United States Eventing Association

Brooke USA and TIEC's "Shade the Donkeys" Event to Feature Celebrity Bartenders Including Sinead Halpin-Maynard, Allison Springer, JJ Tate, and Tik Maynard

Mill Spring, N.C. - August 29, 2017 - The second annual Brooke USA fundraiser held during the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Land Rover and Nutrena® at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), kick off Friday, September 1, with the "Shade the Donkeys" event. Taking place under the Announcer's Tower from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. the event will feature Sinead Halpin-Maynard, Tik Maynard, Allison Springer, and JJ Tate each making appearances behind the bar.

TIEC has proudly partnered with Brooke USA for two years during the entertaining and action-packed AEC week, with last year's "Buy A Donkey A Drink" campaign hosted at Roger's Diner, raising over $5,000 for working equines and donkeys in underdeveloped countries in an effort to provide necessary access to fresh water through the purchase of large water troughs. This year's event will take place underneath of the Announcer's Tower at TIEC, and will once again benefit the organization's initiative to aid working equines in need, this year focusing on constructing lifesaving shelters and watering points for horses and donkeys in Ethiopia.

Drinks will be served from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. alongside a highly anticipated silent auction with numerous items up for grabs including gift baskets, riding lessons, and more. Mini-horse appearances will also accompany official event activities throughout the evening ahead of the second Gladiator Polo™ match at TIEC, beginning at 8:00 p.m.

Celebrity bartenders will be on rotation serving speciality drinks and include some of the sport's top riders, from Olympians to local legends.

Sinead Halpin-Maynard of Long Valley, NJ, is an international competitor and trainer who has been riding at the Advanced level since 1999. Halpin-Maynard was named to the United States Equestrian Team for the World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France in 2014 aboard Manoir de Carneville, the USEF 2012 Horse of Honor, and with "Tate," she has had several top-ten results at the hardest events in the world, most notably finishing in 2nd place finish at the prestigious Burghley CCI4* in 2012. Sinead's husband Tik Maynard, who grew up in Vancouver and got into eventing at the age of 26, is known for combining his love of horsemanship and performance, most notably when he was the freestyle division winner at the 2015 Thoroughbred Makeover with "Remarkable 54."

Allison Springer of Upperville, VA, rides and coaches throughout the country and was named to the USEF High Performance World Class Training List in 2013. An alternate to the 2012 London Olympic team, Springer's ultimate goal is to represent the United States in Olympic competition. Springer placed top 20 in the $100,000 Wellington Eventing Showcase this year, and most recently took first at the Pedigree CCI2* 2017.

Based in Landrum, SC, JJ Tate is known for her talent as a dressage rider, trainer and clinician, and made her FEI debut at the age of 16. She has earned numerous national and regional titles, been long-listed for the World Equestrian Games and represented the United States in competitions abroad.

Celebrity bartenders will be serving specialty cocktails available alongside a silent auction to benefit Brooke USA from 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., so be sure to swing by the lounge to buy a drink from your favorite USEA celebrity, check out amazing items up for grabs, and support Brooke USA's official "Free the Donkeys - Give Them Shade!" initiative. Click here to learn more about Brooke USA's campaigns.

For more information about Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), please visit www.tryon.com.

About Brooke USA

Brooke USA's mission is to significantly improve the welfare of horses, donkeys and mules and the people they serve throughout Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America by raising funds and responsibly directing them to the areas of greatest need.