John D. Ammerman, left, with Jane Clark and George Morris, was inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame during the $200,000 American Invitational at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL, on April 9, 2011. Photo by Kenneth Kraus, PhelpsSports.com

April 15, 2011 – East Dorset, Vermont – John D. Ammerman was inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame on April 9, 2011, in Tampa, FL.

In a special presentation held during the $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational in Raymond James Stadium, Ammerman, Leonard King and the horse, Good Twist, were inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame. There are now 70 inductees in the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, all formally recognized by their peers as having had a significant impact on the equestrian community.

Ammerman, who has been producing the Vermont Summer Festival horse show for over 20 years, has a long and storied history in the show jumping industry.

As an FEI ‘O’ judge for show jumping, one of only two in the United States, Ammerman officiated at two Olympic Games, in 1984 in Los Angeles and in 1996 in Atlanta. He was also the President of the Ground Jury for the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada, as well two editions of the World Cup Final. Ammerman has also officiated at numerous prestigious events in North America, including Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Canada, the Washington International Horse Show, New York’s National Horse Show, and Toronto’s Royal Horse Show.

As a competition manager, Ammerman guided the Washington International Horse Show for nearly three decades, and also managed such events as the Potomac Horse Festival, Upperville Colt and Horse Show, Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show, and both HITS Indio and HITS Ocala winter circuits. For more than 20 years, Ammerman and his wife, Dotty, have produced the Vermont Summer Festival which currently runs for six weeks each summer in East Dorset, VT.

In addition to his role as competition official and manager, Ammerman was also a respected jump constructor, building the obstacles for some of the nation’s most prestigious horse shows. Jumps designed and produced by John D. Ammerman Inc. were first featured at the Washington International Horse Show in 1965 and were chosen for the 1979 Pan American Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the 1980 World Cup Final in Baltimore, and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Ammerman has also served his sport by volunteering as a member of the USEF Jumper Committee, the USEF Management Committee, and the Board of Directors of both the American Grandprix Association and the Show Jumping Hall of Fame.

“It is truly a once in a lifetime honor,” said Ammerman, who continues to officiate as an FEI ‘O’ judge as well as produce the Vermont Summer Festival. “The induction was quite something. Having it during the American Invitational was also nice, considering that we used to build the jumps for this event.”

The 2011 Vermont Summer Festival, New England’s largest “AA” rated hunter/jumper horse show, will take place from July 6 to August 14 at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT. Offering more than $750,000 in prize money, the Vermont Summer Festival is the richest sporting event based on purse in the state of Vermont. For more information about the Vermont Summer Festival, please e-mail: info@vt-summerfestival.com or visit www.vt-summerfestival.com.