Michael Morrissey and Crelido Win Highlife Farms Grand Prix Conformation Jumper Award At Winter Equestrian Festival

Photo: Michael Morrissey and Crelido, owned by Gene Mische, won the Highlife Farms Grand Prix Conformation Jumper Award during the $75,000 Nespresso Grand Prix at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Kenny and Joan Sims, (center) owners of Highlife Farms, presented Crelido with his Conformation Jumper Award along with WEF's Michael Stone (right). (Photo courtesy of Randi Muster Photography)
Wellington, FL (February 5, 2010) - Crelido, ridden by Grand Prix rider Michael Morrissey, captured the Highlife Farms Grand Prix Conformation Jumper Award during the third week of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Crelido and Morrissey earned the prestigious conformation award while competing in the $75,000 Nespresso Grand Prix at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

Morrissey was thrilled to win the conformation award aboard Crelido, a 14-year-old Holstein gelding by Calido. Gene Mische, founder and CEO of Stadium Jumping and Morrissey's uncle, owns Crelido.

Sponsored by Highlife Farms, a world-class sport horse and breeding farm, the Grand Prix Conformation Jumper Award is part of Highlife Farms' ongoing desire to recognize top sport horses. "It was an exciting Grand Prix and in addition to winning the conformation award, Michael and Crelido were also in the ribbons," said Joan Sims, of the Orlando based Highlife Farms. "My husband, Kenny, and I are pleased to be sponsoring the conformation award at WEF."

Highlife Farms' Oldenburg stallion, Prezioso OLD (Pilox), also competed in the $75,000 Nespresso Grand Prix with rider Lauren Hough, and the horse and rider team placed third. "WEF is a great show as it attracts the top horses and riders from all over the world and the competition is superb," Sims said. "Prezioso and Lauren had a double clean round, which was thrilling to watch."

Olympic dressage rider Lisa Wilcox, head trainer at Highlife Farms, believes Sims has a passion for producing exceptional sport horses. "Joan realizes that the key to her success has been her selection of top quality sport horses with exceptional pedigrees for her foundation mares," Wilcox said. "Bloodlines are from Oldenburger, Holsteiner, Hanoverian and Westphalen, many of which have earned elite status with the German Oldenburg Verband."

In addition to sponsoring the Grand Prix Conformation Jumper Award, Highlife Farms is also sponsoring the Highlife Cup during the winter dressage circuit, which is awarded to the show's highest scoring warmblood. For more information on Highlife Farms, visit their website at www.highlifefarms.com