LEESBURG, LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA (May 18, 2009)—The Board of Trustees of the Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation, Inc. announced today that long-standing Morven Park Executive Director, William F. O’Keefe, will be retiring on December 31, 2009. The Board oversees the operations of Morven Park and its associated services and programs.
“Morven Park is exceptionally proud of O’Keefe’s leadership, guidance, and direction,” says Jill Gruver, President of the Board of Trustees. For the past sixteen years, he has been instrumental in the growth and expansion of the facility’s physical infrastructure and community programs.”
Highlights of O’Keefe’s career include overseeing the extensive renovation of the historic mansion along with the restoration of the Winmill Carriage Collection which is housed on the grounds of Morven Park. He has also made significant contributions to the development of the Morven Park International Equestrian Center and the educational and cultural programs offered at Morven Park.
The Board of Trustees will be undertaking a nation-wide search to identify and hire a new Executive Director. In this important endeavor, it is partnering with executive search firm Association Strategies Inc. of Alexandria.
About Morven Park:
The grounds of Morven Park include over 1,000 acres of lawns, fields, and wooded areas, along with the historic Boxwood Gardens. Much of the property has been placed in conservation easements in order to preserve the open space for future generations. Indeed, Morven Park has been called an “oasis” in the midst of Northern Virginia’s rapid development. Areas that once saw Union and Confederate troops skirmishing during the Civil War and pure bred livestock grazing in the fields, now host thousands of visitors each year attending equestrian events, special activities, guided tours and educational programs. Presently, the estate hosts the activities of the Winmill Carriage Collection, the Museum of Hounds and Hunting, Loudoun Therapeutic Riding Foundation, the Morven Park Steeplechase Races and the Morven Park Spring and Fall Horse Trials. For more information, visit www.morvenpark.org.
In Derek di Grazia’s CCI4*-S cross-country course this morning at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, there were two obvious challenges: the time and the Mighty Moguls question early on in the course at fence 4.
If you are wanting to get a good parking spot at the Kentucky Horse Park this morning, you better be on your way as early as possible! Cross-country day at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is easily the busiest day the Kentucky Horse Park sees each year, so it's time to grab your coffee and go ensure you get the viewing spot you want for both the CCI4*-S and CCI5*-L divisions today.
Riders in both the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S and the Defender Kentucky CCI5*-L are sharing similar sentiments about this year's cross-country courses: course designer Derek di Grazia didn't play around this year. Here is what some of the riders across both divisions had to say about the tracks they will aim to conquer on Saturday.
Off The Record decided not to let Michael Jung be the only record-breaking entry at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event this week and delivered a career-best score in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S on Friday morning. He and Will Coleman delivered a test that received a score of 21.8, not only marking a personal best for the horse but also securing their position at the top of the leaderboard going into cross-country tomorrow.
Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA
Official Feed of the USEA
Official Saddle of the USEA
Official Forage of the USEA
Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA
Official Horse Boot of the USEA
Official Shock Wave of the USEA
Official Horse Wear of the USEA
The USEA is the official sport affiliate of U.S. Equestrian
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