Louisville, KY (January 19, 2010) – Respected and highly decorated Olympic dressage rider Carol Lavell found herself in the spotlight during the 2010 USEF Annual Convention when she won a raffle from The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center in Ocala. The world-class therapy and rehabilitation center was a sponsor of the USEF Annual Convention and Lavell won a $250 gift certificate during a break sponsored by The Sanctuary.

Lavell was thrilled with her win and said she believes The Sanctuary offers dressage horses a much-needed service. “Dressage horses need to be treated as athletes. They have the same muscle injuries and tendon injuries that humans do,” Lavell said. “The Sanctuary is like a spa for horses and it is great that they have so many services at one location. I see a lot of sore backs and stifles in dressage horses and The Sanctuary has the ability to treat them.”

Lavell, well known for her partnership with her late equine partner Gifted, won a bronze medal in the 1992 Olympics. Lavell also competed in two World Equestrian Games and three Pan American Games. Currently Lavell owns the dressage star Much Ado, and she hopes that he will qualify for the 2010 World Equestrian Games with rider Gwen Poulin.

“It was very exciting to have Carol Lavell win the gift certificate to The Sanctuary during the USEF convention. Carol is a dressage icon and we look forward to her bringing her dressage horse Much Ado to The Sanctuary,” said Brenda McDuffee, General Manager of The Sanctuary. “The Sanctuary is well-suited for treating medical conditions that often face dressage horses. We have a lot of top dressage horses who are using The Sanctuary’s facilities for rehab, post-surgery rehab, conditioning, fitness and training.”

Located on 30 pristine acres in Ocala, Florida, The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center is a world-class, multi-million dollar facility dedicated to the healing, conditioning and well being of all equine athletes. The Sanctuary features some of the most advanced conditioning and rehab equipment in the world and their staff is committed to excellence.

Rehab equipment offered at The Sanctuary includes an Equine Hyperbaric Chamber with box stall type freedom of movement while therapy is administered, as well as an Aqua Pacer Water Treadmill, the safest, most effective water treadmill available. The center also features: a Cold Saltwater Leg Spa featuring 34 degree, highly salinated water for all types of leg therapy; an Equine Swimming Pool – a 110 foot long, 14 foot deep inline pool with therapeutic water; a 5/8 mile race track; two Eurocisers with therapeutic tracking surface – one under cover and one outdoors; Solariums; Temperature-controlled veterinary inspection area with semi-surgical lighting, and rubberized surfaces in most areas.

For more information on The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, visit their website at www.sanctuaryequinerehab.com.