Festivities officially got underway for the third annual Rolex Central Park Horse Show on Sept. 20, with the opening press conference at Wollman Rink in New York City.

Reigning Olympic Dressage Gold Medalist Charlotte Dujardin arrived to welcome international media and guests to Central Park on Tuesday, along with grand prix show jumper and inaugural RCPHS Grand Prix winner Georgina Bloomberg. Mark Bellissimo, founder of International Equestrian Group and the Rolex Central Park Horse Show, opened the gathering and greeted those in attendance.

Joining Bellissimo, Dujardin and Bloomberg were representatives from Gallop NYC and Mini Horse Heroes who spoke about how their charities benefit from the Rolex Central Park Horse Show, as well as Cynthia Richardson, president of the Arabian Horse Association. Officers from the New York City Parks Enforcement Patrol Mounted Auxiliary Unit were in the ring, Land Rover vehicles and mini vehicles were on display, and Frederik the Great: The World’s Most Handsome Horse gave a demonstration.

IEG’s Mark Bellissimo (center) with (left to right): Police Athletic League Executive Director Frederick Watts, Jennifer Paldino of Mini Horse Heroes, Charlotte Dujardin, Georgina Bloomberg, Gallop NYC Executive Director Alicia Kershaw and Board Chair Suzy Marquard, and Katherine Bellissimo.

In her opening remarks, Dujardin stated, “It is always a huge privilege to come back here and be a part of this show again. I came last year and rode Evi Strasser’s horse and did a display. To be back here this year and have Valegro here for everybody to see in person is wonderful. Not many people get to see him live. I think it is great for the sport that the fans get to see him, and it is great for me that I can come here not in a competition mind and have a more relaxed time with no pressure. Doing the freestyle on Saturday night will be great fun for me. It is always really good to come here and ride with such an incredible backdrop, and I have to thank Mark, and his wife Katherine, and all of the sponsors for making this happen.”

Valegro arriving in New York. 

On Friday evening, the U.S. Dressage Team, which won the bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, will be honored in a ceremony to celebrate their accomplishment. The U.S. Show Jumping Team, which earned a silver medal in Rio, will also be honored, as team members McLain Ward and Kent Farrington are set to compete. Joining the celebration as well is Phillip Dutton, who won the individual bronze medal in eventing for Team USA. 

British Olympian Charlotte Dujardin will ride Valegro in a demonstration on Saturday night. 

Also on the show jumping roster is hometown girl Georgina Bloomberg, who is one of the top riders in the United States and won the inaugural grand prix in Central Park in 2014.

“This is definitely a huge privilege to be able to ride here,” said Bloomberg. “This is where I grew up; it is the best city in the world, and to have a top level competition back in this city means a lot to me as a New Yorker and as a show jumper. This has become a premier event on the fall schedule for many show jumpers, and we have some really exciting competition here with some of the best show jumpers in the world. The only thing that was better than competing here was winning here, so I will definitely be aiming for that again this year. Thank you to Mark and Katherine and Michael Stone, and everybody else that is involved with putting this event on in Central Park. It is definitely worth it for the riders, and we really appreciate it.”

This year’s event will feature U.S. Open competition for show jumping, dressage, hunter, and Arabian disciplines, as well as a fun and educational Family Day through five days in New York City’s iconic Central Park.

Tickets for Friday night are sold out, and less than 100 tickets are available for Thursday and Saturday nights! To get yours, go to http://bit.ly/29LwkkD.

The complete schedule of the 2016 Rolex Central Park Horse Show is as follows:

Wednesday, Sept. 21:

U.S. Open Arabian Horse Show

Gate opens at 6:00 pm. Show begins at 6:30 pm. $50 per ticket 

Thursday, Sept. 22: Canadian Pacific Day

U.S. Open $25,000 Under 25 Hollow Creek Farm FEI Grand Prix 6:30 pm, followed by the exciting

U.S. Open $40,000 FEI Canadian Pacific Speed Class at 8:00 pm, concluding with

$50,000 Engel & Völkers Puissance at 9:00 pm.

Ticket includes all 3 events

Gate opens at 6:00pm. Show begins at 6:30pm. $125 per ticket

Friday, Sept. 23:

U.S. Open CDI Dressage Grand Prix, presented by Axel Johnson

Gate opens at 1:00 pm. Show begins at 1:30 pm. $50 per ticket

Friday, Sept. 23:

Special Performance by Frederik the Great: The World’s Most Handsome Horse

Ceremony for the U.S. Dressage Team, Olympic bronze medalists; U.S. Show Jumping Team, Olympic silver medalists; and Phillip Dutton, Olympic individual bronze medalist.

Junior/Amateur 1.20-meter Class at 6:30 pm, followed by the thrilling

U.S. Open $216,000 FEI Grand Prix CSI***, presented by Rolex

Ticket includes both events

Gate opens at 6:00 pm. Show begins at 6:30 pm. $125 per ticket

Saturday, Sept. 24:

U.S. Open $50,000 Hunters Duchossois Cup

$1,000 small/medium pony hunter class and the

$2,500 junior/amateur and professional classes

Gate opens at 1:00 pm. Show begins at 1:30 pm. $50 per ticket

Saturday, Sept. 24:

Special Performance by Frederik the Great: The World’s Most Handsome Horse

Special Freestyle Demonstration by Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro

U.S. Open $75,000 CDI Dressage Freestyle, presented by Axel Johnson

Gate opens at 6:00 pm. Show begins at 6:30 pm. $125 per ticket

Sunday, Sept. 25:

Family Day. Free General Admission.

Pony rides, face painting, Arabian Horse presentation, equestrian

demonstrations, and more!

Gate opens 12:00 pm-3:00 pm.

A portion of ticket sales will benefit a lengthy list of New York, as well as equestrian-based, charities.

Seating is limited and the demand for tickets is expected to be high.

All seats have unobstructed views.

All ticket sales are final, non-transferable; no refunds and no exchanges.

Gates open 30 minutes prior to start of event.

All prices listed above exclude tax and fees.

For Reserved Seating questions, please contact 1-844-319-CPHS (2747) or email cphs.tickets@img.com.

For VIP Table Sales, please contact vip@centralparkhorseshow.com.

For questions on rider participation, please contact acaroline@centralparkhorseshow.com.