Lexington, KY (May 1, 2014) – World Equestrian Brands are endorsed by some of the top eventing riders in the world, and this past weekend those riders strutted their stuff at one of the most prestigious events in North America in Lexington, Kentucky. Hawley Bennett-Awad, Buck Davidson, Alexandra Knowles, Kim Severson, and Allison Springer were among the impressive list of competitors to vie for top honors, and did so decked out in the finest tack and equipment from World Equestrian Brands.
World Equestrian Brands CEO Robin Moore extended “a final Rolex congratulations to Buck, Kim, Hawley, Allison, and Allie, who ride in Amerigo, Equilibrium, Mattes, and Vespucci products. We are so proud of you all, and love working with you, your horses, and your wonderful teams. We also congratulate Sinead Halpin, and William Fox-Pitt, who both endorse Equilibrium Products! Thank you all for showing off our products so well!”
Veteran Buck Davidson Jr. of the United States finished 3rd overall on Ballynoe Castle RM and 12th overallon Park Trader. Currently ranked 3rd in the world, Davidson is also rode Ballynoe Castle RM for the US at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. He was the highest placed US rider at the 2013 and 2009 Rolex Kentucky CCI****, and was an Olympic alternate for the 2012 and 2008 games as well as a member of the 2011 Pan Am Games with Absolute Liberty.
Canadian eventer Hawley Bennett-Awad competed on Gin & Juice to finish 16th overall. The pair was recently named to the Canada National Eventing Team’s short list for the fifth consecutive year. She and Gin & Juice have been successful on the international scene, winning numerous top level events in England and France as well as an impressive history at Rolex. Bennett-Awad also represented Canada in the 2004 and 2012 Olympics, and won a Team Silver Medal at the Pan American Games in 2003.
Alexandra “Allie” Knowles of the United States competed on Last Call. In 2013, Allie competed at the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** event for the first time and received the highest score out of the American riders in the dressage phase. She and Fergie, as Last Call is known around the barn, have an impressive record, including finishing at the #2 ranked mare in 2010 and claiming multiple titles in 2011. They made their debut at Rolex in 2013, where they were the top finishing American pair following the dressage phase. In 2014 they finished second at the Intermediate division at Popular Place Farm, won the Advanced division at Rocking Horse Winter II HT, and placed 2nd at the Red Hills International CIC***.
United States’s Kim Severson competed on Fernhill Fearless to finish 11th overall. Severson is familiar with the spotlight at Rolex, having won the prestigious event in 2002, 2004, and 2005. In 2004 she won Team Bronze and Individual Silver medals at the Athens Olympics, and was named the FEI’s #1 rider in the world that year. She also has many top finishes in a variety of international caliber events, and represented the US at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. In 2012 she and Cooley Cross Border won the USEA Young Event Horse Championships, and in 2013 she was named to the USEF Winter/Spring Training list.
Eventer Allison Springer represented the United States at Rolex Kentucky on Arthur, and finished 24th overall. The pair received a winning score in the dressage portion of the competition. Springer has a history of earning top places in the Rolex Kentucky CCI****, and in 2013 was named to the USEF High Performance World Class Training List. She was an alternate to the United States Olympic Team in 2012.
World Equestrian Brands is proud to support such talented riders with the most technologically advanced and high performance tack on the market. “We are so proud to have these incredible riders riding in our tack, and to come along with them on their journey to the top echelons of the sport,” said Moore. “Eventing is such a taxing discipline and we are thrilled to provide riders around the world with the highest quality and best performing tack and equipment available.”
World Equestrian Brands, based in Buena Vista, Virginia, offers products from four top brands: Amerigo, Vespucci, E.A. Mattes, and Equilibrium. Products include performance saddles, bridles, girths, leg protection, saddle pads and therapy products.
Featured Photo: Allison Springer and Arthur. (Photo courtesy of Sherry Stewart)
Photo Above: Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice. (Photo courtesy of Sherry Stewart)
