United States Eventing Association

The Ocala Jockey Club (OJC) is pleased to announce that, as part of the Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event taking place November 15-18, one of the special events will be a Celebration of Women in Peak Performance Equestrian Sports Luncheon, held Friday, November 16 at the OJC Clubhouse. The featured speakers will be Gemma Tattersall, member of the British Eventing Team that won team gold at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), and Lynn Symansky, the second-highest placed U.S. rider at the WEG, competing on off-the-track Thoroughbred Donner. The luncheon will be moderated by Jen Roytz, Executive Director of the Retired Racehorse Project. Admission is included in VIP packages and for riders and officials at the event. Separate admission for the luncheon only may be purchased for $45/ticket.

Equestrian sports are the only Olympic sport where men and women compete equally. Women comprise a disproportionate percentage of amateur riders and a large percentage of riders in lower level competitive divisions. However, it still requires a special level of commitment and support for women equestrians to get to the top levels of their chosen sport and stay there. As Nina Gardner, an owner and supporter of top rider Jennie Brannigan and some of her competition horses, says, “Challenges don’t seem to be related to lack of interest or lack of talent, but at least partially due to challenges in financial and other support for women riders”. The luncheon will be a celebration of those women who have made the journey to the top successfully, as well as a discussion of the current process and support system for women riders to succeed at the highest levels. Come to get inspired and to discuss ideas to do even better!

The Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event includes four FEI level divisions of competition: CCI3*, CIC3*, CCI*, and CCI2*, each also including a Thoroughbred Eventing Champion division. The Event will start on Thursday, November 15 with dressage and continue into the weekend with show jumping and cross-country events. There will also be a Family Fall Festival with many activities for the whole family to enjoy, such as demonstrations, petting zoo, bounce house, kid jumping course by Jump 4 Joy USA, and other games. Event information and tickets are on the event website at www.OJC3de.com.

The venue, the Ocala Jockey Club, is a crown jewel in Ocala, the winter and year-round horse destination for many disciplines. Ocala Jockey Club features a 924-acre Thoroughbred and eventing training and conditioning paradise. Venue information is at www.OcalaJC.com.