Pennfield Announces "That’s a Promise" East Coast Tour; Public to Meet Olympic Stars, Win Training Packages and Bid on Auction Items
RELEASE: December 3, 2008
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: By Susan Page
Pennfield Equine Feed Technologies is proud to announce an eight-city East Coast tour to bring equestrian fans together with Olympic riders to celebrate and explore the meaning of “promise.” Each evening will include hors d’oeuvres, wine, a presentation and discussion led by a world-renowned equine nutritionist, a silent auction with unique sport horse items and collectibles, and the chance to win training with a top rider in your chosen sport.
“The idea of ‘promise’ was sown several years ago as I was walking through our equine feed mill in Mt. Joy, PA,” said Jeff Katelan, National Sales and Marketing Manager for Pennfield’s Country Life Products. “I was fortunate to be able to spend time with Ernie Horn, Sr., one of the original founders of Pennfield, before he passed away. That day he said to me, ‘Jeff, you must promise me to always put the horse first. If you do that, you have then put the customer first, because that’s what they want more than anything… for someone to care about the well-being and performance of their horses as much as they do.’ Greatly affected by this wisdom, I answered, ‘Mr. Horn, that’s a promise.’”
Katelan went on to explain, “With this tour, we now have a way for horse people to gather, and discuss getting back to a simpler, more effective way of progressing in their training, and caring for their partners. In honor of Mr. Horn’s simple yet powerful creed, we have named it the That’s a Promise Tour.”
Within the discussion of ‘promise’ are two meanings: developing the full promise (potential) of yourself and your horses and secondly, living up to the promise (principle) that you make to your horses to care for them to the best of your ability. The tour brings these two meanings of promise together with three partners:
1. Formulating the Promise: A presentation titled “Performance Horse Nutrition: Challenges and Practical Solutions,” a discussion of problem/solution-based cutting-edge equine nutritional science by Dr. Joe Pagan, founder and President of Kentucky Equine Research.
2. Feeding the Promise: Pennfield Equine Feed Technologies, state-of-the-art miller of KER formulas, is awarding one attendee at each event the opportunity to train with a top rider in the discipline of their choice.
3. Funding the Promise: $10 admission fee and all silent auction bids will go to fund the United States Equestrian Federation’s Young Riders Program.
The That’s a Promise Tour will kick off in Florida in February, and follow the competitive season northward up the coast. The 2009 schedule is as follows:
· February 8 at the Wellington show grounds, FL — Grand Gala Kickoff — 6:30 p.m.
· February 9 in Ocala, FL
· March 10 in Aiken, SC
· April 24 in Lexington, KY
· June 2 in Middleburg, VA
· July 14 in Unionville, PA
· September 2 in Hudson Valley, NY
· October 7 in Gladstone, NJ
Each That’s a Promise Gala will feature the attendance of one or more top riders who rely on Pennfield to fuel their horses top efforts, including, at this time, multi-Olympic medalists Phillip Dutton, Karen and David O’Connor, and Bruce Davidson; and the 2008 U.S. dressage team alternate, Michael Barisone. Additional top riders, including some from show jumping and other sports, are expected to make commitments to the tour within the next few weeks. Attendees will be able to mingle with these riders in a relaxed setting, and obtain autographs.
All are welcome to attend, though seating will be limited to approximately 200, depending on venue. So don’t delay!
Reservations may be made by calling Beth Ann Parise at (717) 295-8735, and more information may be found at
www.thatsapromisetour.com. A $10 donation is requested per attendee, with 100% forwarded to the Young Riders program of the USEF.
About PennfieldPennfield is a widely respected, family-owned feed com