Horsin' Around, a Special Supplement to the Delmarva Farmer Newspaper

9.19.2006

ELKTON, Md. — Organizers of the Fair Hill Internationl Festival in the Country hope they have a recipe for success, combining high level equestrian competition with activities to attract the public.
Oct. 19-22 will mark the 18th year of the event at Fair Hill’s 5,613 acre Natural Resource Management Area. The festival is centered around the United States Equestrian Federation’s three star level Fall Eventing Championships and Combined Driving Championship. The eventing competition is one of only two in the country at the three star level. It will bring riders from all over the eastern half of the U.S. and several countries, said Charlie Colgan, executive director for Fair Hill International.
“Competitors have to come to Fair Hill to qualify for the Olympics,” Colgan said.
Along with the competitions, the festival will feature many other activities designed to attract families and expose them to equestrian sports. “The idea is to get them here to show them a good time and educate them as well,” Colgan said. “We feel as though we have a wonderful festival that people just plain don’t know about. We’ve taken steps this year to broaden the concept and appeal of the festival in hopes of drawing an even greater public interest, and we’re excited about the potential this new focus should create for our attendance.”
Activities include: dog agility trials; live music; country shops; a kids’ corner with pony rides, face painting and crafts; classic cars; sheep herding; equestrian demonstrations; educational exhibits; and more.
Saturday Oct. 21 and Sunday Oct. 22 are the big draws, with the cross county and stadium jumping phases of the competition taking center stage, Colgan said and offered tips on veiwing the cross country phase.
“What you want to do is find a spot where you can see a jump and stay there, or find a spot where you can see several jumps.”
The eventing competition — one of the most prestigious events in the world — is the sport’s national championship. In 2003, Fair Hill hosted the Pan American Eventing Championships as a platform for countries to qualify teams for the 2004 Olympic Games.