For Immediate Release

Contact: Marty Bauman or Lisa Patterson, (508) 698-6810, classic.pr@verizon.net

Vermont Summer Festival Welcomes This Year’s Sponsors

East Dorset, VT—June 2, 2004—The Vermont Summer Festival is proud to announce its family of sponsors for the 2004 season. The generous support of The Equinox Resort and Spa, The Orvis Company, Nutraceutical, Hand Motors, Der Dau Custom Boots, and Vermont Bracelet will make this year’s festivities possible.

The 2004 Vermont Summer Festival, New England’s largest “AA” rated hunter-jumper horse show, returns to East Dorset in July and August for five exciting weeks of equestrian competition. The event will kick off with the Manchester Summer Festival, July 14-18. Competition continues with the Manchester Classic Horse Show, July 21-25; Valley Classic Horse Show, July 28 – August 1; Manchester and the Mountains Horse Show, August 4-8; and concludes with the Vermont Summer Celebration, August 11-15.

The Equinox Resort and Spa, one of the premier properties in the Rock Resort portfolio, has joined forces with the Vermont Summer Festival in becoming a Grand Prix Sponsor for the third consecutive year. The Equinox offers its visitors high quality accommodations as well as the luxurious Avanyu Spa and Gleneagles Golf Course.

The Orvis Company is the country’s oldest mail order company selling men’s and women’s apparel, as well as hunting, fishing and travel equipment.

Nutraceutical is one of the nation's largest manufacturers and marketers of quality branded nutritional supplements sold to health and natural food stores. Nutraceutical sells products under the brand names Solaray®, KAL®, NaturalMax®, Veglife®, Premier One®, Sunny Green®, Natural Sport®, Miztique™, ActiPet®, Action Labs®, Ultimate Nutrition® and Thompson® to health and natural food stores in the United States and to distributors and stores worldwide.

Hand Motors, the Manchester Center-based Chevrolet and Volkswagen dealership, continues its history of support of the Vermont Summer Festival. Hand Motors has celebrated more than 30 years of serving the automotive needs of the Manchester community.

Der Dau Custom Boots and Shoes has over 50 years of experience making custom boots and shoes. Each boot and shoe is made entirely by hand, using the finest quality leathers.

Vermont Bracelet, another Manchester-based company, makes sterling and gold bracelets and pins. Vermont Bracelet’s jewelry reflects the unique character, beauty and quality of Vermont.

“We are so excited to have this great group of sponsors on board for this year. Their continued support makes this event possible,” said Dotty Ammerman, Executive Director of the Vermont Summer Festival.

Each week of competition at the 2004 Vermont Summer Festival will feature a USEF-recognized $35,000 Grand Prix and a $10,000 Mini Prix. A Grand Prix showcases horses and riders competing at the highest level in the sport of show jumping. Olympic veterans and U.S. stars of international competition regularly compete in the Vermont Grand Prix.

In addition, the Vermont Summer Festival awards numerous circuit championships in various levels of the hunter, jumper, and equitation divisions, and also features Marshall & Sterling and North American League Children’s and Adult Hunter and Jumper Classics.

Also highlighting each week of the Festival’s schedule is a Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, part of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series. The Show Jumping Hall of Fame Series is designed to give junior and amateur-owner riders an opportunity to compete at higher levels and serves as a proving ground for many riders who aspire to someday represent the United States in international competition.

Besides breathtaking equestrian competition, the Vermont Summer Festival provides a chance for equestrians to spend July and August in Vermont’s verdant Green Mountains where the summer is its most beautiful. The quaint New England towns of the Manchester and the Mountains area are noted for their charm, first-class accommodations, and superior dining. The region also offers a world-class shopping experience, including antiques and handmade arts and crafts as well as brand name outlets.

For further information on the 2004 Vermont Summer Festival, please call (802) 496-4878.

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