By Myra Foster
Photography by Hubert Schriebl
The Vermont Summer Festival combines world-class riding competition and colorful spectator events with a six-week economic booster shot for the region.
My encounter was only so close as a TXT alert, but Springsteen was definitely on the grounds. Front row instead of center stage for a change, “The Boss” watched his daughter ride in the hunter jumper ring. CNN’s Lou Dobbs and wife, Debbie, were in the Grand Prix tent whenever daughter Hillary competed over the big fences for even bigger prize money. Governor and Mrs. Jim Douglas. Gretchen and Roy Jackson—thoroughbred owners of Barbaro fame— Olympic medalists, local luminaries … You never know who you’ll run into at the Vermont Summer Festival.
But one thing is for certain, when New England’s largest equestrian competition rolls in each summer, it brings thousands of people and millions of dollars to Manchester and the Mountains. Now in its sixteenth year at the Harold Beebe farm in East Dorset, the Vermont Summer Festival also brings world-class competition to a spectator- friendly venue with a ticket price of only $3 - $7, all of which is donated to local non-profits and school programs.
Each July, a veritable village sprouts up along Route 7 as shiny tractor trailers deliver fancy show jumpers to temporary stables for more than 1,100 horses—and there must be almost as many dogs. Golf carts and mopeds, four-wheelers and cruiser bikes crisscross the grounds. Signposts point to services like horse laundry, “Spa at the Show” for massage, videography and photographers, one of whom estimates producing 11,000 prints while he’s here. Plus, there’s plenty of food and drink and vendors display everything from 14k snaffle bit necklaces to hand-sewn bridles and waterproof boots promoted by a jovial Irish chap standing ankle-deep in a bucket to prove the point; he claims to sell only enough to cover his bar tab.
This year’s event runs from July 1 to August 9 with six rings of hunter/jumper action daily from Wednesday through Sunday’s Grand Prix where leading riders compete for up to $50,000 in prize money. Blending power, precision and pure athleticism, horse and rider negotiate tight turns and with bursts of speed launch over intimidating obstacles as high as 5’3” in one of the few sports where men and women compete on the same playing field.
“This is the largest, longest running sporting event in Vermont and it’s right in our own backyard,” notes Kimet Hand, local equestrian and one of the original supporters. “I simply can not think of another event that is as attractive, as ‘green’ and that has such an incredible economic impact on our part of Vermont. The horse show brings a diverse group of people here for an extended stay, from riders, trainers, owners, parents, to a huge support staff. There are farriers, vets, saddle shops, judges, announcers, jump crews … And, when they leave, the site is back, lovely and green with a red barn, beautiful trees and plantings surrounding the rings.”.......
