Leading International Riders Top The Bill at the North American Beaulieu Classic Horse Trails

Chatsworth, GA - March 10, 2004 - The North American Beaulieu Classic and Horse Trials will host a star-studded international field of riders from seven countries at its spring event, which takes place from April 2-4th 2004 at Chatsworth in North Georgia. Most of the top competitors in the sport in this country as well as several international visitors will go head to head in four divisions of horse trials over the magnificent countryside at Bouckaert Farms.

Olympic Champion David O’Connor will be competing as part of his preparation to defend his title at the Athens Olympic Games later this year and has five entries in the CIC division; Clifton Say What, Courting Danger, Dunston Celtic, Outlawed and Persistent Rain. His wife, Karen, will be alongside him at Chatsworth with four rides: Bally Mar, Grand Slam, Joker’s Wild and Upstage.

Last year’s CIC*** winner riding Simply Red who also captured third place on Nova Top is Pennsylvania-based Australian, Phillip Dutton. He will be back to defend his title in a field of 72 starters. The personable Australian presents a formidable challenge with Nova Top, Hannigan and Connaught.

Runner-up to Dutton last year was Virginian Kim Severson from Scottsville riding the handsome bay Thoroughbred gelding, Winsome Adante. She returns this year to compete for honors with four other rides — Ace’s High, He’s Got Rhythm, Maguire and Upper Register — in addition to Winsome Adante.

Pan American Games Champion, Darren Chiacchia, is always a force to be reckoned with from the moment he enters the dressage arena and he returns with the stallion Windfall as well as Power Ty, Ahlerich, San Salvador and Southbound.

Bouckaert Farm host, Carl Bouckaert, who represents Belgium in this international field, has entered two of his top horses, Mr. Mullins and The Boomer alongside his daughter Nathalie aboard Royal Bart.

Canada is represented by Stuart Black (Fleeceworks Mullingar), Ashley Minion (Taylor Made), Kelli Temple (Blackout), Kyle Carter (Colombo), Mike Winter (Balista) and Sonya Crampton (Smooth Sailing and Shindig) who will be competing as part of Canada’s preparation for the Olympic Games.

Adding to the international field are riders from The Netherlands (Werner Geven), Mexico (Pedro Gutierrez), New Zealand (Donna Smith) and the popular Imtiaz Anees from India who is based in Fayetteville, Georgia.

The Advanced division boasts 38 entries while 50 combinations will take on the Intermediate course and 60 are expected in the Preliminary division.

Prizes have been boosted this year with a family of new sponsorships to reward the top horse and rider combinations. In addition, the North American Beaulieu Classic will be offering prize money of $10,000 as well as a trophy and ribbons.

Event Director, Jack Pollard, is making the final preparations for the event and is thrilled that once again Chatsworth Horse Trials has attracted such high quality entries. “With so many events in the calendar, we can never be complacent about drawing the caliber of riders which make this event so competitive. It speaks volumes about the quality of the course and what we can offer here at Bouckaert Farms that each year we host the top professionals and amateurs who compete alongside each other,” he commented.

Riders will face 22 new fences on the cross-country course, which is designed by Mark Phillips and built by Eric Bull, so there will be no room for complacency among the competitors who are familiar with the event. “It will make for a very exciting competition,” added Pollard, “and we hope the general public will visit us to watch some of the best riders in the world compete in one of the toughest equestrian sports.”

Please visit the event website at www.bouckaertfarm.com for more details and directions to the event.

For more information, please contact Chris Stafford, Media Director, at media@necomms.com or at (859) 552-5705.

A CIC event is a horse trials with the same format, i.e. dressage, cross-country and show jumping as the other divisions except that it is recognized by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) as an international competition.

Belgium international event rider, Carl Bouckaert, established the Horse Trials in 1988. Bouckaert Farm is one of the premier equestrian facilities in the world, offering a wide range of opportunities for the eventing enthusiast. The farm is also home to international 3-Day Event riders Nathalie Bouckaert, and Michael Pollard. Additionally, many well known advanced horses presently reside at the farm, including Welton Molecule, Mr. Mullins, The Boomer, Nero, On the Button, Pinnacle Springbok, and Oliver Edgecombe.