Young equestrians and their parents from across the country are champing at the bit for the second annual Pony Derby Classic, a day-long competition followed by an exclusive gala benefiting Give a Buck for Special Equestrians, a Wellington-based nonprofit enabling children and veterans with special needs to experience “horsepower” that heals.
The competitive horse show kicks off Friday, March 11 at 8 a.m. at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center Stadium (13500 South Shore Blvd., Wellington) with riders vying for $5,000 in prizes for the small, medium and large divisions. The festivities will culminate that evening in the Pony Derby Classic Gala, with this year’s theme “An Enchanted Evening in Neverland.” Held in the gallery above the main ring, guests will enjoy an evening of dining, dancing, live entertainment and the chance to bid on an assortment of silent and live auction items.
“I am so grateful to our title sponsor, Baxter Hill; Connecticut-based Back Country Farm as the small pony division sponsor; Connecticut-based Peacock Ridge as the medium pony division sponsor; Ponies & Palms Show Stable as the large pony division sponsor; as well as Georgia-based Collecting Gaits Farm, our lunch sponsor,” said Sissy DeMaria, the founder of Give a Buck and event co-chair. “Thanks to their generosity, we are able to further our mission of providing much-needed financial assistance to our partner programs so they can continue making a profound impact on the lives of thousands of children and our veterans who are most in need of this life-changing equine therapy.”
Give a Buck for Special Equestrians, an all-volunteer organization, is a nonprofit founded in 2013. Give a Buck raises funds by asking horse owners to give “as little as a buck or as much as they can” with each month’s board payment. Give a Buck also raises money through merchandise sales at area tack stores and at horse shows.
All proceeds will benefit Give a Buck for Special Equestrians’ mission to provide its partner therapeutic riding programs in Florida and North Carolina, which includes the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center.
For tickets and more information, call Tara Bieling at (239) 200-2230.
