Olympic Bronze Medal U.S Dressage Team to Be Honored; Watch Top Dressage Horses and Riders Compete in U.S. Open Dressage, Presented by The Axel Johnson Group!

For Immediate Release

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

September 10, 2016 – New York, NY – The Rolex Central Park Horse Show (RCPHS) is pleased to welcome back top dressage riders to Wollman Rink for competition in the U.S. Open Dressage, presented by The Axel Johnson Group, on Friday, September 23, and Saturday, September 24. In a very special appearance, Olympic gold medalists Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro will perform a freestyle demonstration on Saturday evening. On Friday evening, the U.S. Dressage Team, which won the bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games, will be honored in a ceremony to celebrate their accomplishment.

The Rolex Central Park Horse Show runs September 21-25, 2016, in Wollman Rink in New York City’s Central Park. Don’t miss the opportunity to see these dressage horses and riders perform – buy your tickets HERE today!

Dressage superstars Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro

Dressage superstars Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro

“We can’t wait to see Charlotte and Valegro perform under the New York City skyline at the Rolex Central Park Horse Show,” said International Equestrian Group CEO Mark Bellissimo. “They have millions of fans around the world, and our spectators will not be disappointed by seeing this stunning pair in action in the world’s greatest city.”

Global superstars Charlotte Dujardin OBE of Great Britain and her incredible partner Valegro will perform a freestyle test for spectators and fans of horse sport on Saturday evening. This may be the last chance to see this dynamic duo perform live together in the United States.

At their home Olympic Games in London, Dujardin and Valegro captured the team and individual gold medals. This past month, they repeated their individual gold medal performance at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and helped Great Britain to a team silver medal.

The pair has won a silver, a bronze, and five gold medals at the European Championships, won two individual gold and team silver medals at the FEI World Equestrian Games, won the FEI World Cup Finals twice, and landed the FEI World Individual Dressage Ranking number one spot.

The dressage arena in Wollman Rink at the Rolex Central Park Horse Show.  Photo copyright Meg Banks.

The dressage arena in Wollman Rink at the Rolex Central Park Horse Show.
Photo copyright Meg Banks.

Top dressage combinations will be competing in the U.S. Open Dressage, presented by The Axel Johnson Group. On Friday at 1:30 p.m. is the U.S. Open Dressage CDI Grand Prix, and on Saturday evening is the $50,000 U.S. Open Dressage CDI Freestyle.

On Friday evening during the NBC Sports Network broadcast of the $216,000 FEI Grand Prix CSI 3*, presented by Rolex, there will be a commemorative ceremony to celebrate the bronze medal achievement of the U.S. Dressage Team at the 2016 Olympic Games for team members Steffen Peters, Laura Graves, Allison Brock, and Kasey Perry-Glass, along with Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover.

“We want to honor the U.S. Dressage Team and help promote the sport of Dressage in the United States,” said Bellissimo. “Antonia Johnson and Fritz and Claudine Kundrun have been huge supporters of Dressage in this country, and this event, and we are hopeful that we can showcase these great horses and riders in this world-renowned destination. We appreciate and value their support.”

Dressage sponsor, The Axel Johnson Group, is well known in the dressage world through Antonia Axson Johnson, Chairman and Owner of The Axel Johnson Group, who is a long-time supporter of equestrian sport. The Axel Johnson Group is a fifth generation family business that employs more than 20,000 people around the world. Equestrian sport has been a family passion and legacy for Johnson for more than 100 years.

Seven-time Olympian Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven and Paridon Magi finished second in the U.S. Open Dressage Freestyle, presented by The Axel Johnson Group, at the 2015 RCPHS. Shown here with owner Antonia Ax:son Johnson and Mark and Katherine Bellissimo. Photo copyright Meg Banks.

Seven-time Olympian Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven and Paridon Magi finished second in the U.S. Open Dressage Freestyle, presented by The Axel Johnson Group, at the 2015 RCPHS. Shown here with owner Antonia Ax:son Johnson and Mark and Katherine Bellissimo. Photo copyright Meg Banks.

Riders expected to compete include:

Seven-time Olympian Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén (SWE)

Olympian Judy Reynolds (IRL)

Olympian Evi Strasser (CAN)

Olympian Inna Logutenkova (UKR)

World Equestrian Games competitor Mikala Gundersen (DEN)

World Equestrian Games competitor Karen Pavicic (CAN)

Pan American Games team silver medalist Brittany Fraser (CAN)

FEI World Cup Final competitor Charlotte Jorst (USA)

And more!

Don’t miss seeing Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, plus the U.S. Dressage Team and top dressage horses and riders at the Rolex Central Park Horse Show. Tickets are selling fast! To get yours, go to http://bit.ly/29LwkkD.

The official hotel of the Rolex Central Park Horse Show is the JW Marriot Essex House! Book your room now at the following link: http://bit.ly/1qV3FBt. In the “Please Select Guest Type” box, select “Attendee” when making a reservation.

The complete schedule of the 2016 Rolex Central Park Horse Show is as follows:

Wednesday, September 21st:

U.S. Open Arabian Horse Show

Gate opens at 6:00pm. Show begins at 6:30pm. $50 per ticket

Thursday, September 22nd: Canadian Pacific Day

U.S. Open $25,000 Under 25 FEI Grand Prix 6:30pm, followed by the exciting

U.S. Open $40,000 FEI Speed Class at 8:00pm, concluding with

Puissance at 9:00pm.

Ticket includes all 3 events

Gate opens at 6:00pm. Show begins at 6:30pm. $125 per ticket

Friday, September 23rd:

U.S. Open CDI Dressage Grand Prix, presented by The Axel Johnson Group

Gate opens at 1:00pm. Show begins at 1:30pm. $50 per ticket

Friday, September 23rd:

Special Performance by Frederik the Great: The World’s Most Handsome Horse

Junior/Amateur 1.20m Class at 6:30pm, followed by the thrilling

U.S. Open $216,000 FEI Grand Prix CSI 3*, presented by Rolex

Ticket includes both events

Gate opens at 6:00pm. Show begins at 6:30pm. $125 per ticket

Saturday, September 24th:

U.S. Open $50,000 Hunters Duchossois Cup

$1,000 Small/Medium Pony Hunter Class and the

$2,500 Junior/Amateur and Professional Classes

Gate opens at 1:00pm. Show begins at 1:30pm. $50 per ticket

Saturday, September 24th:

Special Performance by Frederik the Great: The World’s Most Handsome Horse

Ceremony for the U.S. Dressage Team, Olympic Bronze Medalists

Special Freestyle Demonstration by Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro

U.S. Open $50,000 CDI Dressage Freestyle, presented by The Axel Johnson Group

Gate opens at 6:00pm. Show begins at 6:30pm. $125 per ticket

Sunday, September 25th:

Family Day. Free General Admission.

Pony rides, face painting, Arabian Horse presentation, equestrian

demonstrations, and More!

Gate opens 12:00pm-3:00pm.

A portion of ticket sales will benefit a lengthy list of New York, as well as equestrian based, charities.

Seating is limited and the demand for tickets is expected to be high.

All seats have unobstructed views.

All ticket sales are final, non-transferable; no refunds and no exchanges.

Gates open 30 minutes prior to start of event.

All prices listed above exclude tax and fees.

For Reserved Seating questions, please contact 1-844-319-CPHS (2747) or email cphs.tickets@img.com.

For VIP Table Sales, please contact vip@centralparkhorseshow.com.

For questions on rider participation, please contact acaroline@centralparkhorseshow.com.

  

About Rolex Central Park Horse Show
Launched in September 2014, Rolex Central Park Horse Show is the first-ever outdoor, multi-day equestrian sporting event in New York City, showcasing some of the best show jumpers and dressage riders in the world as they vie for top prizes against a backdrop of skyscrapers in one of the world’s most iconic venues. As the event founder, Mark Bellissimo is the CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions and International Equestrian Group LLC; Managing Partner of Wellington Equestrian Partners (WEF), Tryon Equestrian Partners and Colorado Equestrian Partners; and Publisher of The Chronicle of The Horse magazine. The Rolex Central Park Horse Show will feature five days of multi-discipline equestrian sport and performances, ranging from Arabians and Dressage to Hunters and Show Jumping. The Rolex Central Park Horse Show will also host the second annual U.S. Open in the following categories: Jumpers; Dressage; Hunters; U25 Jumpers; and Arabians. For more information, visit  www.centralparkhorseshow.com or Facebook at www.facebook.com/CPhorseshow and follow @cphorseshow on Twitter and Instagram.

Photos may be used only in relation to this press release.