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20th Annual Dansko
Returns with Heart Pounding Equestrian Competition
While the Dansko
The Festival returns to the Fair Hill Natural Resources Area in the
beautiful countryside of
World-class equestrian competition in the two international disciplines
of eventing and driving highlights the schedule at the Festival.
Other fun Festival activities also include pony rides, face
painting, arts and crafts, food and merchandise vendors, classic cars,
dog agility trials, and entertaining exhibits and demonstrations.
“Before
now, there has never been a single event that has hosted five driving
championships,” said Charlie Colgan, Fair Hill International Executive
Director. “We are very excited to
offer so many different championship events this year, and hope that our
spectators will enjoy watching the riders navigate their horses as they
compete in the grueling courses we have set up.”
In combined driving, drivers must successfully direct their teams of
one, two, or four horses or ponies through a three-day test of accuracy,
obedience, and speed. Maneuvering
carriages through the 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 in the equestrian world.
This year, combined driving championships will be held in the Pony (a
horse standing 14.2hh or smaller) and Horse Singles (one horse or pony
pulling its carriage), Pairs (either two horses or two ponies pulling
one carriage together), and Four-in-Hand (a team of four ponies pulling
a carriage in unison) divisions.
In order for drivers to navigate the course successfully, they
must be completely in tune with their team and share a mutual trust in
each other.
“It is amazing to see the horses respond to their drivers with such
precision and accuracy,” said Colgan. “Sometimes the driver will just
yell directions to his team, and the horses will recognize the verbal
command and perform the task.”
Reaching this level of skill is something for which drivers spend years
training. Horses must be taught
the simple commands of left and right, as well as such precarious
maneuvers as how to navigate a large boulder or obstacle in their path.
Much like the competitors in the combined driving events, riders and
horses in Fair Hill’s eventing competition also spend countless hours
conditioning and preparing for the prestigious U.S. Equestrian
Federation (USEF) Eventing CCI*** Championships held annually at the
Fair Hill International.
Fair Hill’s eventing Championship is always popular with spectators for
its ultimate combination of speed and precision, endurance and boldness
in both horse and rider. It
is all too common to hear the crowd gasp and cheer as a horse and rider
manage to successfully clear an obstacle despite its size and
treacherousness.
“The
eventing Championship is always spectacular,” said Charlie Colgan.
“Part of what makes it so exciting for spectators is the
opportunity to watch the world’s best athletes — both human and equine —
engage in the three phases of competition: dressage, cross-country and
stadium jumping.”
The dressage phase, which is featured first on Thursday and Friday, is
often described as ‘ballet on horseback.’ Riders guide their horses in a
marked arena performing designated movements at specific locations.
Dressage is judged on the quality and correctness of the
movements as well as the accuracy in which they are performed.
In the cross-county phase horses and riders gallop over the Maryland
countryside at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour, while jumping upwards
of 30 obstacles which can range from large logs, stone walls and hedges
to elaborate water combinations.
Obstacles can measure nearly four feet tall with a width of
almost six feet across the top and more than eight feet across the base.
The show jumping phase is the final event of the Festival’s eventing
Championship. Riders compete over a course (a pre-determined pattern of
jumps) in the stadium arena. The jumps are often brightly colored and
ornately decorated as to challenge the horse’s bravery and boldness.
Speedy and agile horses often do best here, as the riders’ race the
clock while steering towards jumps, often having to navigate tight turns
to stay on course.
As always, great equestrian competition highlights the many attractions
at the Festival. “We’ve
never had a wider array of family attractions than we do this year, with
live music, arts and crafts, exhibits and demonstrations, and so much
more,” said Colgan.
United States Pony Club riders who have been selected to participate in
the President’s Cup Invitational will be riding in Pony Club games at
the Festival. Teams of five
riders and their ponies compete in a variety of relay races, including
the Three Legged Race, the Sack Race, and the Housewife Scurry.
At the end of the day, awards will be given to the winning teams.
The
Festival’s ever popular Dog Agility Trials also return this year with
over 400 canine competitors.
The Delmarva Miniature Horse Club will be on hand to give carriage
driving and hunter/jumper demonstrations.
There will also be a busy schedule of Pony Club Games.
The Festival’s Kids’ Corner will offer fun and educational
activities for the younger set, including arts and crafts, face
painting, pony rides, and more.
Classic cars will be 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.
Various
Also
returning to the Festival this year are the highly popular Country
Shops, boasting a wide variety of shopping and dining opportunities.
Featured are 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 Festival grounds
serving classic
The 2008
Dansko
For more information on this year’s Fair Hill,
including how to purchase tickets, please call (410) 398-2111 or visit
www.fairhillinternational.com. |
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