In 2000, Ward rode four horses in the Garden State Grand Prix, so it's likely he'll have some new faces vying for this year's title. One of his more recent winners is Crazy U, the horse who carried him to victory in a $25,000 Ariat Challenge Cup Grand Prix on the Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival Circuit (FL) in February. So there's no telling which of Ward's top contenders could jump to the top this year.

Other top events on the Garden State Horse Show schedule include the $15,000 Junior Amateur-Owner Jumper Division, a member event of the NHSF Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series, and Marshall & Sterling Children 's & Adult League, presented by Corona-Lexol. When a break from show ring action is in order, the Country Fair offers numerous shopping and dining opportunities.

The Garden State Horse Show is New Jersey's largest hunter/jumper show and is rated 'AA' by the American Horse Shows Association (AHSA). As one of the largest shows of its kind in the country, the Garden State Horse Show attracts the nation's best riders, including U.S. Equestrian Team and Olympic veterans such as New Jersey natives Peter Leone and Nona Garson.

The show runs daily from 8:00 a.m. until about 6:00 p.m. and features six rings of exciting equestrian competition.

Many generous sponsors have enlisted their help to make The Garden State Horse Show one of the best in the country. These patrons include: Kistler Buildings, Grand Meadows Nutritional Products, New Jersey Savvy Living Magazine, Agway, Brandy Parfums, Ltd., SmartPak Equine, Today's Horse, Show Circuit Magazine, Hickory Hollow Farm, The Duva Family, First Hope Bank, Dean Edwards, The Kamine Family, Equus Entries, Vested Title, Inc., MacDan Aviation, Stillwell Hansen, The Ridge, Reflections of Killington, Tack Box and Millers Harness Co., New Jersey Horse Shows Association, Productions East, and Grand Prix Ring Banner Sponsor Asian Tique.

In 2001, some of the nation's most highly regarded judges will preside over the action. "We are thrilled to be able to offer our competitors some of the finest officials in the United States," said George Uniss, Co-Chairman of the Garden State Horse Show.

Judging the jumper divisions will be Ralph A. Alfano III of Lebanon, PA; Diane Braun of Belvidere, NJ; James Zulia of Altoona, FL; and local official Dr. Robert C. Rost of Branchville, NJ. Rost has been associated with the Garden State Horse Show as a board member and official for many years. He received the American Horse Shows Association's Devereaux Award for exemplary service to the horse show industry in 1989 and was inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 1994.

In the hunter and equitation rings, Braun and Zulia will be scoring, along with Robert S. Bielefeld of Ithaca, NY and Leslie Tauber of Wayland, MA.

Admission to the Garden State Horse Show is $10.00 per carload on Saturday and is free on all other days of the week.

Megan B. Schermerhorn
Classic Communications
38 Mechanic Street
Foxboro, MA 02035
Ph# 508-698-6810
Fax# 508-698-6811