DARIEN, CT – June 12, 2002 – Chris Kappler of Pittstown, NJ, piloted Stuart, owned by Amy Van Houten of Chatham, NJ, to win the Reuters $1000 Preliminary Jumper Class at the 73rd annual Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show in Darien, CT. There were 55 entries in the class and 21 in the jump-off.

Kappler was named USET Athlete of the Month in February 2002 following his string of top-ranked rides during the Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival in West Palm Beach, FL.

Finishing in second place was McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, riding his mount, Stclair. Ward won the 2001 Ox Ridge Grand Prix and will be defending his title this year.

The highlight of the Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show is the $35,000 Ox Ridge Grand Prix which will be held on Sunday, June 16 at 1:00 pm. The Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show is one of the nation’s most prestigious competitions, drawing approximately 1300 horses this year.

Several Olympians are at the Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show this year including Nona Garson of Lebanon, NJ who rode on the 2000 Sydney Olympic team and Peter Leone of Greenwich, CT, who rode in the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996 and helped the U.S. win the team Silver Medal.

Sponsors of the 2002 Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show include Beval LTD, Brooks Community Newspapers, C. L. Adams, Der Dau, Great Horse Designs, House of Needlepoint, Indo-Chic Imports, KOOL 96.7 FM, Lucky Lawn, Inc., Pharmacia Animal Health, Reuters, Scudder Private Investment Counsel and Watson Wyatt Worldwide.

Admission from June 12-15 is $5.00 per car. Admission on Grand Prix Sunday, June 16, is $8.00 per adult and $5.00 for Senior Citizens and children over 5 years old. For additional information, please call the Horse Show press office at (203) 655-3472.