Monmouth County Horse Show an Important Stop on 2005 World Championship Hunter Rider Tour

Wellington, FL– June 29 – The 110th Annual Monmouth County Horse Show gets underway on August 17 and runs through August 21, 2005 at East Freehold Park in Freehold, New Jersey. Once again, the show has been recognized by the American Hunter and Jumper Foundation (AHJF) as one of the nation’s finest equestrian showcases.

The Monmouth County Horse Show is a member of the AHJF’s World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) Program and is one of only six such designated events in the Northeast Region. Only forty-five horse shows in the eight different regions across the country meet the high standards required by the American Hunter and Jumper Foundation to receive the World Championship banner. Other shows in the Northeast Region include Fairfield, Old Salem, Skidmore, Lake Placid and the prestigious Hampton Classic Horse Show.

Each year, the members of the American Hunter and Jumper Foundation are presented with a voting ballot and are asked to select those shows which meet the highest standards. Since its beginning, the AHJF has followed a clearly defined set of criteria for designating horse shows to participate in the WCHR program.

It is through this program that the exhibitors acknowledge the efforts of show management to meet those high show standards. Good footing, appropriate schooling areas, exhibitor hospitality, appropriate ring size, top judges and officials, responsiveness to exhibitor feedback, parking and seating are just some of the important facets taken into consideration.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the Monmouth County Horse Show has been selected to participate in this prestigious program.

Michelle Perla, the Executive Director of the American Hunter and Jumper Foundation, praised the show and especially the Grand Hunter Ring. “I think Monmouth’s main hunter ring is as nice a show ring as there is anywhere in the country. It’s a good sized ring and was a blast to ride in,” she said. “From a rider’s perspective, I think that the ring rides beautifully, the footing was perfect and they design beautiful courses and have wonderful jumps.”

“They do a beautiful job with exhibitor hospitality too,” Perla added. “Carol Stillwell understands hospitality and does a great job. In addition, the fine work she’s doing raising money for the hospital is an important part of what the Monmouth County Horse Show is about,” she said.

“The Monmouth County Horse Show has worked hard to meet the criteria for World Championship Hunter Rider recognition,” said show manager Leo Conroy. “Monmouth County is a great hunter venue, with wonderful hospitality, good footing and great judges and we’re happy that the American Hunter and Jumper Foundation has, for the fourth consecutive year, recognized our hard work,” he said.

Scott Stewart, who has won the World Championship Hunter Rider of the Year title three times, loves competing at Monmouth. “In addition to the show being so close to my home,” said the Flemington, NJ, based equestrian, “the main show ring is one of the nicest hunter rings I’ve ever competed in. They do a great job at this horse show, the hospitality’s great and they raise money for a great cause,” said Stewart.

The WCHR National Awards program recognizes the top Professional, Junior, Adult Amateur, Pony and Amateur riders through points accumulated throughout the year at the rider's top four WCHR shows. These riders are then invited to compete directly against one another in Challenge Classes at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in Upper Marlboro, MD, in October.

In the Professional Division, the top four riders compete in a four rider challenge to determine the Monarch International's Show Circuit Magazine Professional World Championship Hunter Rider.

Member Shows of the World Champion Hunter Rider Program -Northeast Region

Old Salem May II May 17-22

Skidmore College I June 15-19

Fairfield Hunt Club June 21-25

Lake Placid June 29 - July 3

Monmouth County August 17-21

Hampton Classic August 28 - Sept. 4

PHOTO CREDIT: Three time WCHR Rider of the Year Scott Stewart aboard 2004 Monmouth County Horse Show First Year Green Working Hunter Champion Dynamic. Photo by Randi Muster.