The Vermont Summer Festival horse show was named one of Vermont’s Top Ten Summer Events by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. Photo by David Mullinix Photography

April 28, 2010 – East Dorset, Vermont – The Vermont Chamber of Commerce has named the Vermont Summer Festival horse show one of the ‘Top Ten Summer Events’ in the state of Vermont.

The Vermont Summer Festival, which this year runs for six consecutive weeks from July 7 through August 15, 2010, is the richest sporting event based on purse held in the state of Vermont, offering more than $750,000 in prize money. New England’s largest “AA” rated hunter/jumper horse show, the annual competition attracts the best athletes, including Olympic medalists, from across the country and around the globe to vie for top honors.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce is the largest state-wide private, not-for-profit business organization representing nearly every sector of the state’s corporate/hospitality community. Numerous factors are considered by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce in naming the Top Ten Summer Events. Events must appeal to out-of-state visitors as well as to Vermonters; appeal to a diverse audience, including children and families; and due to the additional attention a Top Ten Award garners, the event must be able to accommodate an influx of visitors up to twice the normal count.

“We hope that this recognition as a ‘Top Ten Summer Event’ will result in visitors to the state, as well as those who live here, discovering our colorful and exciting sporting event,” said Ruth Lacey, Vermont Summer Festival Marketing Director. “Show jumping is incredibly spectator friendly as the scoring is easy to understand, and everyone can appreciate the athleticism of both the horses and the riders.”

Each summer, thousands of equestrian athletes and enthusiasts flock to the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, just north of the bustling village of Manchester. Known for its wide variety of area amenities including a large range of lodging options, restaurants to suit every taste, and lots of shopping, Manchester warmly welcomes horse show competitors to the area each summer, making the Vermont Summer Festival a popular destination with its clientele.

The first five Sundays of the Vermont Summer Festival feature a $30,000 Grand Prix, culminating with the $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix on Sunday, August 15. Weekly $10,000 Open Welcome Stake classes, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, and weekly $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner Classics are also hotly contested. New for 2010, the Vermont Summer Festival will host a World Championship Hunter Rider qualifying event during week three.

Rewarding those exhibitors who consistently enjoy success while making Manchester their ‘home away from home’, the Vermont Summer Festival will once again offer the $10,000 Open Jumper High Score Award, sponsored by Sir Ruly, Inc. In recognition of the large number of Canadian competitors that visit Vermont each year, there is the $10,000 Canadian Circuit Championship, presented by Ariat, Int’l. Both awards are based on points earned throughout the six-week Vermont Summer Festival. Additional sponsors such as Purina Feeds, Johnson Horse Transportation, Devoucoux, The Equinox, Essex Classic Shirts and Hand Motors help make the Vermont Summer Festival a worthwhile experience.

The Vermont Summer Festival is 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 Vermont Summer Festival and to download a copy of the 2010 prize list, please e-mail: info@vt-summerfestival.com or visit www.vt-summerfestival.com.