Kevin McCarthy and Catch A Star HSS
on their way to one of two grand prix
victories in 2019.
By Andrew Ryback Photography
Dine…(or Shop!) Don’t Miss the Ringside Action
Foodies will delight in all that the Vermont Summer Festival
has to offer the pallet. And, you don’t have to go far. The
Mane Event food truck, owned by Carrie and Peter Stark,
is the gathering place for hungry horse show visitors and
offers something for everyone. From scrumptious salads on
the go to seaside-inspired lobster rolls, there’s no getting
tired of this horse show food.
Dining while in the Manchester area for the Vermont Summer
Festival is an experience all its own with restaurants
spanning the gamut of food options. Whether it’s a gourmet
wiener schnitzel or a traditional Mexican burrito you
crave, it’s a food-lover’s paradise.
If you’re dining out, don’t miss these three rider favorites:
Depot 62 Bistro & Café
Try classic wood-fired pizza and Mediterranean fare before
browsing an incredible selection of one-of-a-kind home
furnishings for sale.
The Silver Fork
Be sure to make a reservation for this hidden gem! The
chef’s fresh, international-inspired menu is well worth the
wait.
Chantecleer Restaurant
Just a two-mile drive south of the horse show, Chantecleer
is a star of the local dining scene, Chantecleer is located
in a remodeled dairy barn and offers fine American cuisine
with European sophistication.
Aside from extensive dining options, Manchester’s biggest
claim to fame is the Manchester Designer Outlets (MDO),
which is considered a shopping getaway for locals and
visitors alike. Located in the heart of Manchester, the stores
included within MDO offer boutique shopping opportunities
from more than 40 brands, including iconic names like
Armani, Brooks Brothers, Theory, and Vineyard Vines. This
summer marks the 15th consecutive year that MDO has
played a pivotal role in the Vermont Summer Festival as a
valued supporter and sponsor of the $10,000 Open Welcome
Stake Series throughout the season.
TRAINING & Showing
The Vermont Summer Festival hosts many of North America’s
top hunter and show jumping competitors during its
six-week run. Highlighted by a weekly $30,000 Grand Prix,
and $5,000 Hunter Derby, the competition is fierce, but
there’s no need to scour the order of go to find the rider
you’re rooting for. We’ve done the research for you! Keep
an eye on these four competitors this season.
Kevin McCarthy
Hailing from Ireland, but now based in Cazenovia, NY,
Kevin McCarthy took the 2019 Vermont Summer Festival
by storm. Following the conclusion of the final grand prix,
McCarthy masterfully clinched a $5,000 bonus as winner of
the World Equestrian Center (WEC) Leading Open Jumper
Awards.
McCarthy consistently topped the leaderboard all summer,
notably winning four out of the six Manchester Designer
Outlets Open Welcome Stakes classes and capturing two
grand prix victories. This year, watch for McCarthy paired
and his top horse, Catch A Star HSS, a nine-year-old Swedish
Warmblood mare (Sheraton x Amulet).
Cassandra Orpen
Cassandra “Cassie” Orpen is a native of Westport, CT, and
trains for the Fairfield County Hunt Club where she also got
her start in the saddle.
A successful competitor in both the hunter and jumper
rings at the Vermont Summer Festival, Cassie has collected
many top finishes in the grand prix ranks as well as in the
weekly $5,000 3’3” NEHJA Hunter Derby, presented by
Eastern Hay. After welcoming her second child this spring,
Cassie is primed to collect more wins this summer.
Morgan Ward
Morgan Ward is a young professional working out of her
family’s Willow Brook Farm based in Whitehouse, NJ, and
a familiar face in the $5,000 NEHJA Hunter Derby winner
circle. After first sitting atop a horse at age two, she was in
the show ring just two short years later.
72 www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com
Competition
spans all ages
and levels at
the Vermont
Summer
Festival.
Leadline by
Jump Media
/www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com