Cathy Morelli and BeSe Win FEI Grand Prix Sponsored by The Sanctuary At Gold Coast Grand Finale I

Photo: Cathy Morelli (left) and her Dutch Warmblood, BeSe, won the Grand Prix at the Gold Coast Dressage Association's Grand Finale I show held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. The class was sponsored by The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, a world-class facility in Ocala dedicated to helping horses that compete in physically demanding sports. Morelli is joined by show manager Noree's O'Sullivan. (Photo courtesy JRPR)

West Palm Beach, FL (April 19, 2010) - Cathy Morelli was thrilled to be riding her Grand Prix partner BeSe during the Gold Coast Dressage AssociationÕs Grand Finale I show, a partnership that resulted in a win in the Grand Prix class. Sponsored by The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, Morelli won a gift certificate to the world-class therapy center.

“This was my first Grand Prix with BeSe this season because Kassie Barteau has been showing him,” Morelli said. “She has been doing a great job with him and qualified him for the Brentina Cup and they will be going to Gladstone.”

Morelli's partnership with the 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood has been a long one. “We've been partners for 10 years,” Morelli said. “Winning this class was great because it was like getting back together again.”

Morelli added that it has been thrilling for her to watch Barteau compete BeSe. “He can be tricky and isn't that easy,” Morelli said. “Kassie has really learned a lot.”

Brenda McDuffee, General Manager of The Sanctuary, congratulated Cathy and BeSe on their Grand Prix win. “We have been following BeSe's success with Cathy's student, Kassie Barteau, so we know that BeSe is a talented horse,” McDuffee, said. “We are looking forward to meeting Cathy and BeSe and helping them with any needs they may have. We are well aware of the physical demands put on dressage horses and we have the technology to keep dressage horses competing at their peak.”

High performance competitors, including top dressage horses, are using The Sanctuary's facilities for rehab, post-surgery rehab, conditioning, fitness and training. “The Sanctuary is well-suited for treating medical conditions that often face dressage horses,” McDuffee said. “The conditions we have seen the most in dressage horses have been hind end problems or weaknesses and suspensory injuries and The Sanctuary has many therapies that address these injuries and targets specific problems.”

For more information on The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, visit their website at www.sanctuaryequinerehab.com.