $35,000 New York Welcome Stake on Friday, May 9, at 1 p.m. as well as the $50,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix, presented by The Kincade Group, on Sunday, May 11, at 2 p.m. Week two will feature the $35,000 Grand Prix of North Salem on Friday, May 16, at 1 p.m and the $100,000 Empire State Grand Prix, presented by The Kincade Group, on Sunday, May 18, at 2 p.m. Jumper fans can also watch the $20,000 Speed Derby of North Salem, presented by Miller Motorcars, on Saturday, May 17, at 2 p.m.
In addition to a full schedule of USEF “AA” rated hunter competition, a $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby will be featured on Saturday, May 17, at 4 p.m.
The $50,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix on May 11, the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on May 17, and the $100,000 Empire State Grand Prix on May 18 will all be broadcast on the USEFNetwork.com presented by SmartPak. You may watch these events LIVE as they happen at www.USEFNetwork.com or www.oldsalemfarm.net.
Mark your calendars to join us at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows for fun events and fantastic competition! For more information, please visit www.oldsalemfarm.net.
For more information on Pegasus Therapeutic Riding, please visit www.pegasustr.org. For more information on the Wolf Conservation Center, please visit www.nywolf.org, and for more information on the ASPCA, please visit www.aspca.org.
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Photos copyright The Book LLC
Old Salem Farm, located just one hour north of New York City, is one of the best equestrian competition venues in North America, as rated by the North American Riders Group in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Host of the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, the prestigious American Gold Cup CSI-W 4*, and year-round competitions, the facility offers a state-of-the-art turf grand prix field, indoor riding arena, and two all-weather footing rings. As a boarding and training facility, Old Salem Farm is second to none and home to top trainer Frank Madden. For more information, please visit www.oldsalemfarm.net or call 914-669-5610.