Fair Hill International, continued... changed FHI,
from
the way the program is made,
website. “We were the
fi rst event in the world to have an offi cial website,” she said. If John had to do the whole thing again, he said the only thing he’d change was how to get spectators out onto the course. “Everything is clustered by the road and there is so much land we don’t use because no one would be able to see it. We should have thought a bit more about how to get people back into the course,” he stated. To help with this dilemma, FHI began hiring buses to transport people from a parking lot at the fairgrounds to the main part of the facility. Plus, they provide hay wagon “people movers” to shuttle spectators around the grounds.
A Silver Anniversary Over the past 25 years, the FHI staff has
strived to make Fair Hill into one of the best competition venues in the world and all of their hard work has paid off . Olympians from all over the world have often used FHI as a stepping stone for their young horses. T is year, the competition will be better than ever
to the
fi eld where the “Sneaky Snake” trakehner is located to help the area handle more water in case of rain. Tile was also added around both sides of
Course designer Derek di Grazia and crew lay down new sod at the Spring House Water.
with the festival off ering spectators a chance to watch the best of eventing from the Future Event Horse through the CCI*** level. T e biggest improvements to the courses for
this year’s event might not be easily noticeable, as the folks at FHI have spent a lot of time and money improving the footing and drainage in several areas of the course.
“Fair Hill has
great turf already so we just keep building onto that. Every year we put sand down and roll the course as soon as the event is over so that the grass roots get deeper and the turf gets better,” Eric explained. But in addition, this year FHI undertook a huge drainage project through the
MeadoWood Farm Woodbine, Maryland
Scenic, private farm reopening with experienced management Full care stall board available for all disciplines Well-lit, winter-ready 70x144 indoor arena
With Permaflex footing & adjacent stalls 90x180 outdoor arena Full jump course
Great turnout & paddocks with run-ins Hot/cold water wash stall
Climate controlled tack room with laundry 12x12 matted stalls with windows
Comfortable lounge with large observation windows Programmable, covered, free-range hot walker Round pen
Spacious trailer parking Trainers welcome
410-218-7066
www.equiery.com | 800-244-9580 OCTOBER 2013 | THE EQUIERY | 21
Check out the Archives on
equiery.com for a virtual course walk of the 1989 cross-country course!
the Spring House Water and the footing was regraded. Footing and turf improvements were also made to the Chesapeake Water complex. A lot of “dirt work” was done as well to allow for portable jumps to be placed on better ground. “Spectators might not notice the diff erence but the riders will feel it,” Eric added. T e overall fl ow of the course will be similar to past years but competitors will be met with new challenges such as the addition of a coffi n on the two-star course, a new trakehner and a new ditch and wall. As in year’s past, the overall layout of the specifi c jumps will change, as will the specifi c questions being asked. T e 25th anniversary will be celebrated in many ways throughout the week including historic photos being placed on display throughout the grounds.
In addition,
the T ursday evening welcome reception will also be an anniversary
party to pay tribute to the past 25 years of FHI. Special guests will be past winners and owners of winning horses. See the sidebar “25 Years of
continued...
WINTER SHOW SERIES
Divisions: Beginners, Students, Adults, Equitation, Horsemanship, Western Pleasure, Hunters, Jumpers
All shows start at 9:00 Discount for Pre-registration,
forms on
www.merkelfarm.net (due the week before the show)
Discounts for Freestate Riding Club Members
For more information: Stephanie Merkel 301-464-1969 or 301-526-4205 MERKEL FARM
EQUESTRIAN CENTER, LLC 9439 Merkel Rd. • Bowie, MD 20715 • 301-464-1969
878023-131013
November 6th December 11th
1st 5th February 5th 2rd
3rd
January 8th
Dates:
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