By Rick Wallace, Tallahassee Democrat
Tallahassee Democrat, Thursday, May 22, 2008 — The Farm Equestrian Center (FEM), TeamWallace (TW), and Big Bend Cares Inc. are joining together to unveil a new charity horse show concept that is designed with rider and horse safety in mind. The First Annual Big Bend Cares Horse Show will combine elements from other equestrian show formats to create a new rubric for evaluating riders. FEM and TW designed the new show format because of the increasing number of injuries to both riders and horses at equestrian shows. The new paradigm will still maintain the precision, athleticism and well-roundedness that are a trademark of the sport.
"The quality of riding in the jump field is an essential element in today's equestrian sports, said TeamWallace owner Rick Wallace, local rider, trainer and competitor. "The goal of crossing eventing with equitation is to promote education, safety and an understanding of jumping in the ring, which will help with safety on the cross-country course."
The new concept of providing riders with an evaluation of their jumping phase will provide information needed to make changes in their riding as necessary. The quality of the riding in the jump ring will be judged and scored similarly to dressage. Riders will be judged on control and submission, ridability, strides and course navigation, seat and position. Additional safety concerns have been addressed by decreasing jump heights.
"We put this show together because we felt that we needed to interject some solutions to a problem that has been plaguing our sport for some time now, said Gavin Phipps of FEC. "We want to demonstrate to riders and spectators that jumping can be safe, and we want to make their safety the priority. I think we've accomplished that with this show."
On Tuesday April 29, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and the United States Eventing Association (USEA) released a joint letter addressing the Equestrian community. In the letter, the two organizations questioned the string of recent accidents at events and invited anyone interested to join a Safety Summit to be held in early June in Kentucky. The letter came in response to Laine Ashker most recent accident at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day on April 26, and Darren Chiacchia, an Olympic rider, who was injured in a fall at Red Hills Horse Trials in Tallahassee.
FEC and TeamWallace, LLC will be donating a percentage of the entry fees and sponsorships to Big Bend Cares. Big Bend Cares is a 501(c)(3) agency that serves a portion of the "Big Bend" that stretches across Florida's panhandle. Big Bend Cares is the only HIV/AIDS organization to provide case management services, and is the primary AIDS service organization providing HIV/AIDS education in this mainly rural region. Also, additional donations will be accepted for Darren Chiacchia through the Equestrian Aid Foundation.
"We are thrilled that the Farm Equestrian Center and Team Wallace has chosen to include Big Bend Cares in its event," said Big Bend Cares Board Chairman Scott VanDeman. "This type of generosity and community support provides our agency with additional funds we can use to provide much needed direct-care services that our other grant funding doesn't cover."
The First Annual Big Bend Cares Horse Show is being held on May 31 at the Farm Equestrian Center in Tallahassee. Vendors of all kinds are invited to be apart of the show and will be located in the center of the activities. For further information on participating as a sponsor, vendor, competitor or spectator, please contact Rick Wallace at 580-879-2649 or 850-580-4064 or visit www.teamwallace.org/bbc and www.farmequestriancenter.com.
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