The Great Charity Challenge: horses and riders in costumes riding for charity and for 2022 raising $1.7 Million for local charities! This is, without any doubt, a tremendously entertaining evening. At the start there was a new challenge: children and their favorite animals who had paired up with a local charity. Judged for costumes, of both humans and animals, the winner’s prize money of $24,000 was given in grants to local charities.
For the jumping part of the Challenge there were 33 teams of three riders; one professional and two junior or amateur riders. Rider 1 jumped 7 fences of 1.10 meters, Rider 2, 7 jumps of 1.2 Meters and Rider 3, 7 jumps at 1.3 Meters. This was a speed race and a knockdown added 2 seconds to the team’s time. This year the theme was Children’s Books . That brought Harry Potter, Winnie the Pooh, Toy Story, The Wizard of Oz, and Peter Pan to name but a few of the characters who came in to jump.
From the get go these riders were going for it. I realized I have not seen a speed class in some time. These riders are not just cantering around they are booking it in a full gallop! Even with raising my shutter speed I could barely capture them. Here are some photos .
And the last team to go,16 year old Caroline Mawhinney,17 year old Mia Albelo, and jumper professional Jessica Mendoza knew the time they had to beat. They had to go faster than 94.883 seconds for the 21 jumps. And they went for it. Here is a video. Speed! Watch this!
They did it! Their final time was 93.779. And that meant the $100,000 prize went to the charity they were paired with Wellington PTA PTO PTSA a local non profit that helps all public schools in Wellington. Second place was the Team of Peter Pan with their time so 94.885 who won $90,000 for their charity, Friends of Palm Beach.
The third place team, with a time of 95.075, won $80,000 for the Friends of Foster Children.All of the teams will have won funds for their charities right down to the 33rd place team who will get a minimum of $15,000 for their charity. So everyone was a winner!
Over the 13 years that the Great Charity Challenge has been going an amazing $15.9 million has been distributed to Palm Beach County non- profit organizations.
Last year the event was held virtually but this year that stands were full. There was a terrific atmosphere with families, children of all ages, some horse people and some not, but all were enjoying the costumes and the excitement of the speed jumping. All the costs of presenting the show were met by Equestrian Sport Productions and Global Equestrian Group so all of the funds donated by sponsors and corporations can go directly to the charities.
HorseAddict 
The concept is incredible, we know a few people who participated and they really enjoyed the challenge. It’s a modern take on a traditional sport.
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Well it’s a win win. A win for the local non profits and a win for the audience and I bet its a win for the competitors as well because it looks like a lot of fun.
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Your photos are so fun! What a great way to raise money for a great cause. 😊
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Yes! It was fun and they raised a lot of money as well.
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It looked like all three were on the course at the same time? Wowza!
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The three horses and riders all come in together. Then one horse does 7 jumps at 1.1m. Then the second horse does 7 jumps at1.2 and the last horse, does the final 7 jumps at 1.3 m. I think what won the final teams rides was that as soon as the horses front feet were touching the ground at the last fence the next rider was already cantering to their first fence. It was amazing!
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Looks like it was a great event Anne, thanks for sharing the photos, I enjoyed watching the video 🐎🙂
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I’m so glad you liked it Ally. Thanks for letting me know.
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You’re welcome Anne.
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Wow what a great charity event! Not only it’s entertaining but also supporting the community. Love it👏👏👏
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Yes it is a terrific event and the funds raised help so many through local charities. Thanks for your comment. 🙂
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What fun! And what great riding. Thanks for sharing this!
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It really was terrific evening. So much fun to see all the costumes..and many were very complex. Also the fact that the event raised 1.7 million to help local charities is the topping on the cake.
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What a great event, Anne. These images are fabulous.
Thank you for taking us there. 🙂
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My pleasure Amy! Thanks for commenting.
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What a fantastic event! Such fun and the video was exciting . . . it’s set me up for the day. Thanks Anne. 😀
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You are most welcome Lesley. I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for letting me know.
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Wow!! I’ve never heard of this and how WONDERFUL! What FUN! The costumes were wonderful and the video you shared is so fun too watch! How amazing to give so much to charities! I just Love this!! 💞
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Yes it is a great evening for the spectators and the benefits to the charities are an added bonus. I’m glad you enjoyed the video too.
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This is beyond awesome, Anne. Really wonderful to see re the great charity challenge!
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Thank you! it is such a fun evening and the corporations and sponsors are so generous it helps so many of the local charity programs to help those who need it in the local community.
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I’ve never seen fancy dress horse riding, how awesome is that 👏😃
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Yes it is pretty amazing isn’t it! Thanks for commenting. Glad you enjoyed the post.
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What a marvelous idea Anne and a fantastic contribution to worthy causes while everyone had fun. Wonderful!
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Yes it was a great evening with a ltbofnfu
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Oops typos in my reply as I’m replying on my phone😡
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Wow Anne what an enjoyable post. First were the costumes, both riders and horses. Then the race. How exciting!
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Thank you Anne. It was a fun evening and also exciting!
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That is a great story! Having fun and helping others in a wonderful way!!
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Yes! It was so much fun and it is a bonus to know the $$ is going to help a lot of people in this community.
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Yeah. Win win win
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😊😊💕
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I sometimes believe in fairies 😉 ha
And like the tin man in action
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The Tin Man costume is wonderful and you probably noticed that his horse has a heart!💖
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Yes – and so many other fun little details here 🖤
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That is an amazing show, and result! Well done to all who participated with riding, dressing, competing, helping, cheering, and most of all, donating
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Yes it was amazing and the fact that the $$ helps so many people is a real plus.
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;
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Awesome! That is so great.
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Glad you enjoyed seeing the post.It was a fun evening for sure.
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That is insane, that video was amazing!!
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They are really going aren’t they? Wow!
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How fun! I’ve never seen anything like it!
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Same for me. Glad you enjoyed it.
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Love all the photos and the video ❤️🐴
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I’m glad you liked it Susie. Thanks!
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Now that is way too much fun. Congrats to all involved. And the costuming is so clever. I’m sure all of the horses knew they were doing something very special. ( Buzz Lightyear my fav…)
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Thanks for this comment. It was a terrific evening, doubly so to know that the proceeds were going to help people in the community who need it.
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