JustWorld International Features Horseless Horse Show at Pony Finals

The Horseless Horse Show to benefit JustWorld International will be held this week at Pony Finals in Kentucky and will feature course designer Bobby Murphy. Participants will compete on-foot in Small, Medium and Large Pony Jumpers along with a High Jump class. Friday will feature a "Nation's Cup" event with three members to each team. All classes will be held at Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY.

The Jump for a Just World initiative was born of a desire to more fully implicate international equestrian competitors and events to support humanitarian causes. The international equestrian sport has been left far behind other Olympic sports, such as soccer, cycling and skiing, where athletes publicly donate their time and earnings to humanitarian causes. They believe that the world of equestrian sports stands to gain a great deal by committing to charitable initiatives, especially as equestrians across the globe have begun moving beyond an elite image of privileged athletes and giving the best of themselves to those in need.

JustWorld International aims to cultivate and encourage riders who want to make a difference in the world around them. By serving as ambassadors for JustWorld, riders are demonstrating that the horse industry has leaders with integrity and big hearts who really care about others. Our goal in working with equestrian athletes and events is to produce a ripple effect and encourage others to follow in the quest for a just world. Star athletes influence significant numbers of people. JustWorld's goal is to recognize the professional, junior, and amateur athletes who are ready, willing, and able to positively influence the world.

JustWorld International acts as a catalyst for positive change in the developing world: -- by working with local partner organizations to provide basic education, nutrition, health and hygiene programs, and vocational training for children in impoverished communities -- by raising awareness and funds in the international equestrian community and its networks to support JustWorld programs and projects -- by providing young people with the opportunity to actively participate in humanitarian work

Executive Director, Jessica Newman founded JustWorld International in 2002. "While many people told me I was crazy to think that my fellow equestrians would be interested in changing a world from which they were so far removed, I believed otherwise and chose to persevere. During my years as an equestrian, I met many compassionate, caring, and generous people who I believed, like myself, would want to make positive change in the world." says Newman.

The Success of Jump for a Just World From the start, Jump for a Just World proved that it was destined to be a success! In January 2004, JustWorld International's first annual fundraiser targeted the equestrian community with a training show and raised nearly $100,000. Numerous professional riders approached Newman at this occasion because they wanted to become ambassadors for JustWorld International. Newman was also approached by Junior riders who wanted to create Juniors for a Just World to encourage equestrian youth to get involved. Stadium Jumping and the Winter Equestrian Festival provided the first opportunity to hold a Jump for a Just World competition and funding drive during the Nations' Cup that spring.

Jump for a Just World initiative was launched during the first edition of Jump'Eure, organized and hosted by Herv Godignon. In addition to permitting us to raise funds and recruit new French ambassadors, Jump'Eure provided the venue for the French riders' association, ACSOF, to officially endorse the Jump for a Just World initiative. Other national and international show organizers began stepping forward to partner with JustWorld in an effort to raise awareness and funds.

In less than a year, the dream of bridging the gap between equestrians and humanitarian efforts had become a reality. Athletes, advisors, sponsors, horse show partners, owners, and the general public have all been tremendously supportive and committed to making a difference. As of 2008, JustWorld had 133 professional, junior and amateur ambassadors representing over 20 different countries. They have been accompanied by over 60 ambassadors and donors to visit our project sites to see for themselves where their donations are going, who is being helped, and the difference they are making. Over 50 International Show Jumping competitions across the globe have supported JustWorld in one form or another.

It has become more and more obvious that, by combining our forces and networks, we have the power to mobilize so many people, and together we can create a just world!

Interested in becoming a JustWorld rider Ambassador? Visit http://www.justworldinternational.org