New Faces in Hunter Rings Shine at Fourth Week of Vermont Summer Festival

East Dorset, VT—July 31, 2003— Mary Lisa Leffler of Brookeville, MD, rode Lola, owned by Jeanne Marie Gelber, to the win in the First Year Green Working Hunter Division at the Manchester & The Mountains Horse Show, July 30-August 3. This is the fourth week of The Vermont Summer Festival, July 10-August 11, held at the Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.

Leffler rode Lola to blue ribbon finishes in both of the day’s classes held over fences to give her the edge she needed to win the Championship. Shachine Belle rode Attache, owned by JT Farm, to earn the Reserve Championship award.

Later in the morning, Patty Stovel of Alpharetta, GA, and Pierre Jolicoeur’s horse, Nelson B earned a blue ribbon in both of the classes held over fences in the Second Year Green Working Hunter Division. The two blue ribbons combined with a blue ribbon over fences on July 30 earned them the Championship ribbon. The Vermont Summer Festival’s Leading Lady Hunter Rider, Katie Milton of Locust Valley, NY, rode Grace, owned by Manhattan Mortgage, to finish as the Reserve Champion.

After earning two first place ribbons on July 30, Jeff Ayers of Sellersville, PA, and Social Secretary, owned by Thomas and Cynthia Deibert, added another blue ribbon over fences to their collection. The pair’s performances over two days earned them the Champion ribbon in the Green Conformation Hunter Division. Rob Bielefeld rode For the Music for owner Krista Weisman to earn Reserve Championship honors.

Heather Caristo of Hauppauge, NY, rode Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Caristo’s Linea to win the Championship ribbon in the Regular Working Hunter Division. Brian Walker aboard Just, owned by Kristel Keegan, finished as the Reserve Champion.

Megan Young and Courtney McCay, who dominated the equitation divisions the first three weeks of The Vermont Summer Festival have continued their winning ways. Young of Jacksonville, FL, bested a field of 26 riders to win the BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search Class, Presented by Sooner Trailers. McCay of Ocala, FL, finished second.

Young then went on to win the hunter phase of the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) Equitation Classic over 39 riders. McCay finished second behind Young in this class as well.

Another rider from Florida, Dorothy Grubb of Wellington, topped the field of 23 riders to win the USAE Medal. Emily Parker Hock of New York, NY finished second.

The Vermont Summer Festival is New England’s largest “AA” rated hunter/jumper horse show. This year’s event includes five USET-recognized $35,000 Grand Prix to be held on the last day of each show and five $10,000 Mini Prix to be held on the Friday of each show. Each of the five weeks also features a $10,000 Show Jumping Hall Of Fame High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper class, part of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series which determines which junior and amateur/owner riders will qualify to ride at the 2003 National Horse Show.

For further information on the 2003 Vermont Summer Festival, please call (802) 362-9023. For full results, visit the Vermont Summer Festival website
at www.vt-summerfestival.com.