Media Contact:
Diane Bartlett
Director of Marketing Communications
Phone: (703) 777-2414
FAX: (703) 777-3282
E-mail: dbartlett@morvenpark.org

LEESBURG, VIRGINIA (April 30, 2003) The Equestrian Center at historic Morven Park in Leesburg will host the Morven Park Dressage Sport Horse Breed Show and the Northern Virginia Chapter of the Virginia Dressage Association, Inc. (VADA/NOVA) Summer Breed Show on Wednesday and Thursday, June 4-5, 2003 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM in the Swiss-American Indoor Arena. A showcase for international sport horse breeding, these events attract the top young sport horses from the East Coast. Admission to both shows is free for spectators.

The Morven Park Dressage Sport Horse Breed Show offers spectators a close-up look at some of the most beautiful, elegant and athletic young sport horses from Florida to Maine, as they are walked and trotted around a triangular ring in front of the audience and scrutinized by international judges. Sport horses are defined as those breeds that are capable of performing the Olympic disciplines of dressage, eventing, jumping and competitive carriage driving, and include such breeds as Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods, Friesians and the rare Cleveland Bay.

The competitions are recognized by the USA Equestrian, the National Equestrian Federation of the United States (USAE), and are part of the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) East Coast Breeder Series. "We are very excited to partner with VADA/NOVA, hosting back-to-back sport horse breed shows," said Marcia Keene, director of the Morven Park Equestrian Center. "We can offer competitors two separate shows at the same facility and they will only need to transport their young horses one time."

Morven Park is a 1,200-acre historic landmark estate of Virginia Governor Westmoreland Davis (1918-1922) in Loudoun County, Virginia. The Morven Park Equestrian Center is located just north of Leesburg on Route 15. From Leesburg, take Route 15 North towards Frederick, Maryland. Turn left onto Tutt Lane/Route 740. Follow Tutt Lane approximately one mile to the center's entrance on the left, and then follow the signs to the designated parking areas. For more information, call (703) 777-2890.