Aurora, CO (August 19, 2011) - The breed's premier sport horses will gather for the ninth annual Sport Horse National Arabian & Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show (Sport Horse Nationals) Sept. 28 – Oct. 2, 2011.

Sport Horse Nationals ranks as the only single-breed sport horse event in the nation.

Unique from the Arabian Horse Association's (AHA's) other national shows, Sport Horse Nationals offers only classes from sport horse divisions including hunter/jumper, dressage, carriage pleasure driving, sport horse under saddle and in-hand classes. The youngest of all the AHA nationals shows, Sport Horse Nationals is known for its amateur friendly atmosphere coupled with bar-raising competition.

With 500 horses expected, three arenas will run simultaneously beginning at 8 a.m. each day. New this year is the A/HA/AA 14.2 & Under Working Hunter Exhibition, spotlighting the new division of working hunter horses measuring 14.2 hands or smaller. There are no qualification points and no entry fee required for the exhibition, but exhibitors must enter in the Show Office on an Official Entry Form. Other must-see classes include Saturday evening's Carriage Pleasure Driving – Gamblers Choice and Sport Horse In-Hand Supreme which serves as an all-star-like competition with all the in-hand champions in the same ring so one can be named supreme.

Exhibitors, spectators and visitors to the show will have the chance to visit The International Museum of the Horse's newest wing, the Al-Marah Arabian Horse Galleries, which officially opened in June of 2010, and shop at the Sport Horse Nationals Shopping Expo on the concourse of the Covered Arena. The always popular Barn Parties, on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. lets exhibitors host spectators and each other to a spread of food, drink, and fun.

Visit www.ArabianHorses.org/SHN during the show for daily updates and for more informaiton.

What makes Arabians Special?
Arabians are the oldest pure breed of horse. The Arabian horse was portrayed on the walls of caves as early as 25,000 to 40,000 years ago. The first written documentation of the breed more than 3,000 years ago verifies that the Arabian horse is basically the same today as it was then. Most of today's popular breeds came from Arabians, including the Thoroughbred--the majority of Thoroughbreds can be traced back to three foundations stallions, two of which were Arabians.

The Arabian's physical attributes are not only eye-appealing, but also very functional as a sport horse. Arabians have a shorter, stronger back that allows it to carry substantial weight in comfort; large nostrils and trachea for greater lung capacity; dense, compact bone; and lighter muscling which dissipates heat and lactic acid more readily.

Lastly, Arabians are known for their intelligence, willingness to be trained and for the fact that they really enjoy human companionship, due to the fact that they actually used to stay in the tents of their owners in the deserts of Arabia. The history of the Arabians is wonderfully told at the brand new Al-Marah Arabian Horse Galleries. A spin around the museum and some time watching classes would make a perfect daily outing!