ASPCA Hosts Fourth Annual Adoption Event for Local Rescued Animals at Hampton Classic Horse

NEW YORK—For the seventh consecutive year, the ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) is partnering with the Hampton Classic Horse Show, held in Bridgehampton, N.Y., from Sunday, August 25 to Sunday, September 1, 2013.  

On Monday, August 26, the ASPCA will host the Fourth Annual ASPCA Adoption and Animal Welfare Day at the Classic, focusing on helping rescued, horses, dogs, cats, and pigs find permanent homes. Seven local animal shelters and rescue groups will have animals on site throughout the day, including two former wild mustangs who serve as ambassadors for wild horses. Celebrity hosts include NBC’s Award Winning Animal Advocate and Bestselling Author, Jill Rappaport, as well as ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassadors and top international riders Georgina Bloomberg and Brianne Goutal. 

“We are excited to showcase the ASPCA’s history of horse protection and spread the word about how to help at-risk animals at the Hampton Classic,” said Valerie Angeli, senior director of equine and special projects for the ASPCA. “Our ASPCA Maclay Medal celebrates the tradition of excellence in humane and responsible horsemanship and our work at the Hampton Classic provides a wonderful opportunity to educate the community as well as find permanent homes for animals in need."  

Other highlights during the week-long event include the ASPCA “Voices for Horses” Equine Welfare Reception and expert panel discussion, which takes place on Thursday, August 29. ASPCA supporters and Equine Welfare Ambassadors, Georgina Bloomberg and Jill Rappaport, actress Aida Turturro, and Prince Lorenzo Borghese will join ASPCA experts and others to discuss many critical issues impacting horses today, including horse slaughter, homelessness and neglect, and inspire attendees to help make a difference. 

Visiting celebrities and top riders, including ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassadors Georgina Bloomberg and Brianne Goutal will join us throughout the week at the “ASPCA Patio and Animal Advocacy Station” located near the VIP parking and across from the public grandstand of the Grand Prix Ring (please see schedule below).  

“I am proud to serve as an ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassador, and I am thrilled to take part in the ASPCA’s activities at the Hampton Classic again this year,” said Ms. Bloomberg. “The ASPCA was the first humane organization in the country to promote equine welfare and protection, a mission it continues to this day through advocacy, grant funding to horse rescue groups, and field investigations. This world-class horse show provides a great opportunity for the equine community and spectators of the show to join the ASPCA and serve as a voice for these noble animals.”

The presentation of the ASPCA Maclay Award at the Classic will take place on Friday, August 30. The ASPCA Maclay Championship was established in 1933 by former ASPCA board member Alfred B. Maclay to encourage junior riders to excel in the art of responsible and humane horsemanship. It is a highly coveted award in the U.S. for junior riders under 18 years of age.

From August 1 through September 30th the ASPCA, the Hampton Classic Horse Show and Neptune Feed will also be collecting donations for the ASPCA “Hay It Forward” Project, which is designed to raise awareness of equine welfare issues while providing much needed feed and supplies to local equine rescue organizations. This is a supplemental program to the ASPCA’s existing Hay Bale Out grants program, which helps feed hungry horses across the United States. To make a donation to the ASPCA “Hay It Forward” Project, please visit the ASPCA Patio or Hampton Classic Feed Store office during the show, or contact Neptune Feed at (631) 369-0965.

For more information on the Hampton Classic, please visit www.aspca.org/horse or www.hamptonclassic.com. 

 
Schedule of ASPCA Events/Expert Appearances at the 38th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show
 

Sunday, August 25: Book Signing – at the ASPCA Patio

• 11 a.m.-2 p.m. – Book signing with Jayne M. Silberman, author of In the Herd: A Photographic Journey with the Chincoteague Ponies and Assateague Horses, with proceeds from the sale of the book benefiting the ASPCA Equine Fund.

Monday, August 26: Fourth Annual ASPCA Adoption and Animal Welfare Day

• 11 a.m.–3 p.m. – The Fourth Annual ASPCA Adoption Day at the Hampton Classic will feature local dog, cat, pig, and horse rescue groups with animals available for adoption. The event will feature VIP hosts Jill Rappaport, NBC’s award-winning animal advocate and bestselling author, along with ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassadors Georgina Bloomberg and Brianne Goutal.
   
• Participating dog and cat rescue groups include: The Little Shelter Animal Rescue and Adoption Center; Southampton Animal Shelter; Gimme Shelter; ARF Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons; and Pigs4Me. Adoptable dogs, cats, and pigs will be available in the Kids/Exhibition area across from the ASPCA Patio and Animal Advocacy Station.
   
• Participating horse rescue groups include Kaeli Kramer Foundation and Project Sage Horse Rescue. There will be a live, interactive program with adoptable horses and horse rescue groups in the Aspinall Ring from 12 p.m.–2 p.m.; guests can meet Jill Rappaport, Georgina Bloomberg and international VIP rider Brianne Goutal and take a tour of the state of the art Heart Horse Ambulance – a modern day version of the ambulance invented for injured horses by the ASPCA in 1867. 

Tuesday, August 27 and Wednesday, August 28:

• Please visit the ASPCA Patio and Animal Advocacy Station for schedule information.

Thursday, August 29: ASPCA “Voices for Horses” Equine Welfare Reception and Expert Panel Discussion– “THE Event for Those Who Care”

• 1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. (ASPCA Ringside Chalet, north of the Grand Prix Arena) Sponsored by Louis Roederer Champagne – The ASPCA will host the ‘Voices for Horses’ Equine Welfare Reception and expert  panel discussion, with celebrity attendees including actress Aida Turturro, Jill Rappaport, Prince Lorenzo Borghese, and ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassadors Georgina Bloomberg and Brianne Goutal. This event is by invitation only and space is limited. For information on how to obtain an invitation, please contact the ASPCA’s Valerie Angeli via email at [email protected]. 

Friday, August 30: ASPCA Maclay Award Presentation

• Late morning (Time/Ring TBD) – Local competition - ASPCA Maclay Award Presentation.

Saturday, August 31: Kid’s Day at the Hampton Classic

• Please visit the ASPCA Patio and Animal Advocacy Station for schedule information.

Sunday, September 1: Grand Prix Sunday

• Please visit the ASPCA Patio and Animal Advocacy Station for schedule information.

Throughout the Week:

• ASPCA VIP Rider’ lapel pins and ‘Horses on Sticks’ will be available at the ASPCA Patio and Animal Advocacy Station for a donation, with proceeds benefitting the ASPCA’s horse protection efforts.
   
• The ‘Jump for the ASPCA’ fundraiser, sponsored by FTI Consulting, will trigger a donation to the ASPCA each time a rider clears the ASPCA fence on the show grounds.
   
• Help save animal’s lives and Sign up for the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade at the ASPCA Patio and follow us on Twitter @ASPCA to be entered in a drawing to win a prize.
   
• The ASPCA, the Hampton Classic Horse Show, and Neptune Feed of Long Island, NY will collaborate to assist local equine rescue groups through the ASPCA Hay It Forward Project. To make a donation to the ASPCA Hay It Forward Project, please visit the Hampton Classic Feed Store office or the ASPCA Patio during the show, or contact Neptune Feed at (631) 369-0965.