Official Charity of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 to Offer Interactive Experience at World Equine Expo™

TRYON, NC, USA - August 22, 2018 - In developing countries across the globe, working horses, donkeys, and mules are lifelines for families who depend on them for existence. Brooke, Action for Working Horses and Donkeys, works around the world to improve and protect the lives of working equines. As the “Official Charity for the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018, (WEG),” Brooke is bringing its mission to life at the World Equine Expo™ being held at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) during the WEG on September 11-23, 2018. From virtual reality experiences and book signings to plush toys, bar nights, and the unveiling of TIEC’s commemorative “Brooke Breezeway,” there are many interactive ways spectators can support Brooke before, after, and during the Games.

WEG attendees visiting the Brooke’s World Equine Expo™ booth will experience a virtual firsthand perspective of the harsh reality of brick kilns in India, where working equines are critical to the survival of families. From the brick kilns of Nepal to the coal mines of Pakistan and the small farms of Ethiopia and Nicaragua, to the volcano-stricken areas of Guatemala, Brooke is improving lives by helping the equines people depend on to survive. 

To bring added awareness to working equines in the brick kilns, Brooke USA, sister organization to Brooke, is installing a commemorative “Brooke Breezeway” onsite at TIEC comprised of personalized bricks, commercially and humanely manufactured in the United States, which are now on sale at Brookeusa.org/bricks. The “Brooke Breezeway” will be unveiled on the first day of the WEG, September 11, and bricks will be on sale during the two-week event at the Brooke USA Shop.

Brooke Bricks manufactured humanely in the United States are being sold online and onsite at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 for inclusion in the “Brooke Breezeway” at TIEC. 

Visitors to the World Equine Expo™ can join Brooke for special experiences throughout the two-week event including bar nights each week with all tips benefitting Brooke USA, book readings and signings from renowned authors like Mary Alice Monroe, and demonstrations by the likes of Monty Roberts, among others.

For both kids and kids-at-heart, plush versions of the beloved WEG mascots - Star and Huck - will also be on sale at the Brooke USA Shop with a commemorative orange accessory that can be purchased to directly support Brooke's efforts.

“Breaking the cycle of poverty is an issue that receives great attention around the world, but I am a strong believer in Brooke’s model of reaching the working equines that in turn help support and uplift the families that rely on them,” said Katherine Bellissimo, partner of Tryon Equestrian Partners who serves on the board of Brooke USA. 

Bellissimo added that the WEG’s mission to “Celebrate the Horse, Celebrate the Sport” aligns well with Brooke’s approach to addressing global poverty by helping families. “There’s an average family of six relying on every one working equine in the developing world. Brooke is impacting entire families and communities,” she concluded. 

The World Equine Expo™ (Expo) will be hosted alongside the WEG, September 11-23, 2018, with tickets to the Expo included in any competition ticket. 

For more information, visit Tryon2018.com or follow @Tryon2018 on social media.

To learn more about Brooke and Brooke USA, please visit thebrooke.org or brookeusa.org.

About the Tryon International Equestrian Center

Tryon International Equestrian Center at Tryon Resort, host of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018, is one of the world’s premier equestrian lifestyle destinations, with first-class facilities for all eight FEI disciplines. From carousel to competition, the mission of Tryon Resort is to celebrate the magic of the horse, grow equestrian sport, and increase access to this majestic animal. 

Tryon Resort is a spring, summer, and fall haven for equestrian competitors and enthusiasts, and a year-round destination for connoisseurs of diverse cuisine and shopping, lodging getaways, and family entertainment. Learn more at Tryon.com.

For more information on the work of Equine Welfare Charities, read Equine Charities Unite to Put Welfare Policy into Practice Worldwide.

Main Photo: A brick kiln donkey in India with swollen legs and open wounds. 

Photos courtesy of Brooke USA.