East Dorset, VT—July 11, 2003-- Kristi Smith of Rockport, MA, aboard Jennieta, owned by Knights Fork Inc., won the $10,000 Open Mini Prix at the Manchester Summer Festival, July 9-13. The class was the first of five mini-prix that will highlight each Friday of the Vermont Summer Festival at the Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT, July 9-August 10.

Out of a field of twenty horse-and-rider combinations, Smith was one of only four pairs to complete the first round course fault-free to qualify to ride over the shortened jump-off course. In the end, she was the only rider to produce double clear rounds with a time of 40.524 seconds.

Jimmy Torano of Fort Lauderdale, Fl, who rode first in the class, earned second place aboard Aguila, owned by Sir Ruly Inc. Torano finished the jump-off course in a time of 38.408 seconds but dropped a rail to give him four faults and the second place ribbon.

Caroline Vander Hyden rode her Paganini to the third place finish in the class. She posted a time of 39.921 seconds and four faults in the jump-off.

Smith also earned the fourth place award aboard her second mount of the morning, On the Sly, also owned by Knights Fork Inc. This pair pulled a rail down to give them four faults with a time of 40.806 seconds in the jump-off.

In the equitation divisions, Kate Landau of Rye, NY, bested the field of 29 junior riders to win the ASPCA Horsemanship Medal. Megan Young of Jacksonville, FL, earned second place. Young also bested a field of 57 to earn top honors in the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) Equitation class. Sophie Coppedge of Boston, MA, earned second place honors.

The Vermont Summer Festival is New England’s largest “AA” rated hunter/jumper horse show circuit. This year’s event includes five USET-recognized $35,000 Grand Prix and five $10,000 Mini Prix to be held on the last day of each show. Each of the five weeks also features a $10,000 Show Jumping Hall Of Fame High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper class, part of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series which determines which junior and amateur/owner riders will qualify to ride at the 2003 National Horse Show.

For further information on the 2003 Vermont Summer Festival, please call (802) 362-9023, or visit the Vermont Summer Festival website at
www.vt-summerfestival.com.