For Immediate Release: Monday, March 13, 2000

Olympic Hopefuls Converge on Morven Park for Training and Spring Horse Trials

For years, the Morven Park International Equestrian Center in Leesburg has been a focal point in the equestrian community. The final week of March and first few days of April will find some of the top competitors and horses in the country vying for a coveted spot on the United States Olympic Equestrian Team.

The United States Equestrian Team arrives at Morven Park on Sunday, March 26, for the team's final winter training session, one of the last opportunities to make an impression and earn a chance to represent the US at the Olympics. "Most everybody has Sydney in the back of their minds," said Captain Mark Phillips, internationally known equestrian and Chef d' Equipe and Coach of the United States Olympic Equestrian Team. " The chance to ride and represent your country in an Olympic Games is the ultimate sporting experience, only surpassed by winning a medal, preferably gold," he said.

"We are always honored to have the United States Equestrian Team train with us," said Will O'Keefe, Executive Director of the Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation, which administers the 1200-acre Morven Park estate. "We would like to share this incredible opportunity with the community. The public is welcome to attend any of the training sessions, free of charge," he said. The training sessions are expected to run from 8AM - 5PM each day. "We are very proud of our new show ring. It offers tiered viewing and you won't be able to get much closer unless you are a member of the team," O'Keefe said.

The United States Equestrian Team will train from Sunday, March 26 - Thursday, 30. Many of the competitors will then take part in the Morven Park Spring Horse Trials, which runs from Friday, March 31 - Sunday, April 2. Dressage competition will be held on Friday, Cross Country on Saturday and Stadium Competition on Sunday. Admission to the Spring Horse Trials is also free and the public is encouraged to attend.

The Morven Park International Equestrian Center is located just north of Leesburg on Route 15. The Morven Park estate also includes the Historic Mansion that was home to two governors, the Museum of Hounds and Hunting, the Winmill Carriage Collection, the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center and the Morven Park Steeplechase Races (October 14, 2000).

For more information, please contact the Morven Park International Equestrian Center at 703/777-2890