Posted April 20, 2006

Florida Horse Park's 'Festival of the Horse'
Park Plans Grand Affair During its First Two-Star Three-Day Event

Rallying for Community Support

For the Florida Horse Park to achieve its potential, it needs the community's support, "which it seems to have," said Nahorniak. That is so valuable and so is being able to use public property, she added, "especially because of the amount of land eventing takes up. More and more states are developing horse parks."

Olympian and chef d'equipe for the U.S. Eventing Team, Capt. Mark Phillips, who designed the course for the two-star event, praised the staff at the horse park and feels the park "will become a very important part of the competition and training program in the winter time."

Robert Dover, a six-time Olympian in the sport of dressage, added, "It is a fabulous piece of land and I haven't even seen the whole thing yet. They have put a lot of money and energy into producing this beautiful site and I think that they really seem to have a great manager who has a lot of foresight. And, it looks like they have the support of the community behind it. Once you have all of those things in place, then it is just a matter of watching it evolve into a great facility."

Be On The Lookout!

One Olympic gold medallist, one Olympic bronze medallist and many of the eventers on the United States and Canadian eventing teams will be riding their top horses in advanced combined training competition at the Florida Horse Park this weekend, prepping them for the four-star, Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, April 27-30. Combined training consists of the dressage and show jumping portions of eventing. Many of these riders are also competing other horses in this weekend's two-star event, which consists of all three phases: dressage, show jumping and cross-country.

* Kyle Carter — Long-listed on Canadian Eventing Team. Horse: Madison Park

* Darren Chiacchia — Team bronze medallist at 2004 Olympics; Member, USEF Training List. Horses: Windfall II (Olympic mount), Isidore, Gaspar II, Abby Road, Huronia

* Buck Davidson, Jr. — Member, USEF Training List. Horses: Hyperlight and Idalgo (team mounts), Triomphe, Catalyst

* Lesley Grant — Short-listed on Canadian Eventing Team. Horse: Timber Spirit

* Peter Gray — Short-listed on Canadian Eventing Team. Horses: Balladeer Ted, Hot Pursuit, Test Ride

* Jessica Heidemann — Member, USEF Training List. Horses: French Twist (team mount), In Any Event

* Jonathan Holling — Member, USEF Training List. Horses: Lion King II (team mount), Direct Merger

* Leslie Law — Individual gold medallist at 2004 Olympics. Horse: Shear L'Eau (Olympic mount)

* Karen O'Connor — Member, USEF Training List. Horses: Upstage (team mount), Theodore O'Connor, Mandiba, Lets Make A Deal

* Nathalie Pollard — Member, USEF Training List. Horses: Westfarthing (team mount), Icarus

* Ian Roberts —Short-listed on Canadian Eventing Team. Horses: Napalm, Amelia

* Karl Slezak — Short-listed on Canadian Eventing Team. Horses: Foxwood Spencer, Showdown