The 121st National Horse Show and Family Festival Has an Event for Everyone

Wellington, FL - November 17, 2004 - The 121st National Horse Show and Family Festival is returning to Wellington, Florida on November 30th and will run through December 5th, 2004. The show is held at the world-class Palm Beach Polo and Equestrian Club for the third year since leaving New York City, where it was founded in 1883 at the original Madison Square Garden. In addition to hosting the top equestrians in the country, the show will feature historical souvenirs and many family-geared events to dazzle and entertain everyone.

As the National Horse Show (NHS) enters its 121st year, it looks back at its illustrious history. The National Horse Show: A Centennial History 1883-1983, written by Kurth Sprague and published by Henry L. Collins III, is a comprehensive volume that highlights the horse show in its first hundred years. The book will be a gift from horse show management to each champion and reserve champion winner. The author will also personalize books at the Diamond Horseshoe Club during "Jumping under the Stars" at the $100,000 Lexus National Horse Show Jumper Championship CSI-W presented by Chesapeake Petroleum, on Friday, December 3rd starting at 7 p.m., and the books will be sold at the NHS souvenir booth. The souvenir booth will be located on the right side of the entrance, just past the front gate of the horse show.

New York is a common theme at the National Horse Show, given its history. This year, the official NHS poster was created by the artist Rollin McGrail, who was born in New York and is a graduate of Parson's School of Design in New York. She is now a resident of Wellington, FL. Her work can be seen in Forbes magazine's October 2004 issue of "the 400 Richest People in America," and she has a regular column in The Washington Post. The art poster, of which there will be 100 signed editions, will be available for $35 at both the souvenir booth and the Diamond Horseshoe Club until supplies last.

One of the most appealing exhibitions to equestrian lovers at the National Horse Show will be Shaana Pritchard and the Frieze Frame Friesians, a freestyle dressage team of up to sixteen beautiful black Friesian stallions. The team drew huge crowds last year by performing quadrille tests in costume. This year’s themes will range from medieval to “Cinderella.” They include Friesians from Dutch, German, and American registries, and represent some of the best Friesian stallions in the country. Old and new fans are invited to visit their barn on the horse show grounds to see the horses up close and personal and have their picture taken with the horses.

The Friesians will perform multiple exhibitions- at "Jumping under the Stars" in the Internationale Arena, Friday, December 3rd between 7 and 9:30 p.m.; Saturday, December 4th, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Grand Hunter Ring; and Sunday, December 5th at 11 a.m. at the Grand Hunter Ring and 2:30 p.m., before the $100,000 Budweiser AGA Championship CSI, presented by Chesapeake Petroleum, in the Internationale Arena.

In addition to Friesians, there will be many other breed and discipline exhibitions. Miniature horses, Shetland ponies, mules, mustangs, and color breeds will showcase their talents and have their history and use explained at the demonstrations. World and National reining champion, Jon Ingram of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, will give an exciting reining exhibition, as well as a training program demonstration that showcases his work from a young, green horse to one in full training. Matt Marshall, of Loxahatchee, FL, will do work without bridles with color breeds, and there will be other demonstrations of natural horsemanship that are done at liberty with no bridle or saddle. All of these exhibitions will take place in the Grand Hunter Ring on Saturday- Sunday, December 4th-5th, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Another thrilling event for the whole family will be the United States Special Operations Command Parachuting Team. The group was formed in 1991 by volunteers who perform in addition to their regular military duties, and is based out of MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. The team will consist of five members who parachute out of a plane over the Internationale Arena with the American flag and flares during the singing of the National Anthem. This will take place during the opening ceremonies for the $100,000 Budweiser AGA Championship, presented by Chesapeake Petroleum, at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 5th. The parachute team will be available for autographs afterward at the Children’s Fair and in the Diamond Horseshoe Club.

The 121st National Horse Show has its roots in New York, but embraces the local equestrians around its new home in Florida. Saturday, December 4th is designated "Wellington Day," and will have events featuring local residents. One of the highlights will be the Wellington Show Stables Drill Team, who will perform at 2 p.m. in the Internationale Arena. The group consists of ten girls from the riding school who will be performing on borrowed school horses and are thrilled to be at the National Horse Show.

Also on Saturday will be the performance of Katharine Priegues of Palm Beach Gardens, FL. She will play the National Anthem on the violin at 2 p.m. in the Internationale Arena before the Victor Hugo Vidal NHS Equitation Championship. Katharine is a fifth grader at St. Ann’s Catholic School who has played the violin for three years, and has performed for the International Piano Guild concerts at City Place in West Palm Beach, FL. In addition to her musical talent, Ms. Priegues is an accomplished equestrienne who is involved in the Savvy Saddle 4-H Club and has won awards with the Twin Rivers Saddle Club.

With unique souvenirs, exciting exhibitions, and local flavor, the 121st National Horse Show and Family Festival will have something for everyone.

For more information about the 121st National Horse Show & Family Festival, write to National Horse Show, PO Box 386, Greenvale, NY 11548. E-mail: NationalHS@aol.com; Phone: (516) 484-1865; Fax: (516) 484-1982. Web: www.nhs.org.