Horses - VA Community to Participate in Festivities Scheduled for Sunday, September 30 at Cosequin® USGPL Finals - September 2001 - Equiworld

VA Community to Participate in Festivities Scheduled for Sunday, September 30 at Cosequin� USGPL Finals

CULPEPER, VA (September 27, 2001)-Local community groups are scheduled to
participate in the festivities planned for Sunday, September 30, at the
Cosequin� United States Grand Prix League Finals in Culpeper, Virginia.
Members of the Madison Centaur 4-H Horse Club, Windmore Foundation for the
Arts, Sassy's Party Ponies, Prince Michel Winery, Rappahannock Quintet, and
the Family Dog Club are all Virginians participating in the special events
planned for the last day of the HITS 2001 show season and the grande finale
of the Cosequin� USGPL Finals.

On Sunday, September 30, members of the Madison Centaur 4-H Horse Club will
act as parking directors and ticket-takers at the gate to Commonwealth Park.
Starting at 8am, they will be handing out free gifts and tickets for a
drawing to win a photo with the victor in the $100,000 Cosequin� Grand Prix.
This group of 20 boys and girls ranges in age from nine to 18 years old. All
are active in the group's activities, which includes judging horses,
community service, and educational programs as well as horse showing. Group
Leader Julie Williamson of Reva, Virginia, says, "This is the best group of
4-H Club kids in the state. They're always prepared and supportive of each
other." Members of the group are also pre-selling tickets to Sunday's events
and will keep 100% of the proceeds as a donation from HITS. For tickets, call
540-547-3413.

Artists from the Windmore Foundation for the Arts are presenting an Art Show
in the gazebo in the Vendor Courtyard at the horse show on September 30.
Featured are paintings by equine artist Michelle Powell and animal artist
Kitty Dodd, both from Rappahannock County. Ms. Powell and Ms. Dodd will be on
hand to discuss their work. The Windmore Foundation is based in Culpeper and
was created to promote the arts in the Piedmont Area. The Foundation's goals
are to maintain the diversity of the arts represented and increase the
participation of people from all ethnic and economic backgrounds. As a
fundraiser for the organization, members of the Foundation are pre-selling
tickets and will retain 100% of their sales. For tickets, call 540-547-2555.

The Family Dog Club, Virginia's largest dog agility center, is presenting
demonstrations with show dogs straight from the State Fair in Richmond. The
group will also allow spectators to bring their own dogs to try out their
agility abilities. For $2, you can bring your dog and have unlimited trips
through the equipment which includes jumps and tunnels. Members of the Family
Dog Club will also have a variety of dog agility training equipment for sale.
The dog agility performance/participation area will be set-up in the Vendor
Courtyard from 9:30am until 1pm on Sunday, September 30. Heading up this
group is Rita Phoenix of Tidewater, Virginia.

Sassy's Party Ponies of Richardsville, Virginia, will be providing free pony
rides for kids from 10am until 1pm on Sunday. Sassy has been bringing her
ponies to events for more than 12 years and gives even the smallest
first-time rider the confidence to sit in the saddle and have fun.

In the pavilion for the reserved VIP tables, the Rappahannock Quintet will
perform from 10am until 1pm at the Cosequin� USGPL Finals Champagne Brunch on
Sunday. The members of the group are Celtic harpist Beth Levick, cellist
Brian Smith, violinists Scott Tester and Kathy Tester, and Michael Vinson who
plays hammer dulcimer, guitar and mandolin. The Rappahannock Quintet is known
for their expansive repertoire of musical styles, which ranges from classical
Bach to foot stomping fiddle tunes. Prince Michel Vineyards of Leon,
Virginia, is presenting a wine-tasting in the pavilion as part of the VIP
special seating and dining festivities. Tables for eight for the Continental
Breakfast and Champagne Brunch are available by reservation only. Call
540-825-7469.

Peter L. Suto from Warrenton, Virginia, who is a member of the Windmore
Foundation for the Arts will be singing the National Anthem on Sunday right
before the start of the $100,000 Cosequin� Invitational Grand Prix. Mr. Suto
has performed with the American Light Opera Company, the Washington Opera
Society and the Culpeper Piedmont Choral Society. He has played many major
roles in musical plays, most recently in the Windmore Foundation's production
of "Just Broadway" in Culpeper. The Rappahannock Quintet will accompany Mr.
Suto.

The Invitational Finals classes in four divisions of the Cosequin� USGPL will
be contested on Saturday and Sunday, September 29 and 30. The competitions
are:
$25,000 Pre-Green Hunter sponsored by Stillwell-Hansen & Four Winds Farm,
Saturday, Sept. 29
$15,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Low, Sunday, Sept. 30, 8am
$25,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper High, Sunday, Sept. 30, 10am, and
$100,000 Cosequin� Grand Prix Sunday, Sunday, Sept. 30, 1:00pm

The Cosequin� USGPL Finals is the sixth and last show in the HITS Culpeper
2001 series held from May to September at Commonwealth Park. The horse show
hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 8am to approximately 4pm, with evening
classes on Friday. Parking is free. Admission is free Wednesday through
Saturday. Sunday is $5 per adult, children under 12 free.

DIRECTIONS: HITS Commonwealth Park is located on Rte. 522, 3.5 miles south of
the junction with Rte. 3 in Culpeper, Virginia. During HITS Culpeper horse
shows, telephone 540-825-7469 for more information.

www.HitsShows.com