Mark Bluman of Colombia, pictured here riding G&C Blue, was a frequent visitor to the winner's circle at the 2013 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. Photo by David Mullinix

April 7, 2014 – East Dorset, VT – The prize list for the 2014 Vermont Summer Festival is now available online. Show management looks forward to another spectacular year of competition from July 1 through August 10 at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT, and is thrilled to announce that electronic entries will again be accepted thanks to a continuing partnership with Equestrian Connect.

Equestrian Connect, the one-minute horse show entry service, allows exhibitors to complete their entry forms for all six weeks of the Vermont Summer Festival completely online – no mailing required! The deadline for entries for the first three weeks of the Vermont Summer Festival is Tuesday, June 3. Entries for the remaining three weeks of the show are due on Tuesday, June 17.

The first five Saturdays of the Vermont Summer Festival will once again feature a $30,000 Grand Prix. The $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix will be held during the sixth and final week of competition on Saturday, August 9. The weekly $10,000 Open Welcome Stake, Presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, will be held each Thursday.

Each Saturday of the Vermont Summer Festival, the NAL Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic and the Marshall & Sterling Children and Adult Jumper Classics will have center stage in the grand prix ring, with the $15,000 Vermont Celebration Children's/Adult Jumper Classic taking place during week six.

The hugely popular $5,000 3'3" Hunter Derby will also be held each Thursday for the first five weeks, culminating with the $15,000 Hunter Derby in week six. Week three will also see World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition.

Returning in 2014 following a successful inaugural year are "Equitation Tuesdays", held each week of the Vermont Summer Festival, as well as TAKE2 Thoroughbred Hunter and Jumper divisions during weeks two, three, four, and five.

New to the 2014 Vermont Summer Festival prize list is the addition of a 3'3" Junior Hunter division and the National PHA Medal class, both featured every week of the Vermont Summer Festival. A complete laser ring maintenance system has also been put in place for the 2014 show circuit, enabling the Vermont Summer Festival to continue to provide a show atmosphere of the highest caliber for its exhibitors.

The Vermont Summer Festival is New England's largest hunter/jumper competition and offers more than $750,000 in prize money, making it the richest sporting event based on purse in the state of Vermont. For over 20 years, the Vermont Summer Festival has attracted exhibitors and their families to the Manchester region in southern Vermont for great competition in an ideal summer setting.

The Vermont Summer Festival is a proud member event of the Show Jumping Hall Of Fame, the Marshall & Sterling League, and the North American League (NAL). Please e-mail us or visit our website for more information about the Vermont Summer Festival.