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Bobby and Melissa Murphy Support Future of Equestrian Sport through Sponsorship

June 10, 2008

Lexington, KY --- Siblings Bobby and Melissa Murphy, who are both highly involved with the equestrian industry, are proudly sponsoring the Pony Jumper division at the I Love New York Horse Show in Lake Placid, NY. The competition will be held from July 1-6, 2008. Having grown up in the horse industry, both Bobby and Melissa have worked their way up the ranks in the equestrian realm and are now young professionals in the business.

Bobby Murphy of Lexington, KY, is a USEF course designer, jumper judge and horse show manager. In addition to working at other horse show competitions, he is employed by Kentucky Horse Shows LLC and is helping to prepare the Kentucky Horse Park for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™.

Murphy commented, “Melissa and I decided to sponsor the pony jumpers because we have had dinner with horse show chairman Richard Feldman and his wife Diana many times, and they are amazing people. They really care about the horse industry, and they try to make every single person have a great experience at the Lake Placid Horse Show.”

He continued, “This year the show decided to put pony jumpers on the schedule for the first time ever, and we thought it would be great to jump on board and support the future of our industry – our youngest jumper riders. We have a new trophy for the champion of the division; it’s just under 14 inches tall. Since it’s not a perpetual trophy, the winner will get to keep it and take it home.”

“This is the first sponsorship that my sister and I have done together, and I’m really excited to be working with her and with the Lake Placid Horse Show,” concluded Murphy. “It’s been a great experience.”

Melissa Murphy, who is a professional rider and trainer, resides in Cleveland, Ohio. She works for Megan Udelson at Udelson Show Stables. She started riding at the age of four and has competed at the national level in hunters, jumpers, and equitation. Her grandfather, Robert Murphy, owns and operates an equestrian business in Lexington, KY, and she grew up training and attending shows with her grandfather and father, Robby Murphy. As a junior, Murphy was a working student for Todd Minikus and Jeff Gogul. Throughout college, she maintained her amateur status and received help from Mark Leone, primarily competing in the amateur-owner jumpers and at the grand prix level.

“When my brother and I discussed sponsoring a division somewhere, we wanted to focus on up and coming young riders,” said Murphy. “Since this will be the first time that Lake Placid offers the pony jumpers, we thought it would be nice to be involved in something new that is just starting out. The pony jumper riders are the next generation of show jumping. We really want to support them and their efforts.”

“My experience in the horse industry inspired me to get involved with young riders through sponsorship,” she revealed. “It’s another way to be involved in our industry. I am looking for ways to continue on with our sport and help to make it better. As a trainer, exhibitor and judge, this is another motivation for me to contribute to our sport.”

Bobby and Melissa Murphy will present the 2008 Pony Jumper Championship Trophy this summer at the I Love New York Horse Show. They will continue to support, stay involved, and give back to equestrian sport, and they hope to encourage and contribute to the education of today’s young riders.

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