Five Horses Find Homes at Hampton Classic Animal Adoption Day

Georgina Bloomberg’s annual animal welfare event brought horses, dogs, cats and rescue organizations to Bridgehampton — and sent five rescued horses home with new families.

Amid the world-class show jumping and high-stakes competition at the Hampton Classic Horse Show, Monday belonged to a different group of four-legged stars.

The Hampton Classic’s annual Animal Adoption Day, presented by international Grand Prix rider Georgina Bloomberg and Gotham Enterprizes, brought rescued and adoptable horses, dogs and cats to the showgrounds in Bridgehampton for a day focused on animal welfare, education and finding forever homes.

And this year, the event delivered: Five rescue horses were adopted, with another drawing serious interest, according to event organizer Valerie Angeli.

Now in its 16th year, Animal Adoption Day took over the Aspinall Hunter Ring on Aug. 24, giving spectators the chance to meet adoptable horses, hear their stories and learn how animals become at risk — and what can be done to help them.

“This is the most important day. The Hampton Classic has been so meaningful to me growing up,” Bloomberg said. “I know how lucky I am to have horses to compete here, and it’s our way of giving back and educating on how one can help.”

Bloomberg was joined by Angeli, president of RedHorseStar Productions LLC, Elizabeth Shafiroff of Global Strays, and award-winning animal advocate and bestselling author Jill Rappaport.

“It’s not just a day to adopt. It’s a day to become aware of the issues with animal welfare,” Angeli said. “Our point today is you can adopt, or you can get involved in other ways. Awareness is critical to get the necessary help for horses, dogs and cats.”

A range of equine rescue, welfare, retirement and therapeutic organizations participated, including Rising Starr Horse Rescue, Superhero Rescue Horses, StandFast Equine, The Serenity Project, Changing Tides Equine Retirement & Agriculture Learning Center, Global Strays and Warrior Ranch Foundation.

Dogs and cats also got their moment in the Kids Area, with rescue organizations including ARF Hamptons, Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation, Hope for Cleo Animal Rescue, Lucky Dog Refuge, Tyler’s Rescue, Wags & Walks, Remember Me Rescue NY and Last Chance Animal Rescue participating.

The day also included the #KissAHorsetoHelpaHorse mini horse kissing booth with Bubbles, adopted from Rising Starr Horse Rescue; HEART Equine Ambulance tours; a blacksmith demonstration by Tim Fitzgerald; a Q&A with Return to Freedom Wild Horse Sanctuary; horse-handling demonstrations; and a meet-and-greet with the Long Island University Equestrian Team and the new Long Island Lewyt College of Veterinary Medicine.

The Rider’s Closet Donation Trunk was also on-site accepting new and gently used riding apparel for equestrians in need.

The Hampton Classic, celebrating its 51st year, continues through Aug. 30 in Bridgehampton, with FEI CSI5* and CSI2* show jumping, USEF Premier hunter competition and more than $1 million in prize money.

In Valerie Angeli’s Words

Organizing the equine event each year at the Hampton Classic’s annual Animal Adoption and Welfare Day means everything — and it is the most triumphant day of the year, when all animals get a chance to shine and be celebrated like champions at this beautiful show.

Not only do we showcase rescued and adoptable horses of all shapes, breeds, sizes and disciplines that are in need of forever homes, but we tell their stories and invite attendees to come meet them up close and hear how and why a horse becomes at risk and how they can help.

The educational component of this day is so important, too, as it is awareness that creates change — and who doesn’t want a kinder world for the animals we love? For this reason, select organizations doing their best work in their unique ways are invited to participate with us and host information tables where spectators are encouraged to learn about various issues that they, too, can become involved with and support — all for the love of horses and those who benefit from their magic.

This year, it was a special honor to organize an extraordinary group of attending organizations and to bring in rescued horses from Rising Starr Horse Rescue of Wilton, Connecticut. It is a thrill to announce that five horses were adopted and one has serious interest. And as exciting as this is, it also means that the now-empty stalls of the adopted horses were immediately filled with new rescues that were waiting for a lifeline and a second chance.

Sponsored by world-class show jumper Georgina Bloomberg and co-emceed by Jill Rappaport and me each year, with the support of top equestrian Brianne Goutal-Marteau, we are so proud of this day and the awareness and appreciation it creates for all horses, and so grateful to the Hampton Classic for supporting this beloved event.

Valerie Angeli
President, RedHorseStar Productions LLC