For Immediate Release: March 21, 2002
MORVEN PARK TO HOST US EQUESTRIAN TEAM AND SPRING HORSE TRIALS
Members of United States Equestrian Team (USET) will arrive at the Morven
Park International Equestrian Center in Leesburg on Sunday, March 24, for
the team’s winter training session (March 24-27, 2001). The training
sessions are expected to run from 8AM 3PM each day. Olympians David and
Karen O’Connor, John Williams, Mara dePuy and Nina Fout will attend the
session. “This is a great opportunity to see up close what goes into the
making of an Olympic competitor” said Marcia Keene, Morven Park’s Director
of Equestrian Events. Members of the media, horse enthusiasts and the
general public are invited to attend. Admission is free.
The excitement mounts later in the week as Olympians and other top riders
from around the country square off for the 2002 Morven Park Spring CIC **
and Advanced Horse Trials, (Friday, March 29Sunday, March 31). Also
known as eventing, horse trials are the ultimate challenge for horse and
rider testing their partnership and athleticism in three diverse
disciplines - dressage, cross country jumping and stadium jumping. Penalty
points are recorded resulting in a combined score for the whole trial. The
lowest score wins.
Over 200 horses are entered in the Morven Park event. The dressage phase of
the competition will be held on Friday. Competitors will tackle the Cross
Country course on Saturday and Stadium Jumping is scheduled on Sunday in the
Grand Prix Arena. Admission is FREE.
Specators are most welcome on all days of the event. Food will be available
on site, however attendees may wish to bring their own picnic. Wear sturdy
shoes, especially if you are planning to walk the cross country course, and
please leave your dogs at home.
Located in Leesburg, VA, Morven Park is the historic home of Virginia
Governor Westmoreland Davis. Today, Morven Park is not only an historical
site, but is also home to the Morven Park International Equestrian Center.
One of Virginia’s premier equestrian event facilities, the Center hosts
competitions in many disciplines including dressage, pony club, eventing,
hunter/jumpers, steeplechasing, breeding and carriage driving. Morven Park
is operated in the public interest by the Westmoreland Davis Memorial
Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization founded to protect, preserve and
promote the historic and cultural resources of Morven Park.
For More Information Contact:
Pamela Woolley 703-777-2890
Morven Park International Equestrian Center
