Land Rover North America Returns as Official Vehicle of the Rolex Central Park Horse Show

With its backdrop of towering skyscrapers, there really is no more breathtaking a venue for a horse show than New York's Central Park, writes Kim McCullough, Brand Vice President, Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC.

It was no surprise that last year's inaugural Central Park Horse Show Presented by Rolex, right in the heart of Manhattan, was such an outstanding success. Last year, Land Rover offered its enthusiastic support by signing‑up as the Official Vehicle of this truly landmark event, and the brand is back again this year.

We're truly thrilled to be in New York. The city is such an important market for the Land Rover brand, with more Range Rover and Range Rover Sport vehicles sold here than in any other metropolitan area in the world.

To mark the occasion, we'll be showcasing a vehicle with more horsepower than any Land Rover ever ‑ the sensational 550‑hp 2015 Range Rover Sport SVR. It will take pride of place right inside the competition arena.

This year's tournament, which runs Wednesday evening through Sunday, will again showcase Olympic‑caliber riders from the US, Canada and around the world, as they compete for close to $300,000 in prize money. The event will feature a wide array of equestrian disciplines, including Dressage, Show Jumping, Arabians and Hunters.

New Yorker Georgina Bloomberg, daughter of former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, will be back in the show jumping arena defending her win in last year's inaugural $210,000 Central Park Grand Prix CSI 3*. She'll be competing on Friday at 8 P.M. with her event scheduled to air on NBC Sports Network during prime time on Sunday.

For many visitors, the highlight of the weekend could well be the adorable Pony Club for some of the younger riders, taking place during the Saturday and Sunday matinee. After finishing their ride, kids will have the chance to leap off their ponies and into a mini electric Land Rover Series 1, and take it through a snaking course of cones. It's going to be such fun to watch these youngsters show off their driving skills.

Land Rover has a deep‑rooted connection, a true bond, with the equestrian community that goes back over three decades. In addition to sponsoring such major events as the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in the UK, the Rolex Kentucky Three‑Day Event, and the Land Rover Great Meadow International in Virginia, we continue to be a passionate supporter of the United States Equestrian Federation, with Land Rover being the Official Vehicle of USEF for the past six years.

This past July, we watched with huge pride as the US Eventing Team won Team Gold and an Individual Gold in the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto, qualifying the team for the Olympic Games in Rio next summer.

The 2015 Rolex Central Park Horse Show opens Wednesday September 23 at 6.00 P.M. and runs through Sunday September 27. For more information visit www.cphs.coth.com