Westport, CT - August 16, 2005. 41 Exhibitors competed at the $25,000 Grand Prix at the Fairfield County Hunt Club June Horse Show to benefit The EQUUS Foundation, Inc. on Saturday, June 25, 2005, in Westport, Connecticut. Battling it out at the end were Darragh Kerins aboard Hot Wheels owned by Miranda Fisher and Kent Farrington aboard Neo owned by the Gold Coast Group with Kerins claiming victory. Caitlyn Shiels on Memphis finished third.

Young Riders, some of who were competing in their first Grand Prix, vied against seasoned Grand Prix Riders, like Margie Engle, Federico Sztyrle, Scott Stewart, and Peter Lutz. Addison Phillips, who won the $10,000 Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumper Classic earlier in the week, Maggie McAlary, Natalie Johnson, and Jessica Speiser, were among the youngest riders.

Over 400 guests attended The EQUUS Foundation Benefit Luncheon held in conjunction with the Grand Prix. The EQUUS Foundation recently awarded over $150,000 in grants to charitable organizations that promote the positive use of the horse for the benefit of the general public and the equestrian sport as a whole. Corporate sponsors included The Callari Auto Group, Wachovia Securities, Ralph Lauren, Fairfield Equine Associates, Russell Reynolds Associates, Monaco Government Tourist Office, The Hospital for Special Surgery, Taylor Harris Insurance Services, Balducci's of Westport, Conte's Market & Grill, Newhouse Financial & Insurance Brokers, and Tory's LLP.

The EQUUS Foundation also held the "Fete Cheval Florida", a fun-filled unique evening of equestrian revelry at the 2005 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, to raise funds. Plans are already underway for the 2nd Fete Cheval on February 11, 2006.

"We are extremely grateful to the hundreds of individuals and organizations that donated to EQUUS in 2005", said Lynn Coakley, President, The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., "In just three years, we have awarded over $350,000 in grants and have helped thousands of horses and people."

About The EQUUS Foundation, Inc.

The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., established in August 2002, operates on an all-volunteer basis without paid staff, and is a federally tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) charitable organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

The deadline for grant requests for 2006 has been extended to October 1, 2005. Grant recipients are selected in the in the late fall of each year, with grants awarded in August. .

Grant recipients include charities that benefit the public using horses to help people therapeutically and recreationally, especially children, with life threatening illnesses, physical and emotional handicaps, and children "at risk" of succumbing to a life of violence. Other recipients promote the health and welfare of our most treasured partners through rescue and rehabilitation as well as veterinary research. EQUUS also supports charities that benefit the equestrian sport by offering scholarships and grants to support the competition, training, and educational needs of equestrians.

The 2005 Grant Recipients include:

ASPCA Equine Fund, New York City, NY
$5,000. Rescue & care of Premarin Foals

Bridgeport Police Mounted Unit, Bridgeport, CT
$3,000. Health & welfare of Bridgeport Police Mounted Unit horses.

City Slickers, Inc., Wolcott, CT
$8,340. After school and summer programs for "at risk" youngsters in inner city & suburban Hartford.

Dressage4Kids, Inc., Bedford, NY
$5,800. Scholarships to encourage children to become true horsemen with correct position, competitive skills, & knowledge of all aspects of riding & horse care.

Equestrian Aids Foundation, Flemington, NJ $5,300.Support for individuals in the equestrian community afflicted with HIV or AIDS.

Equine Orthopaedic Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO $10,000. Improvement of the orthopaedic health of horses through investigation in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment & prevention of musculoskeletal disease.

Green Chimneys Children's Services & School, Brewster, NY $16,700. Treatment & schooling of emotionally troubled at risk youth in New York & Connecticut through its Therapeutic Riding Program and Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy Program.

High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc., Old Lyme, CT $11,000. Therapeutic riding & related equine facilitated programs to individuals of all ages who face physical, behavioral & developmental challenges.

The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, Inc. , Ashford, CT $15,100. A horseback riding program for children who have a life-threatening illness.

Horses in the Hood , Tarzana, CA $6,300. A five-day horse camp for at-risk children from Los Angeles' Watts community

H.O.R.S.E of Connecticut, Inc., Washington, CT $5,150. Rescue & rehabilitation of abused horses.

Intercollegiate Equestrian Foundation, Inc., Fairfield, CT $10,765. Scholarships for students participating in collegiate equestrian activities & equine programs.

Living Bridges International, Inc., Glenyeare Equestrian Program, Lumberton, NJ $7,100. Building of confidence & self-esteem in children in New Jersey through the care & training of horses.

New Canaan Mounted Troop, Inc., New Canaan, CT $7,790. Scholarships for children in need in the surrounding communities to build leadership, management skills, responsibility, & to develop personal character through sound horsemanship.

Pegasus Therapeutic Riding, Inc., Stamford, CT $9,100. Therapeutic horseback riding for individuals of all ages with physical, mental & emotional disabilities in eight barns in Connecticut & New York.

R. W. Mutch Foundation, Inc., Saddle River, NJ & Wellington, FL $5,800. Scholarships to recipients who best reflect the personal qualities & horsemanship abilities of the late Ronnie Mutch.

United States Equestrian Federation, Lexington, KY $2,825. Emerson Burr Horsemanship Awards Program to promote & perpetuate good horsemanship in young equestrians.

United States Equestrian Team Foundation, Inc., Gladstone, NJ $10,055. Support for the competition, training, coaching, travel & educational needs of America's elite & developing International High Performance horses & athletes.

We Will Ride Therapeutic Riding, Inc. , Cross River, NY $5,775. Therapeutic horseback riding & other equine-related activities in the Connecticut/New York area to people with disabilities.

For additional information on The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., visit the website, www.equusfoundation.org or contact EQUUS at (203) 259-1550 or at equusfoundation@aol.com .

The objective of Phelps Media Group, Inc.'s customized promotional plan for each client is to gain coverage in print, broadcast and televised media outlets. By delivering consistent international media attention to the people and events it represents, PMG creates public awareness of the client's message as well as a positive and recognizable image for the client. PMG's ultimate mission is to assure success for its clients' endeavors with the public.

Phelps Media Group, Inc. (PMG), based in Wellington, Florida, is a public relations firm primarily focused on promoting events and people in the equestrian world. For more information, contact the company at: Phelps Media Group, Inc., 13833 Wellington Trace, Unit E-4, #221, Wellington, Florida 33414, or telephone (561) 753-3389 or Emailto:pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com or visit www.phelpsmediagroup.com