English Riding
CHATEAUBLOND EQUESTRIAN CENTER’S BENEFIT LUNCH “HELPING HAITIAN RIDERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS” FOLLOWED SPECIAL OLYMPICS & RAISED $14,000 AT PBIEC ON SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2009
By
Apr 15, 2009, 13:37

Romy Tschudi-Roy built a riding program at the Chateaublond Equestrian Center in 2004 that enriches the lives of handicapped children in Haiti. She welcomed 5 young special needs children from Haiti and their teachers, who joined fellow Special Olympics riders, supporters and sponsors at the 3rd Annual “Helping Haitian Riders With Special Needs” Luncheon to benefit the Chateaublond Equestrian Center. Held in the Blue Ribbon Club at the Palm Beach Equestrian Center in Wellington FL, the benefit raised awareness and $14,000 on Sunday March 22, 2009.

Earlier that morning, the Haitian youngsters competed in the Special Olympics along with 65 special needs equestrians from the United States. Each rider put their mounts, donated for the event from the nearby Vinceremos Therapeutic Rider Center, through their paces in different levels of competitions from “equitation” to “dressage.” International Grand Prix rider Georgina Bloomberg helped outfit the competitors from her own charity, “The Rider’s Closet.”

At noon, every celebrated at the benefit lunch where Tschudi-Roy, Lilian Stransky of the Step By Step Foundation, and her 13 year old daughter Daniela Stransky Secchi, who had numerous horses to show later in the day, and Vinceremos’ director Ruth Menor and her staff joined 150 guests under the tents at the Blue Ribbon Club at the Palm Beach Equestrian Center. Well-known athletes, trainers, donors, sponsors and fans of the equestrian sports all dined on fabulous food on the sunny day, while watching the thrilling $10,000 Junior Jumper Classic and then the exciting $15,000 Fidelity Investment 1.50m Classic in the Grand Prix arena.

Guests purchased raffle tickets to win everything from original Haitian art and gold jewelry to equestrian equipment and animal vaccinations. Olympic veterans Chris Kappler, Laura Kraut, Pablo Barrios and Nona Garson were among the 20 Grand Prix show jumping veterans to donate private training sessions that were offered in a silent auction! And Stransky and her daughter Daniela, who always donates a portion of all her equestrian winnings to charity, gifted the visiting Haitian riders with brand new approved helmets

It has been found that through riding and taking care of horses, challenged children are given a sense of normalcy, pride and independence. Parents and teachers alike have been delighted to see youngsters who are paralyzed feel movement, and those with mental disabilities thrive around horses. The results of riding, and caring for these beautiful, gentle creatures, has proven to help challenged children learn behavioral skills such as patience, communication, and the ability to show affection.



The next thing on Tschudi schedule is that she has arranged for two riders from Vinceremos to accompany two Haitian riders to the German Friendship Show this July. The riders will travel to Germany and ride in the show, hosted by the German Association for Disabled Riders.

Sponsors: The Step by Step Foundation, Sales of Broward, Denver Inc., Palm Beach International Equestrian Center and the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center.









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