Sulu Rose Reed and Gannon won the $30,000 Mt. Equinox Grand Prix, presented by Equinox, at the 2007 Vermont Summer Festival. Photo by David Mullinix Photography

May 23, 2008 – East Dorset, Vermont – For the seventh consecutive year, Equinox has partnered with the Vermont Summer Festival Horse Show as a Grand Prix presenting sponsor.

The six-week Vermont Summer Festival will be held from July 9 to August 17, 2008, at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT, just outside of the Village of Manchester. The Manchester-based Equinox will be the presenting sponsor of the $30,000 Otter Creek Grand Prix to be held Sunday, July 27, during the third week of competition, the 'Manchester Classic Horse Show'. As part of the sponsorship, Equinox will once again be the site of one of the popular weekly Exhibitor Parties, hosted by the Vermont Summer Festival.

“A significant portion of our client base calls Equinox home during our six-week event – a clear indication of the importance of this partnership,” said Dotty Ammerman, Executive Director of the Vermont Summer Festival. “Their annual journey to Manchester is as much about the competition at the horse show as it is about feeling comfortable at Equinox and enjoying the amenities at this beautiful resort.”

Equinox, the Vermont resort, was established in 1769 and is nestled on 1,300 acres between the Green and Taconic Mountains. The expansive property features 195 rooms and suites, as well as five restaurants and a wide variety of comfort and adventure offerings, all within its picturesque New England village setting. Equinox has just completed an extensive multi-million dollar renovation by renowned designer Geoffrey Bradfield, which will breathe new life into every aspect of the resort.

“Equinox is thrilled to once again sponsor the Vermont Summer Festival,” said Michael Chagnon, Director of Marketing and Communications of Equinox. “We eagerly anticipate hosting friends of the horse show at Equinox this year as they will experience the stunning new look and feel of the resort. We are confident that they will enjoy the plush, comfortable guestrooms and delicious culinary offerings from new restaurants, the ChopHouse and the Falcon Bar. Of course guests will still be treated to the exemplary personal service that Equinox is known for and we are prepared to customize their stay with a slew of exciting outdoor programs, including the brand new Land Rover Off-Road Driving School, the British School of Falconry, Orvis Fly Fishing and world class golf.”

The Vermont Summer Festival is New England’s largest “AA” rated hunter/jumper horse show circuit. This year’s competition features a weekly $10,000 Open Welcome Stake, five USEF-recognized $30,000 Grand Prix events and a USEF-recognized $50,000 Grand Prix on August 17, the final day of competition.

Each of the six weeks 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 which determines which junior and amateur-owner riders qualify to compete at the 2008 National Horse Show. There will also be Marshall & Sterling and North American League (NAL) Child/Adult Classics and NAL Open Speed classes. For more information on the 2008 Vermont Summer Festival, please call (802) 496-9667 or e-mail info@vt-summerfestival.com.

For more information on Equinox, please visit www.equinoxresort.com or contact Michael Chagnon at (802) 362-7894 or email mchagnon@equinoxresort.com.