Davis Equine/Ride Safe/Virginia Equine Rehabilitation Center Adds the Inaugural Jim Wofford Award
Volunteer At All Three Great Meadow Events and Receive Extra Prizes!
THE PLAINS, Virginia – May 2023 – Five Rings Eventing, LLC (the Organizer “OC” of MARSGMI) is pleased to announce a partnership with Davis Equine + Ride Safe + Virginia Equine Rehabilitation Center (Davis Equine), who once again has upped the ante in its contributions to MARSGMI.
The MARS Great Meadow International (MARSGMI) takes place in The Plains, Virginia on August 24-27, 2023, and offers CCI4*-S, CCI3*-S, CCI2*-S and preliminary divisions.
This year, in honor of legendary horse person Jim Wofford, Davis Equine will offer two prizes to the winning contestants of the best Jim Wofford Horse-Related essay, video submission, or quote concerning his horse training techniques.
The Scholarship Prize will be awarded to a GMI competitor based on their submission and their sportsmanship and horsemanship demonstrated throughout the weekend.
The winning contestant of the Scholarship Prize will receive a training stipend of $2500 to train with one of the trainers from a pool of trainers who previously trained with Wofford and selected by the OC and a perpetual trophy to be provided by FRE directly to the winner.
In a fun twist, all spectators, competition staff, volunteers, grooms, and participants of GMI for the current year are eligible to compete for a Development Prize, also based on a short essay, video submission, or quote related to Jim Wofford.
The winning contestant of the Development Prize will receive a library of Jim Wofford’s most influential books about training techniques to be provided by Davis Equine directly to the winner and an Award Certificate provided by FRE directly to the winner.
“Jim Wofford was a horseperson beloved by the local equestrian community and beyond,” said Dr. Chad Davis, “Many of the riders at GMI have been influenced by Wofford. We wanted to honor his contributions to the sport, not only in this year, but for many years to come with the support of the community and this local event.”
Davis Equine has been supporting GMI for years. In addition to providing beautiful, branded leather halters and Ride Safe bracelets to winners in each division, Davis Equine will also provide a $200 gift certificate to Tri-Country Feeds Fashions and Finds, a leather shank, and a Ride Safe bracelet to the best groom nominated by the OC from the CCI3*-S and CCI4* divisions plus additional TCFE gift certificates for 4* and 3* division winners.
Initiated in 2022, Davis Equine once again will provide the Best Conditioned Horse Award. This award will include one complimentary aqua-tread session at the Virginia Equine Rehabilitation and Performance Center for the winter of each division and one gift certificate for Platinum Performance products valued at $200 to one FEI division.
“The generosity of Davis Equine cannot be overstated,” said Darrin Mollett of FRE. “Not only is Davis Equine offering prizes to the winning competitors, nominated grooms, and the best conditioned horse, it now offers a fun essay program available to all to honor a local legend.”
Returning for 2023, MARSGMI will offer general admission weekend passes as well as fabulous tailgate options for spectators. Vendors, a wine vendor, and food trucks have been invited to enhance the spectator experience. Demonstrations are also planned.
“Great Meadow is truly a special place in the heart of Northern Virginia horse country,” said O’Connor. “We are especially excited to broaden the reach of this event to be more inclusive of our community members, businesses, and organizations who share our love of open space, animal well-being, and the Piedmont.”
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About Great Meadow International
Established in 2015, the Great Meadow International is a three-day eventing competition held annually at the Great Meadow Foundation in The Plains, Virginia. In addition to the international equestrian competition, the event features VIP hospitality, a trade fair, beer garden, and entertainment for the whole family.
For information at Great Meadow International, please visit https://www.greatmeadowinternational.com/about
About Five Rings Eventing
Five Rings Eventing is a high-performance event organizer and management company founded by Darrin Mollett and David O’Connor to enhance the sport of eventing in Northern Virginia and beyond. FRE’s mission is to provide exceptional competition opportunities for athletes and their equine partners to help them reach their individual goals, whether they are at the entry level to international competition or the highest level of team competition.
Virginia Equine Rehabilitation and Performance Center
Opened in Spring 2022, the ERPC is the first and only comprehensive equine rehabilitation and performance center that is owned and managed by a sports medicine veterinarian who is also a certified equine rehabilitation practitioner (CERP) in Northern Virginia. ERPC has a rehab facility in Warrenton, Virginia that offers ETI (Equine Therapy International) Aqua treadmill with incline, ETI Cold saltwater spa, ETI Dry treadmill with incline, Vitafloor full body vibration stall, various lasers, shockwave therapy, PEMF among many other treatments.
About Davis Equine
At Davis Equine, your equine athlete and companion is our “Life’s Work.” Our 4 defining principles that serve as the pillars we strive to achieve and maintain each day: COMPASSION, INNOVATION, DEDICATION, EXCELLENCE! For more information, please visit https://davisequine.com/
About Ride Safe
Every Day, Every Ride, Every Time, RIDE SAFE!
RIDE SAFE is a sports medical ID bracelet that is designed to be worn all day every day by equestrians on or off the farm working with or around horses. Ride Safe has worked hard to be a part of implementing rule changes that allow the bracelet to be worn in Eventing as well as the USPC (United States Pony Club). The rule change for Eventing was put in place in January of 2014 and the Pony Club announced their rule change in January of 2015. Ride Safe hopes to reach other sports in the future, but more importantly to educate everyone about being safe in whatever you do even it if does not involve horses! When an emergency happens, time is critical and the RIDE SAFE bracelet will allow first responders, friends, and family immediate access to your secure medical history and contact information to facilitate rapid medical response and therapy. RIDE SAFE has taken many steps to ensure that your medical profile is extremely secure, but can still be easily accessed in a time of need. For more information, please visit www.teamridesafe.com
Virginia Equine Rehabilitation and Performance Center
Opened in Summer 2022, VRC is the first and only comprehensive equine rehabilitation and performance center that is owned and managed by a sports medicine veterinarian who is also a certified equine rehabilitation practitioner (CERP) in Northern Virginia. VRC has a rehab facility in Warrenton, Virginia that offers ETI (Equine Therapy International) Aqua treadmill with incline, ETI Cold saltwater spa, ETI Dry treadmill with incline, Vitafloor full body vibration stall, various lasers, shockwave therapy, PEMF among many other treatments.
