Cornelia Guest and Susie Humes Sponsor Best Child Rider On A Horse Award

New York, NY – October 22, 2004 – The National Horse Show Association of America Ltd. has announced that sponsorship for the 2004 Metropolitan National Horse Show includes corporations as well as individuals who are supporting a variety of divisions, classes, and awards. The Metropolitan National Horse Show, scheduled for November 3-7 at Pier 94 and the Show Piers on the Hudson in New York City, features more than 80 hunter and jumper events and a total purse of $310,000. Tickets can be reserved by calling 866-NHS-SHOW or on the web at www.nhs.org

Cornelia Guest and Susie Humes are sponsoring one of the most prestigious awards at the venerable show, which traces its history to the original Madison Square Garden in 1883. “The Metropolitan National Horse Show is important. It’s an important tradition that we need to keep up,” said Cornelia Guest. Ms. Guest competed in the 2003 Metropolitan National Horse show and earned the Adult Hunter 36 & Over Championship aboard Sister Parish owned by Hedge Row Ltd. and Whitney Roper. Ms. Guest will not defend her title at the 2004 Metropolitan National Horse Show, but she and her friend and trainer Susie Humes are sponsoring The Best Child Rider on a Horse Award. “The Best Child Rider Award is very significant,” said Ms. Guest. “It’s a tradition that was always part of the horse shows when I was growing up. It’s sportsmanship, it’s style, and it encompasses everything that traditional hunter seat equitation riding and the show jumping world is all about.”

Growing up in the horse show world, Ms. Guest was a hands-on rider who participated in all aspects of caring for her ponies and horses. By sponsoring the Best Child Rider on a Horse Award, Ms. Guest said she is encouraging today’s youngsters to find the joy she did as a fully involved rider. “I never just threw the reins to my groom. I was in the barn all day, learning how to braid my ponies. You want to see that with today’s young riders. You want to see these kids live it and breathe it. It’s a whole lifestyle, not just two minutes in the ring,” said Ms. Guest.

She is also a stalwart supporter of equestrian history and traditions. “We cannot become lackadaisical about our traditions. I don’t like to see a junior in the ring without a choker on. It’s not correct,” said Ms. Guest. “We’re dealing with beautiful horses and we should look our best. It’s crucial that these traditions are upheld. By sponsoring the Best Child Rider on a Horse Award, I’m hoping that this type of recognition will encourage more of the young riders to become aware of the traditions of the sport, uphold them, and pass them on to future generations.”

The winner of the Best Child Rider on a Horse Award at the 2003 Metropolitan National Horse Show was Daisy Johnson riding Rio Bravo for owner Sale Johnson and WGHR Farm.

With her film and television acting career in full swing, Ms. Guest divides her time between New York and California and recently completed three movies – In And Out In Five Minutes, Medium, and Sky King – and has a role in a pilot called Revelations for NBC TV. But she intends to compete in the 2005 Metropolitan National Horse Show. “I will be back to defend my title with Sister Parish,” she stated. “I have every intention of it. Susie [Humes] and I have made that our goal and have already started our plan to reach that goal.”

The Metropolitan National Horse Show Sponsor List: