Shawn Casady Rides Piece of Art to a Win in the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Medal
Equestrian News Release

Tampa, FL - March 27, 2009 - The 2009 Tampa Equestrian Festival's Tampa Bay Classic week continued with its third day of competition today at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center. The Tampa Bay Classic will continue through this Sunday, March 29, and will feature some of the nation's best horses and riders competing for top honors.

The ASCPA Maclay Horsemanship Medal kicked off mid-afternoon in the Jumper Annex with 14 horse and rider combinations competing over fences for the first round. The top pairs then showed under saddle for the final judging.

Following the flat phase it was 14 year-old Shawn Casady of Tennessee who took top honors in the class. Casady showed Don Stewart, Jr.'s horse Piece of Art and walked away with the blue ribbon. Later in the day Casady also placed third in the Pessoa USEF Hunter Seat Medal riding Piece of Art.

"Piece of Art is a great horse; she is a really easy ride and really easy to do these courses on," Casady commented after his win. "She has a big stride and she really takes you around the course. I thought it was a nice course today; it flowed nicely and was pretty open."

After competing on the large Florida show circuit throughout the winter, Casady appreciates the laid back atmosphere in Tampa. "This is a nice show and we love coming here," Casady stated. "It is nice after circuit because it is a lot more relaxed and everything is a lot closer. The ring is right here so you don't need a golf cart to go everywhere, which is really nice."

Following Casady in the class standings was Chelsey Zulia, who finished in second place riding Arcadia Farm, Inc.'s Convent 8. After Zulia, Bailey Hughes placed third in the class riding The Insider, owned by Gillian Sciaretta. Fourth place honors went to Hasbrouck Donovan showing Sag Harbor's Lucky Star, owned by Paige Dekko. Fifth place honors went to Rachel Griffin showing her horse Simplify.

The Tampa Equestrian Festival's second week of competition, the Tampa Bay Classic, will run through Sunday, March 29. The week will feature much more exciting hunter and jumper competition including the highly anticipated $75,000 FEI World Cup Qualifier CSI-W Grand Prix of Tampa, which will be the grand finale of week two on Sunday afternoon.

For more information please visit http://www.stadiumjumping.com.



Photo Credit: Shawn Casady won the blue ribbon riding Piece of Art in week two's ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Medal class at the 2009 Tampa Equestrian Festival. Photo © 2009 Lauren Fisher. This photo may be used free of charge only in relation to this press release.