Caitlin Venezia guided Fair Wind to the First Year Green Working Hunter Circuit Championship title at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. Photo Credit - David Mullinix Photography

August 6, 2009 – East Dorset, Vermont – Several hunter divisions wrapped up their final week of competition on Thursday, August 6, at the six-week Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT, with championship titles and Circuit Champion Awards handed out to the top point earners.

First Year Green Hunter competitors finished their division on a crisp Thursday morning with Caitlin Venezia and Fair Wind adding a Reserve Championship title to their tally of awards. The pair has been on the show grounds for the entire Vermont Summer Festival and competed in four out of the six weeks. As a result, they amassed the necessary points to win the overall First Year Green Circuit Championship title.

Venezia, who rides out of her family’s Holly Hill Farm in Marston Mills, MA, has piloted Fair Wind to all of his career wins for owner Christine MacFarland. Venezia started competing the seven-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding in the First Year Green division in May, and has since consistently won several blue ribbons.

“He is really an old soul,” said Venezia. “He is the first young horse that I have ridden that has been this good. He is a quick study and has the mind, not to mention the style and temperament, to be the ultimate junior hunter. His stride, way of going and expression are just perfect. He is such a pleasure to work with.”

In the Green Conformation Hunter division, Frontman was awarded the Circuit Championship title. Owner Charlotte Williams of Fulton, MD, could not have been prouder of her six-year-old bay gelding.

“He just loves to show off,” said Williams. “Linda Orton shows him in the Conformation and I show him in the Adult division. All of this just seems to suit him. He especially loves the handy hunter rounds, probably because he has a short attention span, but as young as he is, that is fine. I just love him.”

The winner of the Second Year Green Hunter Circuit Championship was Bruce Wayne ridden by Mary Lisa Leffler of Brookeville, MD, for owner Nicole Wood. The horse has many of the characteristics of his namesake including being handsome, smooth and suave as he goes about his job.

Bantry Bay earned the Circuit Championship title in the Regular Working Hunter division. Owned by Courtney Plutte of Darien, CT, Bantry Bay was consistently in the ribbons under rider Kim Mulligan to earn the overall title.

The Vermont Summer Festival continues with the final week of competition, the Vermont Summer Celebration, culminating in the $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix on Sunday, August 9, 2009, the final day of competition.

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.