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KUPERUS TO WELCOME COMPETITORS TO 2005 JERSEY FRESH THREE-DAY EVENT
The Horse Park of New Jersey Hosting Equestrian Event Featuring Top Riders
 
For Immediate Release: May 6, 2005 Contact:

Lynne Richmond
(609)292-8896
lynne.richmond@ag.state.nj.us

     
(TRENTON) – New Jersey Agriculture Secretary Charles M. Kuperus will help kick-off a major equestrian competition – the Jersey Fresh Three-Day Event -- being held at the Horse Park of New Jersey at Stone Tavern with a “Welcome to New Jersey” gathering for competitors Thursday, May 12, in Cream Ridge.

“New Jersey is becoming known internationally for it’s top-notch equestrian venues and events, attracting the world’s best horses and riders and the most enthusiastic fans,” said Secretary Kuperus. “It is significant for our state to host competitions of this caliber that test the skill of both horse and rider.”

The 2005 Jersey Fresh CCI** and CCI***, being held May 12-15 at the Horse Park, is recognized as one of the nation’s top competitions, seen as a stepping-stone for the Olympics and World Championships by many of the competitors. There will be 98 competitors. Athens Olympics Silver Medalist, John Williams of Virginia, designed the courses for the event.

Eventing was originally a military event intended to measure the fitness of military horses. To succeed both rider and horse must be highly trained in these three tests:
-- Dressage – a French term, meaning training. Dressage comprises a set series of complicated movements performed in an enclosed arena. It requires precision, smoothness, suppleness and complete obedience by the horse.
-- Cross-country – the endurance test. It includes four phases: two rounds of roads and tracks, the steeplechase, and the cross-country.
-- Show Jumping – takes place in the jumping arena. Horse and rider must negotiate between 12 and 15 show jumping obstacles.

New Jersey’s equine industry is a major segment of New Jersey agriculture with 49,000 animals and 81,000 acres of land related to equine.

The press event will take place 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 12 at Rick’s Saddle Shop, Route 539, in Cream Ridge, NJ.