Olympic dressage rider Robert Dover, and his partner Robert Ross, hosted a very merry evening on Sunday, December 10th celebrating horses, the holidays and the season of giving at their exquisite Palm Beach Polo Country Club home on Cypress Island Way.
The glamorous soirée was held as a benefit for Give Back for Special Equestrians, an all-volunteer organization that provides therapeutic horseback riding scholarships for disabled children and veterans in Florida and New York. The nonprofit’s aim is to share the joy of horses and horsemanship and the healing benefits of horsepower with those suffering from physical, mental, and emotional disabilities.
“We are humbled to have the support of our title sponsor, Rolls-Royce, and supporting sponsors VistaJet, VhernierandMartha Jolicouer/Douglas Elliman as well as our hosts, Robert Dover and Robert Ross, two pillars in the equestrian community. Thanks to their combined generosity we will be able to provide 15 therapeutic horseback riding scholarships to deserving children and veterans so they can experience the many benefits of horsepower that heals,” said Sissy DeMaria, founder of Give Back for Special Equestrians.
The festive occasion held on an unusually cool December evening, actually began earlier in the day, when an invitation was extended to rendezvous at the Douglas Elliman Wellington office for a unique test drive experience of the new Dawn model. The Dawn and a Phantom were later showcased at the party where the friends and supporters of the charity were able to sit in the driver’s seat and see the legendary craftsmanship and quality up close.
Among the notable guests included Greg O’Shea with Rolls-Royce, Grant Kennedy with VistaJet, Teresa Salcedo with Vhernier, Martha Jolicoeur with Douglas Elliman, Nancy and Jon Batchelor with the Batchelor Foundation, Stephen Norton, Alex Hamer, Chris Leavitt, and Jane Holzer. Several board members attended with their loved ones including Shai Tertner and Andrew Werner, Munisha Underhill and Alfonso Goyeneche, Dr. Heather and Dwight Kuhl, Dr. Peggy and Murray Bass, and Matha Jolicoeur.
The dress called for “equestrian-chic” and ladies were extravagantly bejeweled by Italian jeweler, Vhernier. Throughout the evening, the equine enthusiasts mingled and celebrated the spirit of the holidays, while enjoying a tantalizing mix of fine wine, hors d'oeuvres, and Macallan whiskey. The elegant evening, expertly catered by Shiraz Events had many high notes, including a cello suite performed by ChristopherGlansdorp.
Sissy DeMaria and Give Back for Special Equestrians co-founder Dr. Heather Kuhl acknowledged the tireless work of board members and presented two over-sized donation checks to Good Hope Equestrian Center based in Homestead and Stable Place operating out of Davie.
Valerie Judd, executive director of Stable Place and recipient of a $7,500 donation, gave a heartwarming and inspiring tale of her first-hand experience witnessing the ability that horses have in changing the life of a foster child dealing with unimaginable experiences.
“We are deeply moved to have the support of Give Back for Special Equestrians. They have been instrumental to our success since the very beginning. Thanks to their continued contributions, Stable Place can further offer the much needed equine assisted therapy to those in our program striving to overcome serious emotional challenges.”
“In addition to our sponsors and board members, we’d like to express our sincere gratitude to Give Back for Special Equestrians’ Young Ambassadors Isabel Ernst, Carlota Goyeneche, and Julia Koltis, whose assistance in encouraging the guests to become members of the Spur Society, Give Back for Special Equestrians highest donor category, helped ensure the evening’s success,” said Dr. Kuhl.
For more information about Give Back for Special Equestrians or the Young Ambassador program, please call 305.608.5350 or visit giveabuckeq.org. You can also find us under Give Back for Special Equestrians on Facebook.
