What: SmartPak Equine LLC and Cosequin® are teaming up to offer one lucky eventing fan the opportunity of a lifetime - to shadow one of the world's top riders, Phillip Dutton, at American eventing's biggest competition, Rolex Kentucky CCI**** Three Day Event. The randomly selected winner will receive tickets to the event, a gift package from SmartPak and Cosequin® and a $2,500 travel voucher for airfare, hotel, car rental and other expenses. The VIP Experience will include a private partial course walk with Phillip, an opportunity to watch one of his warm-ups ringside, and a visit to his barn at Rolex to meet and take photos with the horses. "The Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event has been a great opportunity for us to connect with our customers over the years," said Colby Balazs, SmartPak's Vice President of Marketing. "2011 marks our eighth year as a proud sponsor of the event, and we will once again be hosting a course walk with featured competitors, open to the public. This year we're also excited to be offering one lucky fan the chance to get even closer to the action with one of the top riders in the sport, Phillip Dutton.
"Cosequin supports top equine athletes, including many Rolex competitors, and is one of our best-selling joint supplements in SmartPaks," Balazs continued. "We are proud to partner with our friends at Nutramax to sponsor this exciting opportunity." "Nutramax Laboratories, the makers of Cosequin, is thrilled to offer this once-in-a-lifetime prize of getting an inside look at Phillip's life while at one of the most prestigious eventing competitions," said Nutramax's Equine Product Manager, Tara Cullen. "This is another great example of our partnership with SmartPak."
How/When: Entries accepted 3/1/11 - 3/31/11 at SmartPak.com/Rolex2011. Randomly selected winner will be drawn 4/1/11. Rolex Kentucky CCI**** Three Day Event takes place 4/28/11-5/1/11.
Who: About SmartPak Equine
Founded in 1999, SmartPak Equine is the country's largest online and catalog retailer serving the needs of the active and engaged horse owner. The patented SmartPak™ supplement feeding system has simplified the process of feeding horse supplements and medications, making it easier for thousands of riders to keep their horses healthier by ensuring their supplements are being fed correctly. As the Official Tack and Equipment Supplier of the USEF, SmartPak's diverse and expansive product offering includes its own line of supplements, tack, and horse blankets as well as an extensive selection of leading brands of equine health, apparel, tack, and equipment. SmartPak is a six-time Inc. 500/5000 honoree and is the only equine company ever named to the Inc 500 list. SmartPak is backed by Waltham, MA-based North Bridge Growth Equity.
About Cosequin ®Cosequin is the #1 veterinarian-recommended joint health supplement brand. The ingredients in Cosequin have been scientifically formulated to support and maintain the health of your horse's joints. Published studies have shown that the specific combination of ingredients in Cosequin helps to maintain the structure of the cartilage while inhibiting the enzymes that break down cartilage. Cosequin is the
only glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate/avocado soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) brand that has been shown safe, bioavailable and effective in horses in published studies.
About Phillip Dutton
Phillip Dutton is one of the top riders on the U.S. eventing circuit. A four-time Olympian (three times for Australia and once for the U.S.), Phillip has won two Olympic gold medals, and was named USEA Leading Rider of the Year title an astonishing twelve times. Phillip is a founding member of the Professional Riders Organization (PRO) and is on the USEF Safety Committee, the USEF High Performance Committee for Eventing and the USEF Board. Phillip was the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event champion in 2008 and was voted the 2009 Developing Rider Coach of the Year.
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.