Grace Fulton FHI 2016

Grace Fulton (Finksburg) was the 2016 FHI CCI2* YR Res Champ

Today marks the start of the 2017 Dutta Corp Fair Hill International with the first horse inspections for the CCI3* and CCI2* divisions. The Free State is represented by six entries in the three-day as well as two in the Young Event Horse East Coast Championships.

Fresh off their Morven Park CIC3* win, Colleen Rutledge (Frederick) and her homebred Covert Rights will be the lone Maryland entry competing in the CCI3*. The pair also won the CIC3* at Richland Park in August and the CIC2* at the Maryland Horse Trials International.

In the CCI2*, Colleen has her new mount UNO entered. Colleen purchased the ride from Jane Sleeper early in 2017 and won their first outing together, the Intermediate/Preliminary division at Full Gallop’s February horse trials. They went on to place third at Fair Hill’s April CIC2* and fifth at the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event CCI2* May. The pair have since moved up to Advanced, finishing int he top 10 in both Advanced horse trials they competed in this fall.

The Fulton sisters of Full Moon Farm have three entries in the CCI2*. Younger sister Grace Fulton will be riding Wild Orange. Last year at FHI, Grace and Wild Orange finished 19th their first time at FHI. Earlier this year, the pair had their best CIC2* finish placing ninth at Fair Hill in April.

Savannah Fulton moved Brave New World up to Intermediate early this year at Rocking Horse Winter I Horse Trials in Florida where they placed ninth. They finished in the top 10 three more times this spring and also placed ninth in the CIC2* at the Maryland Horse Trials International. Savannah has been riding Esstoga Tune since the Thoroughbred gelding’s first — USEA Beginner Novice back in 2015 and now will be taking him around his first FHI.

Tayler Stewart (Germantown) and Ideal Contini have had a stellar season leading up this year’s FHI CCI2*. They started out the year with a second place finish at Intermediate at Full Gallop in March and more recently placed ninth at that level at the American Eventing Championships at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (NC). Their last prep three-day was a 12th place finish at the Plantation International CIC2*.

Maryland trainers Rumsey Keefe (Sandy Spring) and Sabrina Morris (Woodbine) both have off-the-track Thoroughbreds entered in the 4-Year-Old division of the Young Event Horse East Coast Championships. The competition starts tomorrow with dressage in the main arena. Rumsey and Point Nemo won the 4YO YEH division at Waredaca in June and placed third at Novice at Full Moon Farm in July.

Sabrina’s Slim N Trim won the Future Event Horse 3-Year-Old Championship in 2016. This year, the pair placed sixth at Waredaca’s YEH competition and third at Loch Moy Farm’s September YEH event.

Dressage for both the CCI2* and YEH championships starts first thing tomorrow morning. CCI3* riders will begin after the lunch break. Ride times for the entire competition and live scores can be found here: https://www.fairhillinternational.com/2017-ride-times-and-scores/