JustWorld Amateur Ambassador Philip Richter guided Glasgow to victory in the $15,000 Cavalor Show Jumping Hall of Fame Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic at the 2009 Devon Horse Show. Photo Credit - Kenneth Kraus, PhelpsSports.com
JustWorld Ambassador Erynn Ballard of Canada won the $10,000 Hit and Hurry Open Jumper competition with Simply Ahorn at the 2009 Devon Horse Show. Photo Credit - Kenneth Kraus, PhelpsSports.com

June 3, 2009 – Devon, Pennsylvania – Four JustWorld International Rider Ambassadors dominated their respective divisions at the 2009 Devon Horse Show and Country Fair held from May 21-31, 2009, in Devon, PA. JustWorld International is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged children in the developing world.

Professional Rider Ambassador Erynn Ballard of Canada guided Simply Ahorn, an eight-year-old Canadian-bred gelding owned by Olivia Mickus, to victory in the $10,000 Hit and Hurry Open Jumper class. Structured differently than a typical show jumping class, riders in the Hit and Hurry division receive two points for every obstacle they successful jump. Three riders managed to accumulate 28 points, but Ballard emerged victorious after completing the course in the fastest time.

In one of the most exciting classes of the two-week long competition, Philip Richter of Bedford, NY, dominated the $15,000 Cavalor Show Jumping Hall of Fame Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic riding Glasgow. Richter, who is President and Chief Operating Operator of Hollow Brook, LLC, and Glasgow completed the jump-off more than four seconds faster than the second placed rider. Richter’s quick time not only secured him victory in the class, but also earned him enough points to win the Amateur-Owner Jumper Championship.

In the Junior division, 14-year-old Reed Kessler of Armonk, NY, rode Ice d’Ancoeur to victory in the $15,000 Cavalor Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior Jumper Classic. At the end of the weekend, Kessler was named the Junior Jumper Champion and was awarded the Mike Mullen Junior Jumper Trophy for the second year in a row.

Another Junior Rider Ambassador, Brianne Link of East Islip, NY, also enjoyed great success. Riding Tallyman, Link was runner-up in both of her classes to claim the Pony Jumper High Score Award Reserve Championship title. At only 10 years of age, Link is the youngest JustWorld Ambassador, but she has already shown her dedication to the cause. In 2008, she raised $2,000 for the JustWorld project site in Cambodia and, this year, she donated $1,500 during her April visit to JustWorld’s newest project site in Guatemala.

Despite their numerous successes in the show ring, winning championship titles isn’t the only thing that is important in the eyes of the Rider Ambassadors. They also look at the bigger picture and determine how they can use their success to further JustWorld’s mission of helping underprivileged children in developing nations. All four Rider Ambassadors who enjoyed success at Devon donate a portion of their prize money to JustWorld International.

“The horse business tends to be quite insular and focused on itself,” said Richter, 39, who, in addition to giving an annual donation, donates 50% of all prize money earned to JustWorld. “We are all so programmed to move from show to show, gathering as many points as we can to get to our final destination of the World Cup Final or the Olympics that we tend to lose track of the smaller picture. JustWorld International has put a positive fracture in this routine, and Jessica has done a fantastic job infiltrating high profile riders and attracting a lot of positive attention to the equestrian community.”

Founded in 2002, JustWorld International raises awareness and funds in the equestrian community to support humanitarian projects that benefit impoverished communities and children in the developing world. Cooperating with local partners, JustWorld International implements sustainable, culturally sensitive education, health and vocational projects. There are currently more than 190 Rider Ambassadors from 27 different countries, ranging from nine-year-old pony riders to Olympic medalists, who help bring attention to JustWorld International’s cause. For more information on JustWorld International, please visit www.justworldinternational.org.