Mary Lisa Leffler and Kartousch Victorious in $10,000 Mini Prix at the Vermont Summer Celebration

East Dorset, VT - August 13, 2004 - Despite the rain and date of Friday the 13th, luck was with Mary Lisa Leffler in the jumper ring today. The final $10,000 Mini Prix of the Vermont Summer Festival went to a determined Leffler of Brookeville, MD in a time of 43.588 seconds. Aboard Kartousch, Leffler stopped the clock over a second faster than Laurie Bucci, the runner-up. This show jumping event took place in East Dorset, VT at the Vermont Summer Celebration, the last show of the five week series.

Bucci, of Bromont, Canada, turned in a time of 44.949 seconds on Catesko. Third place went to up and coming jumper rider Caitlin Venezia of Marston Mills, MA on Garaoucha. On Precision MBA, Chelise Storace of Kingston, NH took home the white ribbon for fourth place.

Kartousch, a 12 year-old Dutch Warmblood mare is "very competitive and she likes to win," explained Leffler, who has been coming to show in Vermont for fourteen years. "When she is on, she's hard to beat. We won because she has a big stride and can leave out steps that other horses need to put in." Leffler owns the mare in partnership with McLain Ward, a member of the 2004 Olympic Show Jumping squad. Her trainer is her sister, well-known horsewoman Patty Foster.

Leffler plans to show Kartousch this Sunday in the $35,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix, hoping to improve on her second place finish in the Valley Classic Grand Prix two weeks ago. "It's a great end of summer show for all of us at Rolling Acres Stables. We take advantage of being away from home with our extended family here in Vermont. I really enjoy the Grand Prix crowds on Sundays, and especially the fact that my family and the rest of the barn get an opportunity to watch me in the Grand Prix."

In the competitive equitation classes, Allison Seelig of New York City, NY won the BET/USET Talent Search class on Double Dare. Maureen Garrity on Thunder Bay took second place.

Emma Lipman of Bedford, NY and her horse, Commander, won the U.S. Equestrian Federation Junior Medal. The finals for this prestigious class take place each year in October in Harrisburg, PA at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. The red ribbon for second place was awarded to Kelsey Buchanan of Stamford, CT on Almost Famous.

The ASPCA Maclay class went to Catherine Wright of Old Chatham, NY on Willow. Weight is trained by North Run Stables and Missy Clark of Warren, VT. Jacqueline Lubrano and Triumph had to settle for second in the class.

Molly Yake of Loudonville, NY took the blue ribbon in the tough Ariat Adult Medal class. Marjorie Sidman and Nasdaq placed second.

The Vermont Summer Celebration is the final horse show in the Vermont Summer Festival series in East Dorset, VT. Show jumping action runs through this Sunday, and many families come every Sunday to picnic and watch the $35,000 Grand Prix class at 2:00 p.m..

The Vermont Summer Celebration is the fifth and final event in the five-week Vermont Summer Festival series in East Dorset, VT. The Vermont Summer Festival is New England's largest "AA" rated hunter/jumper horse show circuit and runs from July 14 to August 15, showcasing the best American and international riders competing over challenging jumping courses.

This year's series includes five $35,000 Grand Prix and five $10,000 Mini Prix. Each of the five weeks will also feature the Nutraceutical Corp. sponsored the $10,000 Show Jumping Hall Of Fame High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper class, part of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series. This is the 11th year the Vermont Summer Festival Horse Shows have taken place at the Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.

While not watching exciting jumping action, spectators will enjoy visiting the Festival's trade fair that contains interesting boutiques and gift shops. Families will enjoy the ambiance of the show grounds, as there are hundreds of horses and ponies to observe.

Admission to the Vermont Summer Festival is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, and $2 for children. For further information about the Vermont Summer Festival, please call (802) 362-7548 or go to http://www.vt-summerfestival.com.

Photo Credit: Flashpoint Photography© 2004