Saddle Up For A Dressage Dance Party To Battle Breast Cancer

Saddle Up For A Dressage Dance Party To Battle Breast Cancer

Get ready to crank up the amps and paint the town pink on Friday, March 7 at the Challenge of the Americas (COTA). This isn’t just your average equestrian event; it’s a huge family dance party where horses and riders from around the globe groove to the beat, all in the name of kicking breast cancer to the curb. COTA is your backstage pass to a night of rockin’ action with all proceeds benefiting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) through partner Play for P.I.N.K.

This one-of-a-kind extravaganza showcases the Olympic sport of dressage featuring top-tier international competitors from the U.S., Canada and Europe. Riders and their equine partners will dance through intricate patterns, all while the crowd is grooving to a killer soundtrack. It’s like “Dancing with the Stars,” but with more horsepower.

The gates open at 5:30 p.m. at the Global Dressage Festival showgrounds, located at the corner of South Shore Blvd. and Pierson Road in Wellington. Grab some tasty bites and refreshing drinks from the vendors, then enjoy the DJ spinning tunes before the main event kicks off at 6:30 p.m. General admission ticket holders will have great seats in the grandstands to catch the pink-clad show jumpers and their rockstar mounts as they leap and bound, accompanied by their pint-sized pals. It’s an “awwww-inspiring” start to a great evening.

But hold onto your guitars, because the Rockin’ Dressage Derby challenge is when the musical fun really begins. This isn’t just an equestrian dance for two; it’s a stunning display of horse and rider pairs moving in perfect harmony. Plugged in, amped up and ready to rock,
four pas de deux teams will vie to become the rockstars of COTA 2025. But there’s a fabulously fun twist — each team will jam to the first three minutes of the rock music they were given ahead of time but have absolutely no clue what their last minute of music holds. Will it be a wild ride of unexpected rhythms? Who will rise to the challenge and turn the unknown into an unforgettable encore?

Then, Olympic athlete and 2024 Sidelines magazine “Hot Horseman” Marcus Orlob will dance to the music with his Grand Prix horse while honoring those who have survived, are undergoing treatment or have lost their lives to breast cancer.

The grand finale of the evening features the much-anticipated musical Grand Prix Quadrille Team Challenge. Five teams of six horses and their talented riders will dazzle the crowd with intricate choreography and vibrant costumes. It’s a spectacle that will have attendees cheering like they’re at a sold-out stadium concert.

COTA has come a long way since its debut in 2002, when Mary Ross created it to honor her mother’s battle with breast cancer. What started as a cozy luncheon has evolved into an international extravaganza featuring 44 riders and their majestic steeds. Its success is powered by a partnership with the top-rated breast cancer research organization in the U.S. and a format that’s as entertaining as a classic rock anthem.

The mission of the Challenge of the Americas is to #ChallengeBreastCancer through the BCRF and Play for P.I.N.K., a grassroots movement that’s all about raising funds for research through sporting events. The BCRF is on a mission to prevent and cure breast cancer by advancing groundbreaking research. It is the largest private funder of breast cancer research and metastatic breast cancer research worldwide.

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women in the U.S., and about one in eight women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. It’s a relentless foe that doesn’t discriminate and the leading cause of cancer deaths in many countries. Most have been touched by this disease in some way.

General admission tickets for the Challenge of the Americas are available at the door for just $30, and kids 12 and under get in free.

Want to take your COTA experience to the next level? Snag VIP tickets from www.challengeoftheamericas.com for an unforgettable evening — complete with dinner and dancing under the stars.

So, throw on your pink, grab your crew and head over to the Challenge of the Americas on March 7 for a night filled with equestrian excitement and family fun.

Facebookpinterestmail

Leave a Reply