Bermuda Equestrian Federation (BEF) director McKeisha Smith has dubbed the weekend’s Welcome Home Show as a huge success.The two-day event showcased the talents of overseas professional riders Jill Terceira, Patrick Nisbett, Ki Minors and Raishun Burch who captained teams comprised of local junior and adults in a show jumping competition.Nisbett and Terceira represented Bermuda at this year’s Pan Am Games in Mexico, Minors competes in the US while University student Burch, who is regularly based in Germany, also competes internationally.Annabelle Collins, who competes in Europe, was also on hand to put on a dressage demonstration for those in attendance at Botanical Gardens.The primary objective for the Welcome Home Show was to help raise funds for a rider to represent Bermuda at next year’s Olympic Games in the UK as well as send a junior rider abroad to train next summer.Even yesterday’s torrential rain didn’t put a damper on the show as committee chairman Smith gave the event the proverbial thumbs-up.“The Welcome Home Show was very well attended and well supported,” she said. “I just want to thank all the sponsors who supported this event that has far exceeded our expectations.“We wouldn’t say we necessarily had a target because we just didn’t know how well this event would be supported. But it was definitely well needed for the sport and it was just a lot of excitement.”The fundraiser gave the Island’s overseas professional riders the chance to share their wealth of expertise with up and coming riders.“Just having the riders here from overseas do a little bit of coaching and share their expertise has given some of these kids extra confidence,” she said. “The team captains have been absolutely excellent with these kids.”Smith said the event also helped forge new friendships within the local equestrian community.“There were some riders who ride out of different stables that probably never spoke to each other before,” she said. “But they were forced to speak and be around each other because they were on teams and this was a team event.”Smith said yesterday downpour failed to deter the competitors declared that the show must go on.“I was trying to call the show off but my riders wanted to ride and it was really up to them,” she added. “They came from far away to accommodate us and they wanted to ride.“They were very keen to ride and so the show had to go on.”