Garden State Horse Show honored

Show will run from April 29 to May 3 AUGUSTA The Garden State Horse Show, which will run from April 29 through May 3 at the Sussex County Fairgrounds, has been chosen as one of only seven World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) point shows in the Northeast Region. The awards, which are presented annually by the American Hunter Jumper Foundation, on both a national and regional basis, are considered especially prestigious because instead of rewarding the horse or rider who competes in the most shows, they reward the ones who win at the best shows. Very unique to the WCHR Program is that a very limited number of participating shows, no more than seven in each of the eight regions, are chosen. Horse shows are rated throughout the year by a set of criteria that includes: good footing, appropriate schooling areas, attracts top competition, top judges and officials and exhibitor hospitality. Tim Cleary, manager of the horse show, said, Two years ago we asked our exhibitors who support the show to try to vote us in the WCHR, he explained. I really want to thank everyone that did for helping us become a WCHR show and just for being so loyal, he added. Grand prix awards purse of $65,000 The Garden State Horse Show attracts many of the country’s top show hunters and jumpers. Cleary explains that in spite of this being a year when people are cutting back, GSHS has actually added substantial prize money to several of its special classes as a way of thanking their exhibitors for all their support over the years. On Saturday, May 2, the Garden State Grand Prix will take center stage. It has been known to draw many top riders, even members of the U.S. Olympic show jumping team. This year the horses and riders will vie for a total purse of $65,000. In addition, the $25,000 Welcome Stake, on Thursday, April 30, offers the jumpers a second big money class. Just prior to the Grand Prix, Driving for Surviving, a pediatric oncology equestrian carriage driving program of sharingVillage, will present an exhibition. Located in Far Hills, sharingVillage is a nonprofit self-help educational organization dedicated to the well being of cancer survivors from time of diagnosis and beyond. The children thrilled the crowd last year as they negotiated their miniature horses ponies amongst the enormous fences already set for the Grand Prix jumpers.