JUNE 2021 THE RIDER /45


Exclusive to the Digital Edition of The Rider


JUNE 2021 Vol. 2, Issue No. 6


CELEBRATING YEARS


Capital Challenge Horse Show Returns to Prince George’s Equestrian Center for 2021


UPPER MARLBORO, Md. – Capital Challenge Horse Show will return to Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Mary- land, from October 1-10, 2021.


For 26 years, the


Prince George’s Equestrian Center has been home to the Capital Challenge Horse Show. In 2020, due to regu- lations surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, man- agement relocated the com- petition to the World Equestrian Center in Wilm- ington, Ohio. Now that pan- demic-related restrictions have been lifted in Mary- land and are continuing to ease across the country, the 28th annual show will again be held in its hometown, with the expectation to op- erate at full capacity. “We are very thankful


to World Equestrian Center and the Roberts family for giving Capital Challenge a home in 2020 at their beau- tiful facility,” said Capital


Challenge co-founder and show manager Oliver Kennedy. “We look forward to returning to Maryland and Prince George’s Eques- trian Center this year and continuing


to offer


hunter/jumper competitors one of the best horse shows in the nation.” Prince


George’s


County Executive Angela Alsobrooks added, “We are ‘Prince George’s Proud’ to welcome the Capital Chal- lenge Horse Show back to the Prince George’s Eques- trian Center this fall. The annual competition has been a premier horse show desti- nation and event staple in our County for well over two decades. “We are excited to be


in a position to bring back large events like Capital Challenge, as they are a re- minder of the significant progress that we have made in our fight against COVID- 19,” she continued. During the downtime


water hookups, electric, lights, and a wash rack. Inside the Show Place


Arena, the main Concourse and Arena Bowl have been repainted, the Concourse flooring has been replaced, and the suites have been renovated. “We are delighted to


have the Capital Challenge Horse Show return to the Prince George’s Equestrian Center this year,” said Bill Tyler, Director of the Mary- land-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Department of Parks and Recreation,


in Prince


The Capital Challenge Horse Show will return to Prince George’s Equestrian Center for 2021. Photo by Impact Media


in 2020, the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation in- vested considerable time and effort to update the fa- cilities at Prince George’s


Equestrian Center. All of the stabling areas have been re- painted and feature new wash racks, signage, and landscaping. The infield ring has been renovated


with new footing and light- ing upgrades have been made to the covered arena. The S Barn Temporary Sta- bling Area has also been renovated to include new


George’s County. “It’s a good start to our reopening and a sign that things are getting back to normal.” The Capital Challenge


Horse Show, recognized as a US Equestrian Heritage Competition, will hold the 2021 World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Fi- nals, the $25,000 3’ and 3’3” Green Hunter North American Championships,


and the Ariat National Adult Medal Finals, among other major classes. Three days of equitation competition dur- ing Equitation Weekend, presented by BigEq.com, will include the EMO Insur- ance/USHJA 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Final, North American Adult Equitation Championships, the Taylor Harris Insurance Services National Children’s Medal Finals, and more. After a successful inaugural year in 2020, the North American League (NAL) Finals will once again be hosted by the Capital Challenge, along with


the Medium


Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Championship. By the end of the 10-day horse show, 17 National Champi- ons will have been crowned and 45 division champi- onships awarded. Learn more at capi-


talchallenge.org.


The Aiken Summer Classic Series Will Support the USET Foundation Ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo


GLADSTONE, N.J. – The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation will be receiving generous support from the Classic Company, the management company behind the Aiken Summer


Classic


hunter/jumper horse show series. Throughout the two weeks of shows at Aiken Summer Classic, June 16-20 and June 23-27, 2021, all of the entry fees from the Low Hunter and Training Jumper divisions, which include the show’s largest classes, will be donated to the USET Foundation. “We are happy that we


can support the USET Foun- dation, which provides funding for Olympic and Paralympic teams as well as United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Devel- oping and High Perform- ance Programs,” said Bob Bell, President of the Clas- sic Company. “We are proud of our Olympic and Para- lympic Teams and wish


Bruce’s Field where the Aiken Summer Classic series is held. Photo by Jonathan Rabon.


them great success as they represent the United States in Tokyo this summer.” “Given the added layer


of complexity and logistics due to the COVID-19 pan- demic and rescheduling of Tokyo 2020, this year’s Olympic and Paralympic


Games will be the costliest Games in the history of the United States Equestrian Team,” said Bonnie Jenkins, Executive Director, USET Foundation. “At the same time, as the philanthropic partner to USEF, we cannot lose sight of its Develop-


ment and Pathway Pro- grams that are priming our country’s elite, young ath- letes to successfully repre- sent the United States on the greatest international stages in the future. “We are extremely


grateful to Bob Bell and his


team at Aiken Summer Classic for their support of the USET Foundation,” Jenkins continued. “It’s wonderful to have a compe- tition organizer acknowl- edging the commitment required to sustain a safe and successful experience


for our athletes and horses in Tokyo, as well as finding creative ways to support our athletes more broadly.” If Aiken Summer Clas-


sic exhibitors wish to make an individual donation to support the U.S. Teams and the USET Foundation, they


will receive an attractive blue armband with the USET logo designating the individual as a USET sup- porter. Riders are encour- aged to proudly wear the armband in the ring while competing. Click here to do- nate today: www.uset.org/ donate/ If you are a competi-


tion organizer that would like to support the USET Foundation at an event, please contact Maureen Pethick


at


mpethick@uset.org. About USEF: The United States


Equestrian Team Founda- tion is a non-profit organiza- tion that supports the competition,


training,


coaching, travel, and educa- tional needs of America’s elite and developing interna- tional, high performance horses and athletes in part- nership with the United States Equestrian Federa- tion. Learn more www.uset.org.


at


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50