Fair Hill, MD—August 25, 2003—The 15th annual Fair Hill International Festival in the Country will host the first United States Pony Club (USPC) President’s Cup for the top four Pony Club Senior teams when it comes to the Fair Hill Natural Resources Area in beautiful Fair Hill, MD, October 23-26, 2003.

The USPC President’s Cup will serve as the national championship for the USPC’s Senior Division. The country’s top four teams of Pony Club Seniors, which comprises youngsters age 14-16, will compete for the President’s Cup and ribbons championship. Additionally members of the top four teams will serve as the honor guard for Pan American Eventing Championship Closing Ceremonies on Sunday 26 October.

In addition to the President’s Cup competition, the Fair Hill International, presented by Dansko, Glenmede, and Wilmington Trust, has many other exciting things in store for 2003. This year’s Fair Hill International CCI*** will function as the final phase in a three-event competition for the nation’s top eventing horses and riders. Nunn Finer Products will award one of its new Wofford Cross-Country Classic saddles to the rider who completes the Morven Park CCI*, the Radnor Hunt CCI**, and the Fair Hill International CCI*** with the lowest cumulative score. John Nunn of Nunn Finer Products and legendary eventing rider and coach Jim Wofford, on whose custom eventing saddle the Wofford Classic was based, will present the saddle at the Fair Hill awards ceremony on Sunday, October 26.

Since there was no eventing at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the Fair Hill International has been chosen by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (International Equestrian Federation – FEI) to host this year’s Pan American Eventing Championship. Horses and riders from throughout North and South America and Bermuda are expected to compete for team and individual medals.

Besides the Pan American Eventing Championship, the 2003 Fair Hill International will also host the USET National Pair Horse Driving Championship and the USET Three-Star Eventing Fall Championship which regularly draws Olympic and World Championship veterans. Since the Fair Hill event is one of only two three-star competitions held in the United States, top riders prime their horses specifically to conclude their competitive seasons with this celebrated competition.

Olympic medal-winners Phillip Dutton of Australia, Karen O’Connor, Nina Fout, Linden Wiesman, and Bruce Davidson regularly compete at the Fair Hill International, as does defending Champion David O’Connor, the 2000 Sydney Olympic individual Gold Medalist and 2002 World Equestrian Games team Gold Medalist. At last year’s USET Fall Championship, David O’Connor topped the field during his last appearance with his long-time partner, Custom Made, owned by Xandarius LLC, who was retired following the competition.

In a prelude to the Fair Hill International, Fair Hill will host its second 100-Mile Endurance ride as well a 50-Mile Endurance ride on October 18, 2003.

While world-class equestrian competition makes the Fair Hill International a rare treat for spectators, the amenities at Fair Hill round out the event to provide an ideal family outing. The Country Shops boast a wide variety of shopping and dining, featuring vendors of tack, jewelry, artwork, pet needs, exceptional apparel and fine gifts for the approaching holiday seasons. The Fair Hill Club offers fine dining, while visitors seeking a more casual snack or meal will find pubs around the Fair Hill grounds serving classic Maryland crab-cakes and other treats.

This year, dog agility trials return to Fair Hill with over 200 canine competitors. The Stuart Family Miniature Horses will perform driving, hunter/jumper and obstacle jumping demonstrations along with talks on the care of miniature horses. Friends from the Winterthur booth will offer quick crafts for children and a family sign-up opportunity, and spectators can learn more about the Chesapeake Bay and environmental concerns at the Chesapeake Foundation Booth.

The 2003 Fair Hill International Festival in the Country will benefit Christiana Care Health System, one of the Chesapeake region’s largest not-for-profit health care providers. Christiana Care, which began in 1888, serves the people of Delaware, as well as neighboring areas of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. It maintains a teaching hospital which specializes in cardiology, cancer and women’s health services, and has trauma and neonatal intensive care units that offer an exceptional degree of care.

For further information on the 2003 Fair Hill International, please call (410) 398-2111 or visit www.fairhillinternational.com.

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