International show jumping veterans, top junior riders, and leading amateur owner competitors will unite and champion a good cause during the inaugural Great Charity Show Jumping Challenge on March 20.
The Step By Step Foundation will be among the 24 aid organizations with Palm Beach County ties that will split the $400,000 in prize money offered during this unique show jumping event that will take place at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida beginning at 6pm. Supporters can cheer on their favorite show jumping team competing in Great Charity Challenge. Depending on how their team places, Step By Step Foundation will receive between $8,000 and $150,000 that will go towards Haitian relief.
Once again, Olympic medalist Margie Engle will join forces with Liliane Stranksy, the founder of Step By Step, to help children around the world. The dynamic duo has already proven to be a winning combination at WEF. They raised more than $65,000 for Haitian relief funds at the All In For Charity poker tournament and benefit dinner in January.
"This is yet another opportunity for supporters to come join together at the horse show, have fun and at the same time, help Haiti," said Stransky, who is building a school in Haiti, has hosted numerous benefits, coordinated donation efforts, and delivered much needed supplies to the devastated country.
"They still needs so much help! We are doing everything we can to assist in their recovery, but every bit helps."
The competition will be a three-person relay race, with each team composed of two junior/amateurs, anchored by a world-class or Olympic rider. The fences will be set at 1.10m, 1.20m, and 1.30m and be a continuous course of 24 jumps with the professionals riding the last leg of 8 jumps. The fastest cumulative team time wins for their charity, which will be randomly assigned. Joining Engle on horseback will be fellow Olympians McLain Ward, Laura Kraut, Beezie Madden, Will Simpson, Lauren Hough, Katie Prudent, Eric Lamaze, Rodrigo Pessoa as well as Grand Prix veterans Georgina Bloomberg, Brianne Goutal and Charlie Jayne.
The lineup that accumulates the least faults in the fastest time over the course of 24 obstacles will walk out of the ring with both a blue ribbon and a check to be donated to their charity. The winning squad will earn 30 percent of the total donations; second-place earns at least $80,000 (20 percent) and third place will receive at least $40,000 (10 percent). The remaining 21 charities will split the pot, with each charity guaranteed at least $8000.
Some 24 equestrian families have donated the winning prize money to show their support for the community. Selected from more than 60 charities, the top 24 organizations will be represented in the International Arena by a unique combination of FTI Winter Equestrian Festival competitors. There will be a special "charity bowl," where riders can donate any of their prize money won at WEG that week, and sponsors, vendors, spectators, staff, and horse fans alike are encouraged to make a donation to the pot.
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