EQUUS Foundation

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Fairfield Concludes with Spectators at an All-Time High!

WESTPORT, CT - June 30, 2014 - "Horses are incredible animals and we want people to understand just how much value they have beyond the role of sport horse - exciting as that can be," said Lynn Coakley, President of the EQUUS Foundation, as she addressed hundreds of spectators and the 350 guests of the EQUUS Foundation at the $25,000 Grand Prix and Benefit Luncheon, the culminating event of the Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show (Fairfield) on Saturday, June 21, 2014 in Westport, Connecticut. The day could not have been more glorious.

Anticipation builds for $25,000 Fairfield Grand Prix
Photos courtesy of Helen Klisser During and Reflections Photography.

Rated "Premier", which is the highest rating of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), Fairfield was voted #1 for the past two years by the members of the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA), and is one of only 17 shows in the country honored as a Heritage Competition for its dedication to competitive excellence, philanthropy, and community involvement.

Fairfield not only offers a wonderful venue for equestrians of all ages and levels to compete (Read more here about Mclain Ward's Grand Prix victory Mclain Ward aboard HH Fleur owned by Double H Farm), it welcomes the public to experience the equestrian sport free of charge and to enjoy family activities.

Hogan and guests
Above Left to Right: Berkeley Soper, Christina and Craig Smith, and George N. Venizelos, Managing Director-Investments, Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, $25,000 Grand Prix Presenting Sponsor. Photo courtesy of Reflections Photography.
Hogan and guests
Above Left to Right: Susan Clatworthy, Cori Trudeau, Alexis Lasser with Horse Show Co-Chair Sean Hogan, Esq. Photo courtesy of Reflections Photography.
Guests
Above Left to Right: Wynatte Chu, DDS, Susan Parsons, Arlene Cruz, and Brenda Tananbaum. Photo courtesy of Reflections Photography.


Pengue and Marpe
Above Left to Right: Michael Pengue, Executive Vice President, Retail Division, Nestle Waters North America, James Marpe, First Selectman, Town of Westport, and Jill Pengue. Photo courtesy of Helen Klisser During.
Durno and Mays
Above Left to Right: Silvia Durno and Gabriella Mays, Publisher, Westport Magazine/Moffly Media, Official Magazine Sponsor. Photo courtesy of Helen Klisser During.
Green and Joseloff
Above Left to Right: Robert Green, CFO, GE Capital with Gordon Joseloff, former First Selectman, Town of Westport. Photo courtesy of Helen Klisser During.

Guests enjoyed a Champagne Reception and Silent Auction before dining. Auction sponsors Laura Alman, Amazing Spaces, LLC & Jason Landau, Bareburger of Ridgefield, The Barton Family , Books on the Common, Bradford Renaissance Portraits, Buggs Baggs, Clinique, Karen Cuneo , Elite Health Services , Fairfield Hot Yoga, Mr. & Mrs. Andrew J. Flower , Gini Frank Fischer Equestrian Portraits, Laura Godfrey , Olivia Goodnow , Hampton Classic Horse Show, Imperial Dental Associates, PC, Margaret Bondy Interiors, Natures Temptations, New Canaan Mounted Troop, The New England Farm Table Company, Newman and Blackstock Optometrists, Newman's Own, Polished by Claire V, Reflections Photography, Susan B. Schoellkopf & Jennifer Alfano , Shine Salon Spa, Silver of Westport, Inc., and Southern States Cooperative.

Luncheon Highlights
Photos courtesy of Helen Klisser During.

Nestle Sponsors Family Fun . . .

Thanks to Nestle Waters North America, the show also featured a Family Fun Day on Saturday with free pony rides organized by the New Canaan Mounted Troop (NCMT), "Horseplay" by Equestrian Neightion, and arts & crafts by The Giggling Pig. On hand were also Balloon Artist Mr. Bungles and Sweet Rexies.

Family Fun Day
Photo courtesy of Reflections Photography

New Canaan Mounted Troop (NCMT) is a 75-year old 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to building leadership, responsibility and confidence in youth through sound horsemanship. With an emphasis on teamwork, NCMT teaches the fundamentals of hunt seat equitation and equine care to approximately 100 children ages 7 - 17. NCMT also offers "Super Troopers", a therapeutic riding and horsemanship program for children and adults with special needs.

Family Fun Day
Photo courtesy of Equestrian Neightion

"For the EQUUS Foundation, it's all about how horses move people beyond their boundaries – in both sport and public service," continued Coakley. "Donations help us reduce the unwanted horse population, retrain horses for multiple careers, and make equine therapy available to more people."

Close to 50 million people have disabilities. One in 88 children lives with Autism and 1 in 4 veterans have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The impact of horses can be as simple as building confidence or as astounding as first words and first steps. Equine therapy benefits people with special needs in ways that no other therapy can

The Foundation has awarded nearly $2.5 million in grants and through its Equine Welfare Network, works with over 800 equine organizations across the country. "We have a working Board and they deserve a lot of the credit for our success, especially the Foundation's Executive Committee composed of Jenny Belknap Kees, Catherine Herman, and Jane Henderson. None of this would be possible without the support of the many individual and corporate sponsors," continued Coakley.

Corporate sponsors included Winner's Circle & Corporate Partners: Animal Planet, Ariat International, Nestle Waters North America, Wells Fargo Advisors LLC & George N. Venizelos, Westport Magazine/Moffly Media; Gold: Avenue Capital Group, Fairfield Equine Associates, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank Global Corporate Services; Silver: Gary Goldberg Financial Services, Hi Ho Petroleum, Hospital for Special Surgery, Imperial Dental Associates, Kennedy Equine Transport, Margaret Bondy Interiors; and Bronze: Agriventures Agway and Wynatte Chu, DDS.

Special Thanks to Hospitality Tent Floral Sponsor, Hansen's Flower Shop and Winner's Circle Landscape Sponsor, Oliver Nurseries & Design Associates.

Family Fun Day
Photo courtesy of Equestrian Neightion

Family Fun Day
Photo courtesy of Reflections Photography

About EQUUS Foundation: The EQUUS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity established in 2002, also known as Horse Charities of America, is dedicated to improving the quality of life of horses, enabling the therapeutic use of horses for those in need, fostering the horse-human bond, and educating the public about the horse's unique ability to empower, teach and heal. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Contact the EQUUS Foundation, Inc., at 168 Long Lots Road, Westport, CT 06880, Tele: (203) 259-1550, E-Mail: mail@equusfoundation.org, Website: equusfoundation.org.