July 21, 2005 – East Dorset, Vermont – Julie Welles, 17, of West Simsbury, Connecticut, had quite a morning at the Manchester Classic Horse Show in East Dorset, Vermont, on Thursday, claiming victories in two major classes.

Welles riding Otter, owned by North Run Stables and Missy Clark, won the USEF Talent Search, topping a field of 25 horses, and then, aboard the same horse, went on to win the WIHS (Washington International Horse Show) Hunter Phase, besting a field of 35 entries. Judge Walter “Jimmy” Lee officiated for both classes.

In other featured competition on Thursday, Jacqueline Lubrano riding Armani for owner Horizon Hill Farm claimed the USEF Hunter Seat Medal, outperforming a field of 31 horses, and, in the Grand Prix ring, Robin Swinderman riding her own Lord Byron Z won the Open NAL Speed III as the fastest of six riders who rode fault-free in a field of 10 entries. The Manchester Classic Horse Show is the second week of the Vermont Summer Festival, which features hunter/jumper competition Wednesday through Sunday, every week through August 14th at the Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, Vermont.

Two blue-ribbon winner Welles, has trained with Missy Clark for the past three years, but began riding at age three and started her show career as a nine-year-old. Welles also currently trains with Linda Langmeier at the Ethel Walker School in Connecticut, where she will be a senior this fall. Otter, the horse Welles rode for both wins today, is a 12-year-old bay warmblood gelding.

In the USEF Talent Search class, Welles was at ease on a mount she knows well. “I just went in like it was a normal class. I felt comfortable on Otter because I showed him a lot last year,” Welles said. “He has such a big stride and the course allowed him to use his big stride to our advantage.”

Welles described the USEF Talent Search course, designed by Dave Ballard, as, “very interesting. The lines were very forward. You had to have a very forward pace and adjust when you needed to.”

The USEF Talent Search is an equitation class in which the rider is judged rather than the horse, and Welles noted that her consistent pace was the key factor in her winning ride today. “I felt like I had the same pace throughout the course,” Welles said. “It all flowed really nicely together.”

The class is a qualifier for the USEF Talent Search Finals that will be held at the USET Foundation headquarters in Gladstone, New Jersey. Welles, who is already qualified for the Finals, will be competing at Gladstone for the third consecutive year.

Following her win in the USEF Talent Search, Welles and Otter went on to conquer the WIHS Hunter Phase. “This horse jumps so well that I can just loop the reins and he jumps up really well,” Welles said. The WIHS Jumper Phase will be held Friday, July 22, and Welles will again ride Otter. Welles is aiming to qualify to compete at the Washington International Horse Show, which allows the top 30 riders in this class from qualifiers held around the nation to compete in the Finals. If she accumulates enough points, Welles will be competing in the WIHS Finals for the second consecutive year.

Like the USEF Talent Search, the WIHS Hunter Phase is an equitation class. Welles reflected on how she was able to garner two victories today, both judged on her performance as a rider. “Personally, I feel like I’m very consistent with my riding,” Welles said. “I always go in with a workman-like attitude and try to do my best.”

Welles also acknowledged that after so many years in the sport, riding well comes naturally. Perhaps there is a genetic factor as well – superstar Grand Prix rider Jeffrey Welles is a cousin of Julie’s father. For Julie Welles, however, the essence of her riding lies in her own assessment of her performances. “It feels good to win, but I just try to ride well,” Welles said. “You can’t get wrapped up in all the placings. If I win it’s exciting, but if I don’t, I just have to know that I rode well.”

Welles plans to attend college after she graduates high school and is looking at schools with riding programs. She has not yet selected a major or determined whether she will become a professional in the horse business. “We’ll see what happens,” Welles said with a smile.

JULY 13-17 – Manchester Summer Festival
JULY 20-24 – Manchester Classic Horse Show
JULY 27-31 – Valley Classic Horse Show
AUGUST 3-7 – Manchester & the Mountains Horse Show
AUGUST 10-14 – Vermont Summer Celebration

As per tradition, the Vermont Summer Festival will feature a $10,000 Mini Prix every Friday, as well as a $30,000 Grand Prix held each Sunday for the first four weeks. New for 2005, the Vermont Summer Festival will conclude with a grand finale, the $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix. Each of the five weeks will also feature 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. Marshall & Sterling and North American League (NAL) classes are also held throughout the five weeks of competition.

The North American League (NAL) runs season-long series in six hunter and jumper divisions – Children’s Hunter, Children’s Jumper, Adult Hunter, Adult Jumper, Pony Jumper, and Open Jumper Speed. Each series culminates with a championship final at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in October. Riders need not be members of the NAL to compete in any qualifying classes, but only current members earn points toward year-end finals. For more information and a list of qualifying competitions for 2005, please visit the Ryegate Show Services website at www.Ryegate.com.

For further information on the 2005 Vermont Summer Festival, please visit www.vt-summerfestival.com, e-mail: info@vt-summerfestival.com or call (802) 496-9667 or (802) 362-9023.