Thoroughbreds Compete For CANTER At Wicomico Equestrian Center

The elegance and power of Thoroughbred horses shine on Saturday, April 6 at the first all-Thoroughbred “Racing to Ribbons” Thoroughbred Festival at Wicomico Equestrian Center. The show benefits CANTER, the Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses.
The horses (and riders) will compete in over 40 classes with as much variety as a horse show can offer – lead-line with children under seven years old being led around the ring, jump courses demanding power and precision, the elegance of dressage, and the it’s-a-lot-more-than-just-sitting-on-the-horse equitation classes.
All of the horses are Thoroughbreds, the breed best known for competing in the Triple Crown of racing. Finding homes and second careers for off-the-track Thoroughbreds is a challenge for the industry and breeders. CANTER is an organization devoted to helping solve the problem by showing the horses’ talents in other riding activities and arranging for adoption and sale of Thoroughbreds to new owners and new homes.
According to show manager Tami Tritapoe, the level of support from the businesses – most of which are not horse-related – has been exceptional. “We have some amazing people and businesses supporting out endeavor to help TB ex-racers. I can’t express the gratitude I feel for the financial backing and also for the room full of cool stuff folks have generously offered for prizes and raffles.”
The premier local sponsor is Sherwood Auto Group, which donated $1,000 prize money for the Hunter Derby, a challenging jumping competition. A partial list of other supporters includes Farmers & Planters, Hebron Savings Bank, Layfield Veterinary Services, Market Street Inn, Panera Bread, Dellwood Trailer Sales, Expert Collision Repair, McIntyre and Parks Custom Bulders, Chesapeake Landscaping, Chick’s Farm & Feed, and Diane Bloxam’s WinAway Farm.
The Thoroughbred Festival kicks off the show season at the Wicomico Equestrian Center at Winterplace Park in Salisbury. Ten horse shows are currently planned between April and September. These include shows featuring Paint Horses, Western riding, dressage, and hunter/jumper competitions. A former horse farm and training center, the Equestrian Center is known for its exceptional show areas, with large sand arenas, jump fields, and grass show arenas.
Competition at the Thoroughbred Festival begins at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 6. Classes and competition will occur simultaneously in several show rings at the Center. Spectators are welcome, free of charge. For more information about the “Racing to Ribbons” Thoroughbred Festival, visit the Festival’s Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/TFAWP. For more information about CANTER, visit their website: http://www.canterusa.org/. For more information about the Wicomico Equestrian center, including the schedule for the summer horse shows, visit http://www.wicomicoequestriancenter.org