Wilma Won’t Deter the 122nd Annual National Horse Show and Family Festival Set for Wellington Beginning November 30, 2005

Wellington, FL – November 1, 2005 – Hurricane Wilma dealt a damaging blow to South Florida and the equestrian community of Wellington when she struck the area on October 24, 2005. Despite the widespread impact, the equestrian community is rapidly recovering and gradually returning to normal.

The Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club, home to the 122nd Annual National Horse Show and Family Festival, sustained some damage, but nothing that will prevent this year’s show from going on as scheduled beginning on November 30 and running through December 4, 2005.

“Like everybody in the community, we took a hit,” said Gene Mische, President of the National Horse Show Association of America, Limited. “But, our grounds crew was out assessing the damage within an hour of the storm passing through the area and the clean up began that same day. We’ve lost some landscaping and there was some damage to a couple of our structures,” he detailed. “Yesterday, full power and telephone service was restored to the entire show grounds, so things are rapidly improving.”

Mische said he looks forward to this year’s National Horse Show. “I’m thrilled with the progress and I’m totally confident that visitors to the National Horse Show won’t even notice that a hurricane came through the area,” he added. “The show rings, especially the Internationale Arena, are in great shape and ready now for this year’s event. We look forward to this being the best National Horse Show ever.”

This is fourth consecutive year that the National Horse Show will held in Florida at The Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, Florida, The Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Center is also the home of the Winter Equestrian Festival and the site of the first outdoor Nations Cup held in the United States.

The National Horse Show highlights include the Budweiser AGA Championship, CSI*** presented by Chesapeake Petroleum (December 4) and the Lexus National Horse Show Jumper Championship, CSI-W presented by Chesapeake Petroleum (December 2 – night performance.).

Zada Enterprises, LLC Dressage at the National, with nearly 100 entries, will feature world class competitors including Bent Jensen, Karin Reid Offield, Mimi Block, Karen McKean, Richard Silvia, Nicole Levy and Tuny Page.

Those who attend the Diamond Horse Shoe Club can enjoy a great vantage point for classes such as the “Jumping Under the Stars” $100,000 Lexus National Horse Show Grand Prix presented by Chesapeake Petroleum. During the featured event, Kevin Kenny from Ken Rose Catering will provide dinner with his expert culinary staff for the third year in a row at the National Horse Show, and the Diamond Horse Shoe Club will host the “Jumping Under the Stars” Black Tie Gala.

Also, the 122nd National Horse Show & Family Festival introduces “The Horse: In and Out,” an art fair exhibited during this year’s annual competition.

This year the NHS Official Artist, Heidi Osgood-Metcalf, will recreate that poster with her artistic excellence. She will also design party invitations with a similar theme. Her artwork will be on display at “The Horse: In and Out,” along with a number of other successful artists’ work.

While the show will host some of the nation’s top horses and riders, it also offers a unique experience for everyone in the family. The event will offer the Children’s Fair Celebration, presented by Chesapeake Petroleum.

Those who are ready to do holiday shopping will have lots to choose from at the National Horse Show and Family Festival. The high-quality wares will range from the very special to the most essential for every type of horseperson. They will include equestrian clothing, the latest fashion trends, accessories, jewelry, art, home furnishings, as well as tack, feed, and horse clothing. The vendors are conveniently located around the competition rings and in the main courtyard.

PHOTO CREDIT: Eugene R. Mische PHOTO BY: James Leslie Parker.