ShowAssist, the on-demand, short-term horse show hiring app, is proud to welcome Gulf Coast Classic and The Classic Company as a featured show partner for 2021. ShowAssist connects owners, trainers and riders with the support staff they need at shows, be it grooms, braiders, bodyworkers or a helping hand at the ring, to ensure a smooth horse show experience while at USEF and Equestrian Canada hunter/jumper competition.
“We are delighted to partner with Gulf Coast Classic Company and The Classic Company,” said Deidre McAuley-Hayes, co-founder of ShowAssist. “They are known for having beautiful, well-organized shows with great southern hospitality along the Southeast.”
Bob Bell, president of the Gulf Coast and Classic Company presents Lorenzo Dominguez and Donald Stewart’s Canal Street the first-place honors in the 2020 Groom’s Class. Photo by Hartwell Photography.
ShowAssist is the presenting sponsor of the popular Groom’s Class during Week III of the Gulf Coast Winter Classic March 3–7 in Gulfport, Mississippi. The award will be presented to the winning groom after the $10,777 USHJA International Derby held on the beautiful grass field at the Harrison County Fairgrounds & Equestrian Center.
“We are excited to be the presenters for the Groom’s class at the Gulf Coast Winter Classic,” said app co-founder Malachi Hinton. “Their partnership with us and the class honoring grooms is a true testament to how much they care about the hard-working people behind the scenes that enable success in the show ring.”
2021 is the 22nd Annual Gulf Coast Winter Classic, six weeks of premier USEF AA hunter and Level 4 jumper competition on the beautiful gulf coast of Mississippi. Show highlights include three USHJA International Hunter Derbies, two USHJA pony derbies, six grand prix events including a $25,000 Grand Prix and $7,500 Welcome Stake each week, along with Marshall & Sterling classics with non-pro bonus cash awards. A great incentive for exhibitors, for the six week series there are no entry fees for the $25,000 Grand Prixs and the Sidelines Green 3′ and 3’3″ divisions.
Penny Brennan on Westphalian mare Hells Angel, owned by IDK Investment Group and Penny Brennan, in the grand prix. Photo by Hartwell Photography.
“We are excited about our partnership with ShowAssist at all of our 2021 events – both on the Gulf Coast and at all Classic Company shows,” said Bob Bell, president of Gulf Coast Classic Company and The Classic Company. “ShowAssist’s presenting sponsorship of the Groom’s Class Week III of the Gulf Coast Winter Classic celebrates the unsung heroes of horse shows – the grooms! The ShowAssist app helps everyone at our shows – from those looking for work to those looking for workers.”
The ShowAssist mission of helping the horse show industry return to work safely is evident in their continued support with Equestrian Aid Foundation and the Show Jumping Relief Fund. “We appreciate and applaud ShowAssist for donating a portion of their earnings to the Equestrian Aid Foundation and the Show Jumping Relief Fund to help those who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Bell.
Along with the Gulf Coast Classic, The Classic Company will host three series in the spring and summer, the Ocala Spring Classic March 31-April 4 in Ocala, Florida, the Jacksonville Spring Classic April 7-18 in Jacksonville, Florida and the Aiken Spring Classic June 16-27 at Bruce’s Field in historic Aiken, South Carolina.
For more information about the Gulf Coast Classic and other The Classic Company shows, click here.