July 29, 2006 – East Dorset, Vermont – For the third week in a row, Lissa Bachner of Baltimore, Maryland, claimed the NAL Adult Amateur Hunter Classic during the third week of competition at the Vermont Summer Festival running July 12 to August 13 in East Dorset, Vermont.

Like every champion, Bachner won the NAL Adult Amateur Hunter Classic due to skill and ability. But, unlike most champions, she competes with extremely limited vision. Having lost her left eye in her early 20's to a condition called uvitis, which she describes as having "rheumatoid arthritis in your eye", the 33-year-old competitor faced surgeries on her right eye in 2001 that left her blind. After six months of living with no vision, Bachner's doctors discovered a medication available only in Italy that allowed her to regain limited vision, although somewhat dark and blurry.

"The more I got outside and got back to living life again, the more my brain seemed to remember things," she relates. "Whether I am actually seeing it or whether my brain is painting the picture for me from memory I am not sure, but the more I did, the more I saw. It is amazing to think that I went from being completely blind and on the waiting list for a seeing-eye dog to being able to compete in the hunter ring."

When she does compete, the process is a little different than for most competitors. Bachner's coach, Rachel Kennedy, warms her horse up for her. Then, people are stationed around the outside of the ring, instructing Bachner when to turn. Of course, she relies on the most important component, her horse, to help her successfully negotiate the jumps.

And successful Bachner has been, claiming the NAL Adult Amateur Hunter Classic every week since the Vermont Summer Festival opened. The first week, she won the NAL Classic on her own horse, Maddox, and also placed third with Ebony, a horse owned by Rachel and Oliver Kennedy. During Week 2, the positions were reversed as she won with Ebony while Maddox was third. In Week 3, Maddox made a return to the winner's circle while Ebony enjoyed a week of rest.

"Last year I was just happy to jump the right fences, but this year I want to win!" laughs Bachner, who is quick to credit her horse, Maddox, a six-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Wellington that she imported 18 months ago. "My little 'Max' is on fire! Our relationship is about a lot of trust, and a lot of treats! Every time I walk in the ring, I give him a pat and I say, "You have to take care of me one more time" and he does. He is such an amazing horse!"

This year marked Bachner's third consecutive visit to the Vermont Summer Festival. When she was here two years ago, both of her horses were sold. Last year, she came only for one week as more eye surgery prevented her from enjoying a full summer of showing. This year, she is able to compete the first four weeks of the five-week Vermont Summer Festival.

For Bachner, the secret to her success is the support of those around her, particularly her coach.

"Rachel has me believing that I can get on any horse and win!" laughs Bachner who grew up riding ponies in Virginia. "I had a tough time last year as I lost even more vision and had to have more surgeries. Even though my eye was starting to get worse, instead of telling me that I shouldn't ride anymore, Rachel just said that we had to approach the training differently."

Bachner talks about the great atmosphere at Rachel and Oliver Kennedy's ESP Farm (the ESP stands for Equine Sports Promotions) in Brookville, Maryland.

"I came to Rachel three years ago," said Bachner. "I felt like I was being held back, that my trainer at the time was not allowing me to do all that I could. Everyone at ESP Farm seemed so supportive that I wanted to be there. I know that Rachel would never put me in a position where I could get hurt. She positions people around the ring to tell me where to turn. When she schools the horses for me, she does it with her left eye closed so that she can better understand what it is like for me. If it weren't for Rachel and Oliver, I am sure I wouldn't be riding anymore."

Winning partnerships are all about teamwork, and no one sees that more clearly than Bachner.

Featuring more than $650,000 in prize money, the Vermont Summer Festival includes a $10,000 Mini Prix, Presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, each Friday and, for the first four weeks of competition, a $30,000 Grand Prix every Sunday. The 2006 Vermont Summer Festival closes with the grand finale, the $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix on Sunday, August 13. The Vermont Summer Festival is also a proud member event of the Show Jumping Hall Of Fame, the Marshall & Sterling League, and the North American League (NAL).

For more information about the 2006 Vermont Summer Festival, including full results, please visit www.vt-summerfestival.com.