FAQs
Three-day eventing is the triathlon of equestrian sports. It not only tests the physical capabilities of both horse and rider, it also tests the entire horse/rider relationship. It has three areas of competition:
- DRESSAGE: Tests the connection between rider and horse. This is a pas de deux where two athletes who don’t speak the same language must create a single, integrated dance.
- CROSS COUNTRY: Tests the trust between horse and rider. In three-day eventing only the rider has seen the course. The trust between these two athletes is what allows them to gallop full speed bravely together over challenging obstacles.
- Cross country comes from the days of the cavalry. Galloping fast across all terrain and any obstacles in the path was essential to get information from the front lines of battle to the generals.
- In a CCI 3* and 5* Cross Country event, speed is 570 meters/minute, which translates to more than 21 miles per hour and fences are 3’11” high, over 6 feet wide, and allow a 6’6” drop.
- STADIUM JUMPING: Tests the focus of the horse and rider pair. Having run cross country the day before, this pair of athletes must continue to demonstrate power and precision to navigate the stadium course without knocking down any rails within the allotted time.
- CCI3* and 5* stadium fences are 4’1” high.
Men and women compete EQUALLY in equestrian sports. It is not unusual to have an Olympic team with both male and female members sharing the podium.
A five-star event is the pinnacle of the sport of eventing. A five-star event is a more advanced dressage test and higher fences for cross country and stadium jumping. There are only six five-star events in the world and currently just one in the United States – Land Rover Kentucky 3D, that takes place every April.
Fair Hill International is supported in its quest for the five-star event by
- Fair Hill Foundation website
- Maryland Horse Industry Board MD Horse Industry Stats
- Maryland Sports Commission website
- Maryland Stadium Authority website
- Cecil County Government website
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources website
- Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland, affliate Fair Hill Organizing Committee website
Other supporters include
- Fair Hill Training Center website
- Maryland Department of Agriculture website
- Maryland Department of Commerce website
- Cecil County Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly
- Maryland Horse Council website
- National Steeplechase Association website
- Cecil County Fair website
- Fair Hill Races website
- Maryland Tourism Coalition website
- Delaware Tourism website
This broad support among various horse organizations can only lead to success.
While Fair Hill hosts many equestrian events each year, improvements are needed and are scheduled to be under way to make the location even better for a five-star event. Those improvements include:
- Irrigated turf racecourse and cross country course.
- Rings and graded grass field in the infield.
- Grandstand overlooking the turf track and rings.
- Tunnels under Rt. 273
Improvements to the Fair Hill turf racecourse will also allow for enhanced turf racing and training opportunities for steeplechase and point-to-point horses, as well as the world class flat racehorses stabled across the street. The enhancements also support other events at Fair Hill, such as the Cecil County Fair, the Scottish Games, and more.
The Daily Record May 5, 2017 Read More
WBAL Radio/The Brett Hollander Show May 11, 2017 Read More
The Sun (Online) May 12, 2017 Read More
Fox 45 May 12, 2017 Read More
The Daily Record Afternoon Insider May 12, 2017; Associated Press brief Read More
WBAL-TV May 12, 2017 Read More
WBAL Radio (Online) May 12, 2017; Associated Press brief Read More
The Sun (Print) May 12, 2017; front-page story Read More
WBAL Radio/"The Weekend Blitz" May 12, 2017 Scott Wykoff's eight-minute interview with Terry Hasseltine ran on "The Weekend Blitz" at 3:47 p.m. Read More
ABC2 June 2, 2017 Read More
PressBox (Online) June 6, 2017 Read More
Citybizlist Enewsletter June 7, 2017 The PressBox story was included in this weekday newsletter under "Sporting News."
Citybizlist Sports Enewsletter June 9, 2017 The PressBox story was included in this weekly newsletter under "Editor's Pick."
Inside PressBox June 11, 2017 Read More
WYPR July 17, 2017 Read More
WYPR July 18, 2017 Read More
Fair Hill International Announces 4* Nomination by USEF July 25, 2017 Read More
FHI Awaits Clarity on New FEI Classification December 21, 2017 Read More
Board of Public Works Approves Fair Hill Funding May 16, 2018 Read More
Fair Hill International and Fair Hill Foundation Hire Ian Stark to Design New Cross-Country Course March 26, 2019 Read More
Fair Hill Organizing Committee, President & CEO- Jeff Newman- [email protected]
Whirlaway Agency, Chris Daley- [email protected]
Fair Hill Foundation – [email protected]
Jeff Newman- President & CEO, Fair Hill Organizing Committee
Todd C. Gralla - Principal & Director of Equestrian Services, POPULOUS
Ross Peddicord - Executive Director, Maryland Horse Industry Board
Terry Hasseltine, CSEE, CTA - Executive Director, Maryland Sports / VP of Marketing & Communications, MSA
Nina Gregory - Exectutive Director, Fair Hill Foundation
Ashley Harper Cottrell, CSEE, CTA - Project Manager, Maryland Sports / Creative & Web Manager, MSA
Trish Gilbert - Co-President, Fair Hill International; FEI Steward
Emily Wilson - Acting Assistant Secretary, (MD) Department of Natural Resources
Mary Coldren - Competition Director, Fair Hill International