Visit the YouTube channels for CADI and Freestyle, and the Bear Spot Foundation! Check out our new website Developing Nations Dressage, our BSFDressage website, and Like us on Facebook!

Don't miss a special message from Jane Karol, Founding Director of the Bear Spot Foundation, about the work and focus of the Foundation.

Saddle Mattress will donate $30 directly to the Bear Spot Foundation for Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy for each purchase of a Saddle Mattress from their website using the code "BSF" (plus FREE S/H!)

From "The Boston Globe": "Sorrows Unsaddled: At Concord’s Bear Spot Farm, Jane Karol and her horses guide students through dressage, patients through therapy." Read more...

CADI 2011
Read about CADI 2011 winner Ambriel Weatherly in the article published in the Chronicle of the Horse!

Bear Spot Freestyle is part of the SIGNATURE DRESSAGE SERIES alliance.
Read more...

Horses are so often nutritive to those humans who seek out their company. The work of my foundation honors and draws on the seemingly mystical nourishing quality of the horse. This nourishing quality allows bonds to grow between people of diverse backgrounds, serves as a balm for the disquieted soul, and somehow allows even the most lost to feel at home in their presence.
—Jane Karol

Read the Bear Spot Foundation's newsletter. (PDF format)

Why Sponsor?

The Bear Spot Foundation for Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy provides traditional psychotherapy in an untraditional setting, using horses as therapeutic catalyst.

Freestyle...Serious Fun

The foundation strives to provide the best care to both client and equine therapist.As a non-profit organization that provides services for well below the cost of supporting the therapy horses, and the acceptance of pro bono cases, they are dependent upon the generosity of donors as well as the income from their annual fundraising event Freestyle…Serious Fun (www.bearspotfreestyle.com) .

Children of the Americas Dressage Invitational

The Bear Spot Foundation is devoted to helping children fulfill their dreams using horses as a catalyst. With this mission in mind, the Bear Spot Foundation created and hosts The Children of the Americas Dressage Invitational (www.bearspotcadi.com). These children come from South and Central America, The Islands, Canada and The United States. This international event, a USDF- and USEF-recognized event, creates a cultural exchange among the child dressage riders and their families using their love of horses as a common bond. The CADI relies solely upon entry fees and donations to continue each year.

Each event maintains a distinct personality and flavor of its own. Each offers a myriad of sponsorship opportunities. Please take a moment to explore these individual websites (Bear Spot Freestyle...Serious Fun, Bear Spot CADI), and support the Bear Spot Foundation.

Sponsorship of either of these events, or a direct donation to the Foundation, will enable the work that has been started to continue.

Consider Why Sponsorship Makes Sense

A Growing Base Creates Growing Buying Power
The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), the equestrian national governing body, recently completed a survey that reveals the competitive aspect of the sport continues to grow steadily, and also indicates a base with considerable buying power.

Purchases
The study shows the average member has been active in equestrian sport for 22 years, and members spend over $1.4 billion annually on equine–related purchases, not including horses and travel.

Travel
With regard to travel, in 2004 the average member accounted for 30 hotel room nights, 23 domestic trips and two foreign trips, with vehicle rentals included with these trips.

The survey further shows that members buy from sponsors of equestrian events:

• 76% are more likely to buy products and services that sponsor equestrian events
• 85% are more likely to buy from companies that are sponsors and provide discounts to USEF members
• 58% would take advantage of on-site trials on non-horse related products at equestrian events
• 86% would take advantage of equine-related products at the same events
• 22% own two or more homes
• 63% have traded stocks, bonds or mutual funds in the last year

AHC Study: Horse Industry Has Huge Economic Impact

The horse industry in the United States contributes $39 billion in direct economic impact to the U.S. economy and supports 1.4 million jobs on a full-time basis, according to a new study released today by the American Horse Council (AHC). When indirect and induced spending are included, the industry’s economic impact reaches $102 billion. The study also estimates the horse population in this country has reached 9.2 million. 

The study reveals:

• An industry that is both large and economically diverse, as well as a key contributor to the overall fabric of the U.S. economy
• Horse owners and industry suppliers, racetracks, and off-track betting operations, horse shows and other industry segments all generate discrete economic activity contributing to the vibrancy of the overall industry
• Of the total economic impacts reported, approximately $32.0 billion is generated from the recreational segment; $28.8 billion from the showing segment and $26.1 billion is generated from the racing segment  

“This study paints a portrait of an industry that operates in every corner of the country and contributes mightily to the American economy and culture,” said Jay Hickey, president of the AHC. “Never before has the impact of our industry been so dramatically demonstrated.”

Freestyle 2010…Serious Fun and The Children of the Americas Dressage Invitational are members of The Signature Dressage Series.