Fair Hill, MD—October 23, 2003—The start of the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Eventing Fall Championship opened the competition at the 2003 Fair Hill International Festival in the Country. World-class riders and drivers are competing in a variety of equestrian events, highlighted by the 2003 Pan American Eventing Championship, at the Fair Hill Natural Resources Area in Fair Hill, MD, October 23-26.

Riders and horses have converged from Argentina, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada and Mexico, as well as the United States, to battle for the Pan American Championship that begins on Friday. Meanwhile, many of the United States’ top eventing riders began competition on Thursday, riding in the USET Championship and CCI***.

U.S. Olympic veteran Julie Richards of Atlanta, GA took the first-day lead in the USET Championship and CCI***, scoring 48.6 penalties on her 2000 Sydney Olympic mount, Hyde Park Corner. Kristin Schmolze of Montville, NJ is second with a score of 50.6 on Cavaldi and three-time U.S. Olympian Karen O’Connor of The Plains, VA is third with 52.8 penalties on Grand Slam.

The USET Championship and CCI*** serves as the final phase in a three-event competition where Nunn Finer Products is awarding 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.

The 2003 Fair Hill International is also hosting several advanced combined driving competitions highlighted by the USET National Pair Horse Championship, as well as the inaugural United States Pony Club (USPC) President’s Cup competition. The President’s Cup is an Invitational Games competition open to the top four Pony Club Senior Games teams from the 2003 USPC Eastern Championships, which took place in August. Members of the invited teams, comprising youngsters age 14-16, will serve as the honor guard for the Pan American Eventing Championship closing ceremonies.

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.

Fair Hill’s dog agility trials boast over 200 canine competitors. The Stuart Family Miniature Horses are performing driving, hunter/jumper and obstacle jumping demonstrations along with talks on the care of miniature horses. Friends from the Winterthur booth 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 benefits 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.

This year’s sponsors include American Home & Hardware; Bayer; Bit of Britain; Cosequin/Nutramax Labs; County Banking & Trust Co.; Crystal Trust; Dansko; The Equiery; Glenmede Trust Company; Goldman, Sachs & Co.; The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation; Jeff D’Ambrosio Chevrolet; Lexus; Maryland Horse Industry Board; M. H. Eby, Inc.; Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit; NowPac, Inc.; Primedia Equine; Rice, Unruh & Reynolds; Sentman Distributors; Stancill’s; The Stewart Foundation; Summit Aviation; Thornhill Enterprises; Thoroughbred Charities of America, Ltd.; Wachovia; Walnut Green Bloodstock; and Wilmington Trust.

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

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