Laura Lee Montross rode Koredo to the Low Amateur Owner Hunter Championship title during weeks one and two of the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset. VT. Photo Credit - David Mullinix Photography

July 15, 2009 – East Dorset, Vermont – The first two weeks of competition at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT, were successful ones for Tad, Laura Lee and Nina Montross of Bedford Hills, NY.

During the opening week of competition, the Vermont Summer Special held July 1-5, daughter Nina Montross brought home the Championship title with Indigo in the Low Children’s Jumper division and the Reserve Championship with Believe In Magic in the Pre-Green Pony Hunter section. Meanwhile, Laura Lee exited the ring with the Championship title in the Low Amateur Owner Hunter division riding her husband Tad’s grey gelding, Koredo, in addition to earning a first, two seconds, a third and a fourth place ribbon on her own King Lear.

By the conclusion of week two, the Manchester Summer Festival held July 8-12, Nina had bettered her performances of the prior week with Believe In Magic and won the Pre-Green Pony Hunter Championship. Laura Lee repeated the Championship win on Koredo in the Low Amateur Owner Hunters, while Tad competed in the Modified Adult Hunter ring with Koredo and took home that Championship title.

Each week of the six-week Vermont Summer Festival, the Low Amateur Owner Hunter Champion is presented with an Oughton Overnight Bag from Oughton Limited Equestrian Luggage. The Overnight Bag is the perfect size for a night or two away and is finely crafted of indestructible yet lightweight waxed canvas trimmed in top quality halter leather and imported bronze halter fittings. Tad Montross loved the bag, and was thrilled when Laura Lee won yet again in week two. Now they have a 'his and hers' collection!

The Vermont Summer Festival continues with the third week of competition, the Manchester Classic Horse Show, highlighted by the $30,000 Manchester Classic, Presented by the Equinox Resort, on Sunday, July 19. American Olympic gold medalist Conrad Homfeld has taken up course designing duties in the grand prix ring for week three. Homfeld has been selected as the course designer for the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games which will be held for the first time outside of Europe in Lexington, KY.

Running through to August 9, 2009, the six-week Vermont Summer Festival is the largest “AA” rated hunter/jumper horse show in New England, as well as the richest sporting event based on purse in the state of Vermont, offering more than $750,000 in prize money. For more information about the Vermont Summer Festival, please e-mail: info@vt-summerfestival.com or visit www.vt-summerfestival.com.