September 2020 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN September 2020 Page 9 © 2020 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved. Legends ® feeds are fortified by Kentucky Equine Research to meet your horse’s individual needs. For feeding advice or to create a custom ration, visit microsteed.com/legends. Visit ker.com/legends to read the latest in equine nutrition and health and subscribe to the Equinews ® newsletter presented by Legends ® Feeds. VISIT US AT LEGENDSHORSEFEED.COM A pelleted, fixed-ingredient formula, specifically designed for mature horses in light to moderate performance, pleasure and show activities. Dutton Wins Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill Test Event By Jessica Duffy US Eventing Association Staff The footing of the new are- nas at the Fair Hill Special Event Zone saw its very first hoofprints August 7-9 as competitors in the CCI3*-S at Fair Hill International also participated in the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill Test Event. The new Fair Hill Special Event Zone, which has been specially designed with the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill in mind, consists of three brand-new arenas on the infield of the recently upgrad- ed iconic turf track and a new cross-country course designed by Ian Stark. The CCI3*-S ran alongside national Novice, Train- ing, Preliminary, and Intermedi- ate horse trial divisions, although only the CCI3*-S made use of the new facilities at the Fair Hill Special Event Zone. Originally, the Test Event was scheduled to take place at the Fair Hill International Horse Trials this past April, which was to offer CCI2*-S, CCI3*-S, and CCI4*-S divisions alongside national horse trial divisions for Advanced, Intermediate, Pre- liminary, and Training. When COVID-19 hit in mid-March and forced the postponement of competition, the Test Event was put off. Ultimately, the Fair Hill Organizing Committee (FHOC) announced in early June that the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, which was due to premiere in October of 2020, would be post- poned to 2021. The decision was made to use this weekend’s CCI3*-S competition, which was added to the offering of the August Fair Hill International Horse Trials, as the Test Event instead. The Test Event enables the Federation Équestre Internationale (FEI) to assess the newly constructed venue, which is necessary for the five-star designation. The CCI3*-S was the perfect oppor- tunity to test out the new Fair Hill Special Event Zone and cross-country course. Dressage for the CCI3*-S took place on the new arenas in the infield of the turf track. Fair Hill International, a 501(c)(3) which has been organiz- ing events at the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area since 1989, including the Fair Hill International Event held in October, is a separate entity from the FHOC. The organization was created by an entity of the Mary- land Sports Commission called the Sports and Entertainment Cor- poration specifically to organize the new Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill. With 30 years of experience organizing events at Fair Hill, Fair Hill International will be working in partnership with the FHOC to provide guidance for putting on the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill. “We’re very pleased with how the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill test event turned out this past weekend,” said Jeff Newman, CEO of the FHOC. “We received a great deal of positive reviews and feedback from the competitors about the newly constructed Fair Hill Special Event Zone and its new cross-country course along with helpful areas for improve- ment and advice in preparation for the big event next October 2021. This is an exciting step forward.” “It was wonderful to include a CCI3*-S level competition serving as the Maryland 5 Star Test Event as part of our annual August Fair Hill International Horse Trials,” said Mary Coldren, Competition Director for the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill and Executive Manager for Fair Hill International. “The new Fair Hill Special Event Zone is indeed special, and we look for- ward to working with the FHOC and their efforts toward next fall's inaugural event.” Dutton Has the Win Phillip Dutton had four of the 39 rides in the division and took home the win aboard Fernhill Singapore, Annie Jones, David Vos, and Thomas Tierney’s 11-year-old KWPN gelding. The pair, who have completed several events at the four-star level, made easy work of the weekend’s competition. They scored a 22.5 in dressage to sit in second place and moved up to the top spot after adding just 2 cross-coun- try time faults to their dressage (Continued on page 12) Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Singapore won the CCI3*-S at Fair Hill International in August. The event was a test event for the Fair Hill Special Event Zone, which is poised to host the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, one of only seven five star events held worldwide, in October 2021. Photo credit: Amy Dragoo.