Wednesday, October 18, The First Vererinary Inspection

Fifty-nine horses trotted up at Fair Hill International CCI*** this afternoon.

Among those with multiple horses were Buck Davidson who plans to run three - Tommy Star, New Moon and Idalgo. Five other competitors expect to run two horses each: Jonathan Holling has Lion King II and Direct Merger; Kristen Bond will run Three Wishes II and Fleeceworks Blackout; Will Coleman will ride A Second Hope and Twizzle; Samantha Taylor will run Livewire and Lucinda II; and Melissa Hunsberger has entered Expedience and Just Fun Stuff..

Among those in with a chance is the recent winner of an Advanced Section at Morven Park as well as the winner of the Advanced at the American Eventing Championships, Kristin Bachman with Gryffindor. Laura Vandervliet, a second placed competitor in one the two Advanced Sections at Morven with Warrie Hill, could be a contender.

The Dressage winners at Morven, who did not run Cross Country, also merit consideration: Stuart Black and Fleeceworks Starlight (Stuart and Fleeceworks Starlight are pictured above at the right.) and Darren Chiacchia who will ride Better I Do It.

Of course, Australia's Phillip Dutton, who is a three time previous winner at Fair Hill and is fresh from his first victory at the Radnor CCI**, cannot be taken lightly. This year Phillip will ride Mrs. Annie Jones' Tru Luck. (Phillip and Tru Luck are pictured at the right below.)

Another previous winner, Bruce Davidson will run Jam, who was a winner of an Advanced Section at Rocking Horse Winter LL Horse Trials last February. (Bruce and Jam are pictured at the left above.) This is a pair which must not be over looked.

Several ladies will be very tough - Karen O'Connor riding the pony, Theodore O'Connor, is a two time previous winner; Jan Byyny with Waterfront; Mara Dean with Nicki Henley, the winner of the Bromont CCI** last year; and Gina Miles from Creston, California, who has brought her 2006 Adequan Gold Cup winner McKinlaigh.

One horse, Mimi Black's Fleeceworks Mullingar, was sent to the Holding Area. Happily he passed upon re-inspection.

The Dressage will not begin before 9:00 AM on Thursday morning.

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Update on Kyle Carter's Gibson, who was Injured Last Saturday at Radnor:

Gibson, who has a tendon injury, was picked up by Kyle at the New Bolton Center Veterinary Hospital last Monday. He is currently at Bruce Davidson's barn in Unionville, PA, and will be going back to Florida with Carter after Fair Hill.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Beth Gold, 410-392-9245, classic.pr@verizon.net

Fair Hill International Festival in the Country Gets Started

Olympic and World Championship Equestrians Headline Attractions

Fair Hill, MD—October 18, 2006—This year’s Fair Hill International Festival in the Country is officially underway. Highlighting the 18th annual Festival is world-class equestrian competition is eventing and combined driving. Olympic and World Championship veterans are primed and ready for the excitement of the impending competition.

The Festival once again hosts the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) Eventing CCI*** Championship in addition to Advanced and Intermediate Level Combined Driving competitions.

The Eventing Championship, always popular with spectators for its ultimate combination of speed and precision, endurance and boldness in both horse and rider, is one of only two eventing competitions of such high caliber in the country. As such, it regularly draws some of the world’s best horses and riders. Among those entered this year are Olympic Games medalists such as Phillip Dutton, Bruce Davidson, Sr., Karen O’Connor, and Darren Chiacchia. With the completion of Wednesday’s horse inspection, the eventers are ready for the opening dressage phase on Thursday.

Thursday morning (not before 9:00 AM), the CCI*** Dressage will begin in the William duPont, Jr. Arena. Country Shops, Merchandise Tent and Food Court all open at 8:00 am and will remain open throughout the week. “Horse Play,” a play about horses through history, will take place in the William duPont, Jr. Arena at 5:00 pm.

Fair Hill’s Combined Driving, or carriage driving, competitions are also very exciting to watch. Drivers direct their teams of one, two or four horses or ponies through a three-day test of accuracy, obedience and speed. Maneuvering carriages through challenging obstacles with only inches to spare, plus the added drama of a race against the clock, makes for some of the most heart-pounding action spectators will ever experience.

Stiff competition is expected as those likely to be on hand this year include 2005 Fair Hill winners Suzy Stafford, Lisa Singer, and Tracey Morgan. Stafford was an individual Gold Medalist at the 2005 World Pony Driving Championships. Singer, a seven-time U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Pairs Driving Champion, was the highest-placing American when she finished 11th out of 76 entries in last year’s World Pairs Driving Championship.

Driving has its horse inspection on Thursday and the dressage phase starts on Friday at 8:00 am in the Driving arena. CCI*** Dressage action continues on Friday and the CCI*** Start Box will be open to the public.

On Saturday, the driving marathon begins at 7:30 AM, followed by the start of USDAA Dog Agility at 8:00 AM.

The first CCI*** horse will start cross-country at 12:30 PM.

On Sunday the driving cones phase starts at 9:00 AM and Eventing’s show jumping begins at 1:00 PM. Paws for Life public doggie classes and events and sheep herding demonstrations all take place before the final awards ceremony at 4:00 PM.

In addition to exciting equestrian competition, the Festival features dog agility trials, kids’ activities, arts and crafts, classic cars, live music, entertaining exhibits and demonstrations, and more.

“The Fair Hill Festival has exciting family activities, popular dog agility trials, puppet shows and live music, agricultural exhibits, and food and merchandise vendors,” said Charlie Colgan, Fair Hill International Executive Director. “As always, our attractions are headlined by world-class equestrian competition. This year, we’ve made some changes to the competition courses that will bring the action to within just a few feet of spectators. It’s going to be an experience not-to-be-missed!”

The Festival’s ever popular Dog Agility Trials return with over 400 canine competitors. The Maryland Agricultural Showcase offers fun exhibits and hands-on activities to educate local youth about agriculture and careers in the agricultural industry. Talented puppeteer Jack Foreaker will delight visitors of all ages with his entertaining performances.

Local 4-H groups and their four-legged equine friends will perform a play that follows the evolution of the horse through history. The Delmarva Miniature Horse Club will be on hand to give carriage driving, jumping and in-hand demonstrations. Qualified U.S. Pony Club members, age 10-16, will compete in the exciting President’s Cup Invitational Games which feature challenging mounted relay races that are as much fun to watch as they are to ride in.

Rebecca Pitre/Whoa Buddy Productions will present “Let’s Take a Ride,” a fun, educational performance of bluegrass-inspired original songs for horse lovers of all ages. There will also be sheep herding demonstrations with Stephen Paxton-Smith and his dog, who were this year’s Canadian Reserve Champions. Fair Hill visitors and their canines can even take part in the Paws for Life doggie competitions, costume contests and other events that are open to everyone!

The Festival’s Kids’ Corner offers fun and educational activities for the younger set, including arts and crafts, face painting, and pony rides. Classic cars are on hand for those who want a chance to reminisce about their younger years, as well as for younger people looking to connect with icons from an earlier era.

The popular Country Shops boast a wide variety of shopping and dining opportunities, including vendors of tack, jewelry, artwork, pet needs, exceptional apparel and fine gifts for the approaching holiday seasons. It’s a great place to get a jump on your holiday shopping!

The Festival of Art is open each day in the Fair Hill Club, which offers fine dining. Visitors seeking a more casual snack or meal will find pubs around the Festival grounds serving classic Maryland crab-cakes and other tasty treats.

The 2006 Fair Hill International Festival in the Country benefits Union Hospital of Cecil County in Elkton, MD. The hospital, whose mission is to enhance the health and well-being of the residents of Cecil County and its neighboring communities, has been caring for area families and neighbors for nearly 100 years.

For more information on this year’s Fair Hill, including ways to purchase tickets, please call (410) 398-2111 or visit www.fairhillinternational.com.

2006 schedule (all times tentative)

Wednesday, October 18

2:00 PM CCI*** Horse inspection, William duPont, Jr. Arena

Thursday, October 19

8:00 AM Country Shops, Merchandise Tent and Food Court open

Not before 9:00 AM CCI*** Dressage starts, William duPont, Jr. Arena

8:30 AM Fair Hill Club open (day memberships available)

8:30 AM Festival of Art open, Fair Hill Club

12 Noon – 2:30 PM Lunch served in Fair Hill Club

3:00 PM Driving horse inspections, Cecil County Fairgrounds

5:00 PM Welcome reception, Fair Hill Club

5:00 PM “Horse Play”- A play about horses through history, William duPont, Jr. Arena

Friday, October 20

8:00 AM Country Shops, Merchandise Tent and Food Court open

8:00 AM USDAA Dog Agility starts

8:00 AM Driving dressage starts, Driving Arena

Not before 9:00 AM CCI*** Dressage starts, William duPont, Jr. Arena

8:30 AM Fair Hill Club open (day memberships available)

8:30 AM Festival of Art open, Fair Hill Club

12 Noon – 2:30 PM Lunch served in the Fair Hill Club

1:30 PM CCI*** Dressage continues, William duPont, Jr. Arena

4:00 PM CCI*** Course walk, CCI*** Start Box (open to the public, fee to be announced)

4:00 PM Wine and cheese reception, Country Shops

Saturday, October 21

7:30 AM Driving marathon starts

8:00 AM USDAA Dog Agility starts

8:00 AM Country Shops, Merchandise Tent and Food Court open

8:30 AM Fair Hill Club open (day memberships available)

8:30 AM Festival of Art open, Fair Hill Club

9:00 AM Children’s activities open

9:00 AM Delmarva Miniature Horse Club demonstration, CCI*** Grass Warm-up Arena

9:30 AM U.S. Pony Club President’s Cup Games, William duPont, Jr. Arena

10:00 AM U.S. Pony Club and 4-H cross-country course walk, CCI*** Start Box

10:00 AM Sheep herding demonstrations, Driving Dressage Arena

10:00 AM Public course walk, CCI*** Start Box

10:30 AM – 2:30 PM Rebecca Pitre/Whoa Buddy Productions live music, Country Shops

11:00 AM “Horse Play” – A play about horses through history, CCI*** Grass Warm-up arena

12 Noon – 2:30 PM Lunch served in the Fair Hill Club

12:30 PM First CCI*** horse starts cross-country

1:00 PM Delmarva Miniature Horse Club demonstration, Location TBA

2:00 PM Jack Foreaker puppet show, Kids’ Corner

3:00 PM U.S. Pony Club President’s Cup Games, William duPont, Jr. Arena

3:30 PM Sheep herding demonstrations, Driving Dressage Arena

Sunday, October 22

7:30 AM CCI*** Horse inspection

8:00 AM Country Shops, Merchandise Tent and Food Court open

8:00 AM USDAA Dog Agility starts

8:30 AM Fair Hill Club open (day memberships available)

8:30 AM Festival of Art open, Fair Hill Club

9:00 AM Driving cones starts, William duPont, Jr. Arena (awards follow each class)

9:00 AM Children’s activities Open

11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Brunch served in the Fair Hill Club

11:00 AM Paws for Life public doggie classes and events

12:00 Noon Sheep herding demonstrations, Driving Dressage Arena

12:30 PM U.S. Pony Club President’s Cup Games awards, William duPont, Jr. Arena

12:45 PM Delmarva Miniature Horse Club demonstrations, Kids’ Area

12:45 PM CCI*** Jumping course walk with Sally Ike, course designer

1:00 PM CCI*** Jumping starts, in reverse order of standing

4:00 PM CCI*** Awards, William duPont, Jr. Arena