Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Horse Shows in the Park, LLC!!!

The staff and management of Horse Shows in the Park LLC would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to our riders, exhibitors and their families for their support and friendship during the 2008 show year.  The pictures of our 2008 Annual Awards Banquet are now online at www.toninewbroughphotography.com and we hope you enjoy viewing them as much as we have!  We’re working on a special web page that will be on line throughout 2009 to recognize our 2008 Divisional and Award winners. 

As the 2008 show year draws to a close, keep an eye on this website for updates in the following areas:

Show Venues – More info coming on the new venue at Continental Acres, in Weirsdale Florida!  Research also underway with regard to our potential expansion into the Jacksonville Equestrian Center venue as well..

2009 Show Programs – the programs are now being updated for 2009 for both the Wickham and Canterbury locations.  Watch the “show programs” link on the left for updated programs as they’re finalized and posted. As of 12/17 – we’re in the process of final review and fine tuning. 

2009 Course Design – Jumpers – Negotiations are underway with a licensed, experienced  FEI Course Designer – Mr.  Mauricio Garcia – to provide all of our 2009 Jumper Courses and professional grade course diagrams. Course Diagrams for the jumpers to be posted on the web prior to each show.  Also under consideration is reversal of fence height opportunity for Sunday’s competition, to allow our higher jumping competitors the opportunity to jump first in the a.m.

2009 Class Specifications – As new divisions are added and others fine-tuned, please check the soon to be posted 2009 Class Specifications for any adjustments and/or changes to the class and divisional specifications.  Our show secretary is unable to proof every entry for compliance – and we rely on our exhibitor’s knowledge and appropriate application of these guidelines and specifications.

2009 New Divisions Added.  Provided we’re able to sustain  our growing numbers of exhibitors with every show - we’re moving forward with the addition of the 4th arena – so we’re able to offer a number of new divisions and tighten some class specs on a few others. New divisions currently under final discussion for addition during 2009 are:

Novice Equitation/Hunter/Hunter Hack W/T/C (all ages) in the novice arena
2 new Jumper Equitation Challenges – 2’ and 2’6”-2’9” for year end Finals eligibility
Modified Childrens/Adult Equitation @ 2’3”
2’9: Training Hunter – open to professionals
Intermediate Rider Hunter/Equitation - @ 2’ in the 4th arena, cross entry allowed  2’
Junior Horse/Pony – WTC, 18”-2’for horses/ponies 5 years and under
3 Medal Qualifiers – top 20 scores from new HSITP Children’s/Adult Medal @ 2’6”; HSITP Junior/AA Medal @ 2’9” or 3’, M & S Pony Medal to count for year end Finals eligibility

Adjustments to current divisions:

Short/Long Stirrups – One division w/5 hunter/eq classes at 18”-2- no cross entry
Consolidation of  In-Hand Classes to Grooming and 3 Hunter Breeding classes
Deletion of  Walk-Trot 18 Over – addition of Novice Eq/Hunter/HHack W/T/C-All Ages
Deletion of EMR Equitation Classes
Clarification of Qualifying Criteria for EMR Hunter Challenge Competition

2009 Entry Forms:

We will be moving toward a standard entry form most commonly used at rated USEF shows – this may result in a more exhibitor-friendly fee structure for horses/ponies with more than one rider. 

2009 Fee Structures:

Currently, our fee structure and entry costs are under review with an eye toward potentially reducing overall costs to the exhibitor for ‘09.  Unfortunately at the same time, we’ve just learned the Canterbury Equestrian facility will significantly increase the costs in 2009 for Horse Shows in the Park  ie; through higher stall charges, arena and clubhouse rental and  jump standard  rental.  However, in these challenging economic times, Horse Shows in the Park will make the commitment to hold the bottom line on costs to the exhibitor.

2009 Sponsorships Needed!!

 More effort will need to be spent in 2009 in obtaining  year end sponsorships of divisions and special classes – in order to offset the additional operating costs of Canterbury’s ’09 price increases as well as our desire to utilize the 4th arena and provide more competitive opportunities.  Sponsorship with Horse Shows in the Park offers the farm, trainer and/or business valuable industry exposure and ongoing advertisement both online and real-time - with an ever-growing number of Florida and Georgia area horsemen and women.  Input and assistance with obtaining sponsorships is greatly appreciated, so we can hold the line and potentially reduce showing costs to our exhibitors.

2009 Prizes and Awards

2009 will see the return of  HSITP’s “Ribbon Buy Back” program, and the ever popular prize table may be expanded to include larger and more significant prize opportunities.  Our winning Marshall and Sterling competitors in ’09 will be receiving gift certificates from on grounds vendors or for use in the show office. We’ll initiate using “Show Bucks”  as well – for all of our winning riders to choose to use in purchasing items at participating on-grounds vendors or reducing the bill in the show office.  Anticipated year end prizes will incorporate a range of awards such as beautiful custom hardwood braiding boxes, tack trunks, ribbon displays,  embroidered jackets, sterling silver belt buckles, leather goods, pewter and more goodies Jeanne has up her sleeve.

2009 Show Calendar

Please be advised  the show calendar may be adjusted at 2009 year end – to potentially drop the last show currently booked on Thanksgiving weekend and move up the last show of the 2009 show year and Championship Finals Opportunity to the November 14,15th show.  As a result, this show would move to a full 3 day show format, with a limited number of hunter divisions on Friday.  Dropping the Thanksgiving show would allow our riders to spend this holiday with their families, and for more time in planning and organization of the year end banquet – now planned for either December 5th or 12th, depending on the venue booked.

2009 Program Mail Outs

Due to our objective to hold the line on show costs, there are currently no plans to produce a hard-copy program booklet for general mail out, due to the high cost of mailing. Please bookmark this page to check for updates and show programs – and get programs delivered to you via email tool before each show – use the handy tools on this page to sign up or drop Jeanne an email at pwinslow1@cfl.rr.com to do so.

Your Input Needed!!!

A survey tool will be released soon to our email list and will ask for input relative to a number of the areas above.  If you’re not on our email list – get on it now!!! – and drop us an email to do so at pwinslow1@cfl.rr.com.  As always, any input relative to the shows may be addressed directly to show management at pwinslow1@cfl.rr.com.