CONGRATULATIONS
Team Gardy Bloemers, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Winners of the 2019 Challenge of the Americas

We did it! All of us . . . and it was bigger, better and even more spectacular than ever. The quadrille teams stepped up their performances (if that’s even possible) and put on a show that thrilled the 500 VIP guests and the sold-out General Admission grandsstands packed to capacity with an enthusiastic and constantly clapping audience.

If you weren’t able to attend personally, we hope you enjoyed the amazing live stream provided by Chronicle TV. The Spectator Judging App, sponsored by IDA Development, was a great success with spectators from around the world voting for their favorite teams.

During the pre-event exhibitions, we enjoyed the upbeat music and jumping quadrille performed beautifully by the first family of jumping, Miller Brooke Farm, with riders Charlotte McLaughlin, Amy Millar, Jonathon Millar and Kelly Soleau-Millar. And we laughed at the delightful skit by Shining Moments, performed by Jordan Osborne and Londyn Pachota, participants in Lendon Gray’s Winter Intensive Training program. That pony really had all the moves and Tigger Montague and Pati Pierucci were hilarious commentators.

Thank you to the Challenge team sponsors: Hylofit, Purina, Gardy Bloemers, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, MatchNRide, and Winged Foot Enterprises. You make it possible for us to continue our fight against breast cancer.

Thanks to Cunningham & Cunningham Livestock Insurance for protecting the COTA benefit with the best insurance coverage possible, and to our media partner, the United States Dressage Federation, for partnering with us to spread the word. BioStarUS and its owner, Tigger Montague, went above and beyond to make the evening a rousing success and Back on Track came through again as a valued supporter.

We are so grateful to the Pink Patrons IDA Farm, Florida Atlantic University Schmidt College of Medicine, Larks Home Run and Oak Meadows Farm. Thank you Partners for P.I.N.K.: AmFund, EquiJet, Summit Performance, Susan J. Stickle Photography, The Horse Of Course, The Tackeria and Van Dell Jewelers.

The COTA Committee was in overdrive for months before the event to ensure a fabulous evening. Thank you Paula Beauchesne, Sophie Ghedin Eileen Johnston, Terri Kane, Ilona Klimek, Randy Leoni, Mary Ross, Alex Rozboril, Elizabeth Stauber-Johnson , Cathy Tarantini, , Patti Thompson, Sue Weakley, Barbara Wolff, Kim York and Lily Zilo, And we must not forget the volunteers, a special group of individuals who provided invaluable assistance by keeping on-site operations running smoothly throughout the evening’s festivities.

And how about those riders? These accomplished athletes gave their all. For two months, each team of riders met every week without fail to practice their routines. Together with the talented choreographers and coaches, they developed, planned and perfected their fabulous performances.