Outpouring of Support for Shawna Harding World Cup Final Fundraising
13 years ago StraightArrow Comments Off on Outpouring of Support for Shawna Harding World Cup Final Fundraising
WELLINGTON, Florida, April 5–Shawna Harding has received donations from individuals and businesses in North America and Europe in her efforts to raise funds to take Come On III to the World Cup Final in ‘s-Hertogenbosh, The Netherlands, later this month.
“People have come out of the woodwork to help,” said the 42-year-old rider from Aiken, South Carolina who is taking Come On to their second straight annual global championship.
“We’re not ahead of the game, but we’re a lot closer than we were,”
The opportunity came late for Shawna to join Jan Ebeling of Moorpark, California, and Rafalca at the World Cup April 18-22–the same two combinations from the North American League who were at the 2011 Final in Leipzig, Germany. She was next in line when Jim Kofford pulled out because of an injury to Pharaoh.
Shawna has no sponsor to pick up any of the costs so anything not paid by the organizers comes out of her own pocket.
Organizers pay only a portion of the costs for the two combinations from North American and one from the Pacific Leagues when the World Cup is held in Europe, unlike U.S. organizers who cover all the expenses of horsess and riders from Europe.
Among the first to volunteer help was Catherine Haddad-Staller, the U.S. rider based for several years in Vechta, Germany, who set up a Faebook page for Shawna and donated $500.
Tim Dutta of the horse transportation company, Dutta Corp., sliced $1,000 off the shipping costs and enlisted Cunningham & Cunningham to cover insurance for the horse.
Custom Saddlery, a longtime sponsor of Shawna, offered a set of Dressage Sport Boots for anyone making a donation of $50 or more.
Éce Equestrian Co. is contributing $25 to Shawna for the purchase of their competition shirts.
Eliane Cordia van Reesema offered free stabling at her barn in Belgium near the Dutch border.
Michelle Hundt of Show Chic dressage clothing boutique in Wellington helped Shawna replace her 22-year-old tail coat. Photographers Susan J. Stickle and Sharon Packer and Elite Imports have also helped as have numerous individuals. So, too, have her husband, Brian, mother and friends in Aiken.
