Friday, January 13, 2006

Cadillac Challenge of the Americas Features Musical Freestyle Dressage Team Competition with Gala and Auction to Benefit the BCRF

Wellington, FL – January 12, 2006 – The Cadillac Challenge of the Americas, “An International Evening of Musical Freestyles and Team Quadrilles” will be held March 11, 2006, in Wellington, Florida, at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. Marking its fifth consecutive year, this annual fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) is a one-of-a-kind international event that highlights the Olympic equestrian sport of Grand Prix Dressage using a musical format of Freestyles and Team Quadrilles. World-class dressage riders from the United States, Canada, Latin America, and Europe will compete for the title of “Dressage Team of the Americas.” Following the competition, this year’s Cadillac Challenge features a gala with dinner, dancing, and live auction in the Grand Marquee at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

VIP ticket and table holders at the Cadillac Challenge will have first-class box seats overlooking the stadium polo field at International Polo Club Palm Beach where competition action will take place. The Cadillac Challenge schedule of activities kicks off at 6:00 pm with an exhibition Grand Prix musical freestyle ridden by two-time Olympic Team Bronze Medalist Steffen Peters. The Cadillac Challenge of the Americas competition will follow, showcasing three international teams comprised of eight riders each competing in two dressage-to-music formats, which will be scored by a panel of international judges. Each team will receive marks for their Pas de Deux (two riders and two horses) and their Quadrille (six horses and six riders). At the conclusion of the competition, judges will determine placings and the Awards Ceremony will begin at 7:30 pm. The Cadillac Challenge Gala in the Grand Marquee will commence at 8:00 pm featuring a gourmet dinner, dancing, and live auction.

The 24 riders in the Cadillac Challenge are world-class competitors. To be selected to compete, each rider must have competed in the Olympic Games, World Equestrian Games, World Cup Final or have represented their country internationally. The three teams competing in the 2006 Cadillac Challenge are: Team Purina USA, Team Canada, and Team International. Riders to date (two additional riders to be selected) are:

The competition format for the Cadillac Challenge is distinguished from the traditional dressage show, which highlights individual freestyle – a choreographed ride to music performed by one horse and rider (termed “freestyle” because the rider chooses the pattern of required movements as opposed to the Grand Prix competition in which all riders perform the same prescribed test). The Pas de Deux and Team Quadrille raise the level of difficulty of the performance because each horse/rider pair must perform in complete harmony to the music and with one another, and all at the highest level of dressage, the Grand Prix, which includes piaffe, passage, one-tempi changes, and pirouettes. Adding to the excitement and entertainment level, the Pas de Deux and Team Quadrille competitions are ridden to dynamic musical accompaniment ranging from rock ‘n’ roll to show tunes to classical.

The winner of the title “Dressage Team of the Americas” will be determined by a combination of scores. The Pas de Deux will constitute 40% of the team’s final score, with the Team Quadrille counting 60%. The FEI (Federation Equestre International) judges will score the technical and artistic elements of each ride. Additionally, the Cadillac Challenge will host several celebrity judges who will be invited to remark solely on the entertainment value of the performances.

Because of the event’s worthwhile cause – to benefit the BCRF, which seeks to find a cure for breast cancer, plus the competition’s engaging format, the Challenge of the Americas has grown tremendously over the past four years, from the inaugural three-horse quadrille exhibition with a benefit luncheon in 2002, to its present international team competition status with an evening gala, which attracts enthusiasts from all equestrian disciplines, as well as those outside the equestrian community. Sponsorship of the event has also grown rapidly. Major sponsors in 2006 are: Cadillac, the event’s title sponsor; Purina, the USA team sponsor; Cunningham & Cunningham, the event insurance sponsor; and Wild Horse Winery, the official wine at the gala and cocktail party. Promotional Partners for the Cadillac Challenge of the Americas are: the United States Dressage Federation (USDF); Equestriangraphics.com; Phelpsphotos.com; HorseSport USA; and Equestrianmag.com.

Ticket and Table Information

Single VIP tickets are available at $250. General admission tickets are $20 each.

Tables are available at the Gold, Silver, and Bronze level. Tables are for 10 guests.

For Tickets and Table reservations and information, please visit the Cadillac Challenge of the Americas website at www.barnbook.com/challenge.html or contact Mary Ross, chairman of the Cadillac Challenge, at 561-852-2591.

PHOTO CREDIT: Team Canada, winners of the 2005 Challenge of the Americas SusanJStickle.com