Molly Kinnamon and Puttin on the Ritz (Shannon Brinkman Photo)

Elkton, Md.-  The focus of U.S. eventing will be on Elkton, Md., this week as many of America’s top combinations are set to contest CCI2* and CCI3* competition at The Dutta Corp Fair Hill International. In 2014, 160 combinations have travelled to Fair Hill and of those 137 will by vying for U.S. National Titles at the competition running October 16-19.

Wednesday afternoon hosted the first Veterinary Inspection; the CCI3* will be contested by 53 competitors, while in the CCI2*, 109 combinations will start the dressage.

A field of 42 combinations lines up in The Dutta Corp/USEF Three-Star Eventing National Championship to stake their claim on the coveted national title. In addition, riders who have never completed a CCI4* will be eligible to earn the USEF National Developing Rider Championships title. The Dutta Corp will provide travel for the top-placed U.S. rider at The Dutta Corp/USEF National Three-Star Eventing Championship at Fair Hill to be used for an international competition agreed upon by the USEF. While, the CCI2* championship at Fair Hill will showcase 95 up-and-coming combinations in their quest to be named USEF National Two Star Champion. Young Riders, those aged 16-21, will be eligible for the USEF National Young Riders Championships and young horses, ages six or seven, will vie to be named National Young Horse Champion.

2010 and 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games veteran Boyd Martin will be among the busiest competitors at Fair Hill with four CCI3* entries; Gretchen Wintersteen, Pierre Colin and Denise Lahey’s Steady Eddie, Colin Davidson and Lucy Boynton’s Cracker Jack, Stephen Blauner’s Master Frisky  and the Pancho Villa Syndicate’s Pancho Villa and a further two two-star rides Lahey’s SBF Cortez, and Gloria Callen’s Welcome Shadow. Buck Davidson (Ocala, Fla.) is another rider that has a busy schedule this week as he is set to ride four horses in CCI competition. The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team veteran will have three shots at the CCI2* title with Carl Segal and Sherrie Martin’s Tiger Lion, Ann Clements’ Quasar and Lisa Darden’s Plantation Field CIC2* winner Be Mine, while in the CCI3* he is set to ride Martin’s The Apprentice, as well as Petite Flower that is co-owned by Martin and her daughter Caroline. Last year’s CCI2* National Champions Allie Sacksen (Landenberg, Pa.) and her own Sparrow’s Nio will look to repeat their victory in Elkton as they make their CCI3* debut this weekend.

Matt Brown has travelled from his California base to make his Fair Hill debut after receiving a Jacqueline B. Mars Domestic Competition and Training Grant. He will ride Mary McKee’s Happenstance in the CCI2* and Blossom Creek Foundation’s Super Socks BCF in the CCI3*.

“It’s obviously a long way to come and getting a grant helps us with that and makes us feel like we’re doing the right thing. We came out here to push our comfort zone and both horses feel like they are ready.”

To learn more about the 2014 The Dutta Corp Fair Hill International visit; http://fairhillinternational.com/fh-fair-hill-international-home-page/