Hampton Classic Celebrates Animal Welfare and Adoption Day

Animal Welfare and Adoption Day Presented by Gotham Enterprises celebrated its 10th year at the Hampton Classic Horse Show in Bridgehampton on Monday, August 30, welcoming dogs, cats and horses from a variety of rescues on Long Island and beyond.

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The special event hosted nine dog/cat rescue groups from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. while the horses and miniature donkeys took center stage in one of the main hunter rings from noon to 1 p.m.

Participating rescues and shelters included: Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons (ARF), Gimme Shelter Animal Rescue, Jake’s Rescue Ranch, Last Chance Animal Rescue, Mustang Heritage Foundation, Nassau County SPCA, North Shore Animal League America, Retired Racehorse Project, Rising Starr Horse Rescue, Second Chance Rescue NYC, Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation, Storeybrook Farm and Tyler’s Rescue.

Grand Prix rider Georgina Bloomberg, EQUUS Foundation “EQUUStar” and sponsor of Animal Adoption Day, was on hand greeting visitors, as was fellow Grand Prix rider Brianne Goutal-Marteau, who adopted a pony for her daughter during Adoption Day at the 2016 Hampton Classic. Both riders are featured in a new book, Her Horse by noted “petographer” Jim Dratfield. A portion of the proceeds from book sales go to the EQUUS Foundation.

“Adoption Day is probably my favorite day here at the Hampton Classic,” Bloomberg said. “Finding homes for these horses is so important. Horses are the reason we’re here, and doing what we can to help the ones in need is our way of giving back to them.”

New this year was a $30,000 donation-matching campaign for America’s at-risk horses, thanks to the prize money won by EQUUS Foundation equine ambassador Lafitte De Muze, one of the nation’s leading hunter horses owned by Cheryl Olsten and ridden by Amanda Steege. EQUUS Equine ambassadors are sport horses whose owners donate a portion of their winnings in equestrian sport competitions to help ensure that all horses are safe, healthy and treated with dignity as partners.

“The Hampton Classic is thrilled to host Animal Welfare and Adoption Day every year,” said Shanette Barth Cohen, Executive Director of the Hampton Classic. “We thank Georgina Bloomberg and the EQUUS Foundation for their support and commend every rescue and shelter for finding these animals forever homes.”