Ocala, Florida - Equiventures, LLC., purchased by Richard Trayford last spring, is very pleased to announce updates to the Ocala Horse Properties Horse Trials for their November 2014 horse trials as well as 2015 horse trials next January, February, and April. These additions should fulfill not only your competitive needs, but your appetite and thirst for entertainment as well.
First and foremost, we are very pleased to announce that the Ocala Horse Properties has renewed their title sponsorship for our upcoming season. We are also excited that the Florida Horse Park will soon begin the construction of new permanent stabling. We look forward to a new era for a facility that will accommodate a multitude of disciplines at an international level.
In an effort to reach out to as many competitors as possible, a Beginner Novice section has been added to the schedule for the November horse trials. Each upcoming horse trials will also offer extended hospitality with a beer, wine, and food tent for the volunteers and competitors post-competition. The April competition will have a full-fledged party and more.
Equiventures is also pleased to announce that JJ Johnson has come aboard to assist with its ongoing effort to produce first-class eventing. She has been involved in eventing for over 30 years, an organizer for over 25 years, officiated at three Olympic Games and the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, and has managed control and communications at dozens of national horse trials.
Looking forward to the April 2015 Ocala Horse Properties Festival of Eventing, we are going to give the winter season a spectacular send off. Our Festival of Eventing will showcase all our sport has to offer: Future and Young Event Horse classes will showcase the talented young stock. We will offer a full range of horse trials levels from Advanced Combined Test through Novice and the increasingly important FEI CCI2* and 1*. Hospitality will be at the max with more vendors than ever, and our very own Ocala-based rider and coach Clayton Fredericks will be performing with his UK-based band at the competitors' party.
The horses in trainer Joe Davis’ barn at Horseshoe Indianapolis don’t just get standard hay in their nets each day. Throughout the afternoon, Davis or one of his employees opens the HayGain machine that sits at the end of his shed row and pulls out a warm, beautiful-smelling bale of freshly-steamed hay to fill their nets.
Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.
Last month, readers met VIP Volunteer Rebecca Proetto, who volunteered at the MARS Maryland 5 Star horse inspection. This month, the focus turns to husband and wife Ed and Leanne Barnett who introduced Proetto to the art of running an efficient horse inspection at Maryland. Ed and Leanne undertake a 12-hour drive from their home in Indiana to Maryland just to volunteer at the event.
The USEA is saddened to share the passing of Sara Kozumplik’s five-star partner As You Like It at the age of 34. The gelding died in his sleep at his retirement home at Kozumplik's parents' residence.