Competition Underway at The Brook Ledge Great Meadow International FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ present
For further information, please contact:
Ann Haller: ahaller923@gmail.com, 678-787-4168
The Plains, Virginia - July 6, 2018 - Competition began with a special combined test on Friday at the Brook Ledge Great Meadow International (GMI), presented by Adequan®. Lauren Kieffer on Veronica, owned by Team Rebecca LLC, topped the seven horse-and-rider combinations who participated in dressage, the first of two phases of the optional combination test. The horses participating were among those named to the nominated entry for the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018 (WEG).
Lauren Kieffer and Veronica
Photo credit: 22Gates.com
"Veronica was great, she is such an old pro," said Kieffer of the16-year-old Dutch warmblood mare. "It was her first time in back in the dressage ring since Badminton and she did really well. I'm really happy with her."
Kieffer was also third on her other mount, Vermiculus, owned by Jacqueline Mars. Boyd Martin stands in second place on Christine Turner's Tsetserleg.
Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg
Photo credit: 22Gates.com
On Saturday, the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ gets underway. The Brook Ledge Great Meadow International has the distinction of holding the only North American leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ series outside Europe. World class riders representing teams and individuals from Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Switzerland and the United States will compete.
Earlier on Friday, a horse inspection was held for the FEI competition. The purpose of the inspection was to evaluate the horse's "fitness to compete" in the event. All 46 horses presented were accepted. Canada's Lisa Marie Fergusson was the first to present. She will be competing on her own Honor Me and she is excited to once again ride for her country.
Lisa Marie Fergusson and Honor Me
Photo credit: 22Gates.com
"It is amazing to be back," said Fergusson. "We have an amazing team, great horses, positive riders and in a WEG year, it is really exciting."
Spectators were also treated to a polo exhibition featuring riders from the Great Meadow Polo Club, Beverly Equestrian Polo Team and Greenhill Winery & Vineyards Polo Team. Eventers David O'Connor, Ema Klugman and Clayton Fredericks made celebrity appearances on each of the teams.
Spectators enjoy the polo exhibition
Photo credit: 22Gates.com
The FEI Nations Cup™ dressage competition begins on Saturday morning. Show jumping will take place in the afternoon. The GMI culminates on Sunday with the popular cross country phase. General admission car passes serve as an entry for all occupants in a vehicle. A one day pass is $25 or a weekend pass is $40.
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About The Great Meadow Foundation
Great Meadow is a 374-acre equestrian event park located in the middle of Virginia's finest horse community. The park was founded in 1982 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation with a mission to preserve open space for equestrian and community service. Founded by philanthropist, Arthur "Nick" Arundel as a permanent home for the prestigious Virginia Gold Cup steeplechase races, Great Meadow today hosts 40 events that draw 200,000 through the gates each year to see steeplechasing, polo, show jumpers, foot races, rocketry, cultural fairs, and Independence Day fireworks. In 2016, Great Meadow, doubled the size of its property, completed a World class arena, and hosted the first FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ ever held in North America. For more information, please visit: www.greatmeadow.org.
About Brook Ledge Horse Transportation
Brook Ledge is broadly recognized as the Nation's Leading Horse Carrier offering both ground and air transportation services in the United States and international travel provided via their wholly owned subsidiary, Horse America. They are a completely comprehensive horse transportation solution for both domestic and international travel. Brook Ledge is dedicated to providing the most elite services to their clients who range from Triple Crown and Grand Prix horses to beloved family companions. For more information about Brook Ledge Horse Transportation, or Horse America, please contact Andrea Gotwals Boone, Brook Ledge Horse Transportation, 12 Gotwals Lane, Oley, PA 19547, (610) 987-6284, or andreag@brookledge.com.
About Adequan® i.m. (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan)
Adequan® i.m., the only product approved by the FDA for the intramuscular treatment of non-infectious degenerative and/or traumatic joint dysfunction and associated lameness of the carpal and hock joints in horses, has been a great help to the horse industry. For the past 25 years and counting, veterinarians have depended on Adequan® i.m. for the treatment of non-infectious degenerative joint disease in horses. For more information, please visit: www.adequan.com For more information about Luitpold Animal Health, visit: www.luitpoldanimalhealth.com
