2004 One day licensed show at Menfelt — The Ride for Life^TM is born

In 2003, PVDA member and breast cancer survivor Pat Artimovich approached PVDA’s Board of Directors to see if they would be interested in hosting a breast cancer benefit show for the Johns Hopkins Breast Cancer Center.  The Board agreed, and the PVDA Ride for Life^TM was born at Menfelt on October 10, 2004.  For Pat, the ride for life concept was a way she could unite her love of horses and her commitment to fighting breast cancer. 

Donations:  $3,507

 

2005 One day licensed show at Menfelt

PVDA’s one day licensed show June 4, 2005 held at Menfelt was deemed the “Ride for Life” show.  Riders collected pledges from friends, family, coworkers, and others.  Sponsors donated goods and money for the show and fundraisers.  An army of volunteers from PVDA and Hopkins was organized to run the show and to help collect and count donations generated by riders.

Donations:  $3,337

 

2006 One day licensed show at Taylor Made

The PVDA increased its publicity and marketing efforts to involve more riders in 2006, and raised the energy level with a pre-show kick-off event.  The increased visibility yielded results. June 9, 2006, was a blustery day, with the heavens threatening at every moment to open up and pour buckets on the beautifully coifed riders.  Although riders and volunteers alike were cold, there was an energy that warmed everyone’s hearts and brought smiles and tears.  The PVDA Ride for Life Show^TM grew, in that moment, into a larger horse show and a fund raising event that would leave its mark for a long, long time.

Donations:  $30,782

 

2007 Two day licensed show at PG Equestrian Center

For 2007, the Board of Directors approved a two-day four-ring show and benefit at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.  The weather was sunny, the horses were superb, and the riders were smiling due to the great dressage rides and the awareness of riding for a good cause.  The June 30 – July 1 PVDA Ride for Life Show^TM also introduced the Saturday evening Gala Dinner and the Dancing Horse Challenge, an evening show and exhibition in the Show Place Arena that introduced the general public to the Ride for Life, the excitement of dressage, and the joy of riding and donating to benefit breast cancer research.

Donations:  $45,000

 

2008 Two Day Licensed Show at PG Equestrian Center

The 2008 goal to raise at least $70,000 for the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Center was not only realized but surpassed at the PVDA Ride for Life Show^TM June 28-29!  The Dancing Horse Challenge in 2008 featured dressage exhibitions by a number of talented FEI riders including Christopher Hickey, the 2007 Pan Am Games Gold Medalist, and Dr. Cesar Parra, a former Olympic and Pan Am Games participant; in addition to various other entertaining exhibitions.  The celebrity judge for 2008 was Nicole Uphoff-Selke, a 1988 and 1992 Olympic German individual dressage Gold Medalist.  

Donations:  $80,000

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