Wellington, FL ­- January 28, 2013 –The opportunity to show on the luxurious grass fields of Mida Farm is one that hasn’t presented itself in over 10 years. Now for the second time in two weeks, Mida Farm will open its “Topps Field” to top riders, juniors and amateurs alike for the fourth week of The Ridge at Wellington’s $175,000 1.40m Invitational Grand Prix series.

The first three weeks of the of the series have attracted riders known around the world, including Kevin Babington, Lauren Hough, Laura Kraut, Andres Rodriguez, Candice King, Todd Minikus, McLain Ward, Peter Wylde and numerous others. The Grand Prix series has provided these riders with the unique opportunity to compete in an entirely new venue and many have rave

reviews.

McLain Ward and Coco 135

“There’s a pleasant atmosphere; they’re very accommodating; it was easy for us to just go over and enter the show and ride in the class, and Nona [Garson] and George [D’Ambrosio] were very welcoming,” Peter Wylde shared. “The whole experience was just very pleasurable.”

 

Wylde finished second in last week’s class aboard Zidane, coming in behind McLain Ward who soared through the course at Topps Field aboard his mount Coco 135. The field offered not only a gorgeous landscape and a change in scenery, but also the chance to compete on the grass, which Wylde said is extremely beneficial for future derby courses.

“The footing was good. We were one of the last ones to go, and believe me, I’ve ridden on a lot worse,” Wylde said. “I was able to go very fast, and I didn’t slip.”

 

Peter Wylde and Zidane

 

Thanks to the positive experiences in the first weeks of this inaugural series, Wylde and various other competitors plan to keep coming back for several of the remaining seven weeks of competition, which culminate in the $24,750 Ridge at Wellington Invitational Grand Prix Finale on March 23, 2013.

 

With $15,000 up for grabs each week and a unique, convenient format, the show is an ideal complement to the Winter Equestrian Festival. The course opens at 8 am and remains open until 4:30 pm; during that time riders can venture to Mida, walk the course and compete at their own convenience. To further aid in convenience, The Ridge at Wellington will shuttle horses from Mische Way to the farm with the assistance of a professional driver. The shuttle will run every two hours, beginning at 7:30 am. To make reservations for the shuttle please call The Ridge at Wellington at 561-791-1471.

 

Riders are encouraged to get their entries in as soon as possible to ensure that they get the time that they desire and avoid post entry fees.


George D’Ambrosio, Victoria McCullough and Nona Garson

Photo Credit: (1) McLain Ward and Coco 135 (2) Peter Wylde and Zidane (3) George D’Ambrosio, Victoria McCullough and Nona Garson. All photos by Kendall Bierer/Phelps Media Group. These photographs may only be used in relation to this Phelps Media Group press release.

The Ridge still has available sponsorships for the Invitational Series. For more information, call (908) 500-0996 or download information at http://www.theridgefarm.com.

Sponsorships are available for the $25,000 Finale, $15,000 Weekly Grand Prix, $2,000 Weekly Hospitality Tent, $750 Ring Banner for the series, and $500 Weekly Class Presenter.