Big Name Riders Hit South Beach For Premier Event
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Longines Global Champions Tour is one of the top equestrian events in the world, and South Beach is the first stop on a 15 city worldwide tour.
On Friday afternoon, several riders were warming up for the jumping competition judged on both speed and time.
Georgina Bloomberg, daughter of business mogul and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, is riding several events throughout the weekend.
"My dad is supportive of my riding. He has seen me take quite a few falls and break bones, but my dad and I are alike. He understands we go for what we want in life," she told CBS4's Lisa Petrillo.
More than 200 horses will compete – some with price tags in the $10 million range.
The list of the riders include big names like Georgina Bloomberg, Athina Onassis de Miranda, Jessica Springsteen and Hannah Selleck.
And it's one of the few Olympic sports where men and women compete on same level.
"These are the best riders and horses in the world. According to our rules, we invite the best 30 riders in the world they follow all the top championships," said Marco Danese, sports director for the Longines Global Champions Tour.
Horse and riders complete a course of roughly 13 jumps that average 5 feet in height.
Having this incredible competitive event here on the sands of South Beach is both exhilarating and challenging.
"We're used to competing in beautiful, scenic arenas where there is a lot of distraction but this is close to the arena so you have to make sure you and your horse are focused on the jumps," Georgina Bloomberg said.
The Longines Global Champions Tour is on now through Sunday. For more info, visit www.globalchampionstour.com.