For Immediate Release
North Salem, NY – May 9, 2014 – Old Salem Farm, proudly based in North Salem, NY, joins a list of major cities around the world, including Hong Kong and Barcelona, currently bidding with the Federation Equestre International (FEI) to host major equestrian championships. Old Salem Farm hosts the American Gold Cup CSI 4* World Cup Qualifier in September and has put in their bid to host the 2015 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final for show jumping during that event. The championship is held every year and is the pinnacle annual team championship in the sport of international show jumping.
Alan Bietsch of Old Salem Farm stated, “Our primary goal is to create and promote the best show jumping events the U.S. has to offer in a world-class venue. The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final offers the best competition in the world. This is an opportunity to showcase the caliber of venue that Old Salem Farm is. It is our hope to show the world how great show jumping events in the U.S. can be and potentially open the door for hosting more competitors, teams, and future championships in the United States at Old Salem Farm.”
North Salem, part of Westchester County in New York State, has a strong bid and their competitor is Barcelona, Spain, host of the event for its first two years. The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final would bring 18 teams of riders from around the world and add to the prestige that the town already maintains as a center for equestrian sport in the state. Along with the sport, it would bring even more economic impact to the area with international visitors making Westchester County their home for the week.
“Westchester County is the perfect setting for this event,” said County Executive Robert P. Astorino. “We are committed, ready, and eager to work with Old Salem Farm to assist them in bringing this international equestrian championship to Westchester.”
The historic FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping series was given a new, more global format in 2013. A sponsorship deal with the Saudi Equestrian Fund led it to be renamed the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping series. Under the new rules, the world has been divided into six regions for the purpose of qualifying teams for a world Final. The six regions are Europe (Divisions 1 and 2), North and Central America & Caribbean, South America, Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
There are three Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Qualifiers in North America; Canada won the first in Wellington, FL, this year. North Salem hopes to host the Finals in 2015. Photo © Lexey Hall.
“The host site awarded the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final has a tremendous honor and opportunity. Not only does it offer the highest level of team championship held annually in our sport, but also delivers a world-wide audience. Additionally, more than 90 elite horses are flown in to the competition for international powerhouse equestrian teams, potentially teams such as Germany, France, the Netherlands and the current Olympic Champions, Great Britain,” stated John Madden, Chairman of the FEI Jumping Committee.
Along with these Finals, there are other American cities in contention for other championships, including Lexington, KY, for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games, and Omaha, NE, which hopes to stage the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping and FEI World Cup Dressage Finals in 2017. Challenging them are the cities of Hong Kong and ‘s-Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands.
A decision on the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final will be given on June 9-10 during the FEI Bureau meeting.
For more information on Old Salem Farm, please visit www.oldsalemfarm.net.
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.