Photos from Ride for Our Lives in Palm Beach
Even in the strictly mannered milieu of dressage, emotions ran high as more than 100 riders from all over the world, including bold-faced names such as Gates and Springsteen, along with Olympic champions and riders ranging in age from 4 to 80, paused Saturday night to join demonstrators across the globe in solidarity for gun safety in response to the most recent school shooting.
At the prestigious Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida, while President Trump was ensconced at his Mar-a-Lago estate after spending the day at the Trump International Golf Club, all competition ceased just prior to the day’s marquis event, the $132,000 Hollow Creek Farm 1.50M Champion Classic Final. The dramatic on-horseback march was organized by Olympic bronze medalist Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and her husband, World Equestrian Games gold medalist Markus Beerbaum.
Among the participants: American show jumping champion Jessica Springsteen (above top), the 26-year-old daughter of rock legend Bruce Springsteen and wife Patti Scialfa and Jennifer Gates, 21, Microsoft co-founder Bill and Melinda Gates's oldest daughter. Entitled #rideforourlives (to dovetail with Washington, D.C.’s extraordinary #marchforourlives), the solemn procession contained more than 10 Olympians and a student from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the scene of the February 14 massacre that killed 17 children and adults and wounded many others.
New Yorker Sophie Stenbeck, whose 4-year-old daughter Grace rode in the march, revealed, "It was a powerful international display of a community feeling ... they had to do something and could not sit silent. They did it the way they knew best - on their beloved horses. I had goosebumps seeing those beautiful animals and riders from all over the world, marching together in the international ring. It was a powerful and emotional event. We are all so grateful for Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum's vision to unite our community to take a stand for safer schools."
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