The exhibit Losing Ground: The Greatest Threat sponsored by Equus Magazine and Equine Land Conservation Resource will open at the International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY on October 29, 2012. The exhibit will increase awareness and educate the public about the loss of horse lands, facilities and trails access in the United States. It demonstrates the value of horses, including their economic impact, to our communities and culture, and what can be done to protect these assets, not only for horse land owners, equestrians and equine enthusiasts, but for communities and the nation as a whole. Furthermore, it describes how 6,000 acres of open lands are lost to development every day.  These are the lands we need to raise, ride and care for our horses.  These are the hayfields, the competition grounds, the trails and the pastures that support our rich American equine culture. 

“It has always been the museum’s mission to look at pressing problems within the equine community, and the alarming disappearance of land for horses has to be near the top of the list,” says International Museum of the Horse Director, Bill Cooke.

The exhibit consists of an extensive mural that dramatically shows the threat of unplanned development on existing horse lands. A video film, produced by Post Time Productions and developed by ELCR, is the visitor’s first view of the exhibit which quickly draws the visitor into the story of American’s love for the horse and the threat to the very land needed to support our equine population. Three interactive kiosk stations allow the visitor to explore the following topic areas: why horses make ‘good neighbors’; loss of land and trails access; and a “call to action” that describes what individuals can do to get informed, organize and advocate locally and nationally for protection of horse lands, facilities and trail access with the help and resources of ELCR.

 As part of the exhibition, visitors receive a complimentary copy of a Losing Ground: The Greatest Threat an EQUUS special report on conserving land and trails for horses, sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health. “At EQUUS we’ve seen firsthand how important it is to preserve open space and trail access,” says EQUUS editor Laurie Prinz. “And we know that the first step in effective advocacy is informing Equestrians and the public at large about what's at stake. We appreciate that Pfizer has made possible a special publication highlighting land use issues.”

“As the only national organization working to conserve land for equine related use, ELCR is proud to partner with Equus magazine on this important project that will raise awareness of the need to protect our horse lands now, before it is too late,” says ELCR CEO, Anna Gibson. “The land we save in the next fifteen years will determine the future of our equine culture, lifestyle and landscape for future generations.”

Editor’s note:  Photos are available by contacting Holly Groshek, Director of Marketing and Membership, Equine Land Conservation Resource, (859) 455-8383 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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About the Equine Land Conservation Resource (ELCR): The Equine Land Conservation Resource is the only national not-for-profit organization advancing the conservation of land for horse-related activity. ELCR serves as an information and networking resource for land and horse owner, organizations, agencies and all equine enthusiasts on issues related to farm and ranch land conservation, land use planning, farm and ranch land stewardship/best management practices, trail access and sustainability, liability and equine economic impacts.  For more information about the ELCR visit our website at www.elcr.org or call (859) 455-8383.

About the Equine Network: The Equine Network provides, creates and distributes relevant content and services to passionate horse enthusiasts while connecting them to each other and the marketplace. The Equine Network is the publisher of award-winning magazines Horse & Rider, EQUUS, Dressage Today, The Trail Rider, Spin To Win Rodeo, American Cowboy, Practical Horseman and Horse Journal. The Equine Network also publishes a proprietary line of books and DVDs for sale through its store, HorseBooksEtc.com. The Equine Network provides emergency roadside assistance for equestrians through its recent acquisition of USRider, and is home to several websites, including: EquiSearch.com, Equine.com, MyHorseDaily.com, DiscoverHorses.com, AmericanCowboy.com and Horse-Journal.com.

Last Chance to See World-Class Exhibition Before it Leaves

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 1, 2012)  The Kentucky Horse Park is pleased to invite the public to see it's current blockbuster exhibition, "The Horse" free of charge on Thursday, April 5.  The last day for the public to view it will be April 6, afterwhich it will move to San Diego.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 13, 2012)  The Kentucky Horse Park’s 34th season is set to begin Thursday, March 15, when the park returns to its regular hours of 9am to 5pm daily through November 4. Visitors will be entertained and delighted as the park features special events and themed weekends throughout the season.

Highlights of this season will include the park’s newest attraction, the Kids Barn, which features interactive exhibits, while the park’s education department staff will host daily hands-on activities with the park’s resident horses in the Kids Barn each day.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012 | 6:00 - 8:00 PM

LEXINGTON, KY – The Headley-Whitney Museum announces Art After Hours at the International Museum of the Horse on March 21, 2012 from 6:00-8:00 pm.  Join students, young professionals and the young at heart as they get an opportunity to explore the unique exhibits presented at the International Museum of the Horse.  During this event, participants will be guided through several exhibits as they get the inside scoop while handling many of the Museum’s objects. The Museum is located inside the Kentucky Horse Park at 4089 Iron Works Parkway Lexington, KY 40511. Cash bar from 6:00- 7:00 pm and catering provided by DaRae & Friends Catering. For more information on the International Museum of the Horse please visit their website at www.imh.org/ or call 859-259-4237.

LEXINGTON, Ky, USA/Imphal, Manipur, India (January 20, 2012) The Secretariat of His Excellency Gurbachan Jagat, the Governor of Manipur, and the International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, are pleased to announce that a unique gift of traditional Manipuri Polo (Sagol Kangjei) gear has been donated by His Excellency to the museum on behalf of the people of Manipur. The donation was arranged by Dr. R.K.Nimai Singh, Secretary to the Governor and L. Somi Roy, a film and media arts curator, of New York.

The gifts were designed and fabricated by Meisnam Khelen of Khurai Thongam Leikai, former captain of the Manipur Polo team following the most authentic process and materials. They include the traditional Manipuri wooden saddle, braided bridle, braided leather whip, a full set of traditional polo player's attire, two traditional polo mallets and a ball. Mr. Roy made an additional gift of traditional Manipuri darts (arambai) with peacock feathers, also made by Mr. Khelen.

The Governor of Manipur is pleased that he was able to donate the items on behalf of the people of Manipur. Even though Manipur is the origin of modern polo, most people do not know this and he expressed that this small gift will at least provide a window to the glorious polo tradition of Manipur to the outside world. He expressed his gratitude to the museum for accepting the gifts for display.

"We are extremely grateful to the governor and the people of Manipur not only for the significant donation of ethnographic materials related to the Manipuri Pony* and polo in Manipur, but also for allowing us to do our small part to raise awareness of these historically significant animals and the current threat of their extinction," said Bill Cooke, Director of the International Museum of the Horse.

The gifts will be displayed in the museum's permanent exhibit called "The Horse in Sport." An exploration of the contemporary uses of horse in recreational activities, the exhibit features sections devoted to rodeo, polo, Thoroughbred racing, Standardbred racing and more. The exhibit was renovated in the summer of 2010 and now features a major section devoted to eight disciplines of the World Equestrian Games, which the Kentucky Horse Park hosted in 2010. Manipuri sagol kangjei will be featured alongside English polo, tracing the origins and history of modern polo. Expected to open to the public in the Spring of 2012, the exhibition panel will display Manipuri sagol kangjei and English polo in traditional attire as well as video and photographic displays.
 
In addition, the museum will add the Manipuri Pony, or the Meitei Sagol, to its online exhibit "Horse Breeds of the World" and will highlight the breed's special characteristics, its importance in the region and culture of Manipur and its present endangered condition.
The governor's Secretariat and the International Museum of the Horse are pleased to acknowledge the contributions to this addition to the museum by Dr. Evelyn Knight, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Health Behaviour, University of Kentucky College of Public Health; Becky Ryder, Director of the Keeneland Library at the Keeneland Association Race Course in Lexington; Mary Molinaro, Associate Dean for Library Technologies at University of Kentucky Libraries; and Rachel Roberts, Digitisation Studio Manager at the British Library in London.

For more information and additional press materials, please contact Cindy Rullman, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. "> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Dr. R. K. Nimai Singh This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. "> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . 
 

*For more information on the Manipuri Pony click on http://tinyurl.com/6rb2bp2.

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"The Horse" is the most recent blockbuster exhibition in the International Museum of the Horse here at the Kentucky Horse Park. 

"The Horse" beautifully explores how nature's most majestic creature has shaped our world through140 artifacts and cultural objects from around the world including a complete Samurai saddle from Japan, a full suit of 15th-century German horse armor, and Native American horse accoutrements. Bringing the exhibit to life are a stunning 220-square foot diorama that depicts the horse’s ancestors, a high-definition video that captures in slow motion the rippling muscles of a Thoroughbred race horse, and an interactive video of a life-size horse where visitors can investigate a horse’s pulmonary and digestive systems and other biological traits.

Assembled by the American Museum of Natural History, "The Horse" is the largest travelling exhibition of equine art, artifacts and memorabilia ever assembled and it's on display through April 6, 2012.

Tickets to "The Horse" will make great Christmas gifts for the horse lover in your family, or for those who are simply interested in history and art.  It's also full of interactive exhibits for kids.

"The Horse" is included with Kentucky Horse Park admission for only $10, or you can purchase a "museum only" ticket for $8, which will also include the American Saddlebred Museum.  

To purchase tickets for "The Horse," call 859-259-4280 or stop by the Kentucky Horse Park Wed-Sun, 9am to 5pm.

Get more information on this fantastic exhibition,"THE HORSE."  

The Horse is a fully comprehensive exhibit that aims to educate children on all aspects of the horse from its biology to its impact on society. 

The tour begins with one theory on how the horse has changed over millions of years to its form today.  It also focuses on the domestication of the horse and how the horse has played a key role in warfare, work, travel, and sports.  Students will also love the interactive portion showing the digestive system of the horse in a fun and interesting way. 

This exhibition is ideal for science teachers in grades 3-12 and directly correlates with much of the core content required from the Kentucky Department of Education. 

Themes within social studies, such as history and world cultures, and art are also covered and can make a very informative and entertaining trip for students in middle and high school. 

Fully prepared and informative educators’ guides are made available through the American Museum of Natural History.  This includes questions to develop discussion, key terms and ideas, and games.  The website also illustrates how to teach within the exhibit and connect the content upon return to the classroom. 

Click here for more information on the exhibition, or for a list of fulfilled Kentucky Core Content go to www.imh.org.

For more information, contact Melissa Mullins at the International Museum of the Horse, 859-259-4232 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 29, 2011)—The Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse (IMH), in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History, announced today that it will host the exhibition, The Horse, from October 22, 2011, through April 6, 2012. The IMH is a major lender to the exhibition.

"We are thrilled to be able to bring this world-class exhibition to Kentucky," said Bill Cooke, director of the Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse. "The American Museum of Natural History is truly one of the world’s great natural history museums, and they did a masterful job in developing an exhibition that not only illuminates the timeless union between humans and horses, but does so in an amazingly entertaining way. We are excited that this will be our first blockbuster-level exhibition while schools are in session. I have no doubt that both teachers and their students will love The Horse."

From the horse’s earliest ancestors grazing on the plains of what is now Nebraska, to a magnificent contemporary Deborah Butterfield horse sculpture, the eternal bond between horses and humans is explored in the largest equestrian traveling exhibition ever assembled. The Horse graphically portrays the horse’s impact on trade, transportation, labor, warfare, culture, and sports.  It showcases spectacular fossils, models, dioramas, and cultural objects from around the world, including many from the American Museum of Natural History’s world famous collections.

The New York Times called this exhibition "charming and illuminating" and "an uplifting example of how horses enrich our lives."  The New York Post said, "You absolutely must see it."

The Horse is divided into six major sections: The Evolution of Horses; Horses and Hunters; Domesticating Horses; The Nature of Horses; How We Shaped Horses and Horses Shaped Us; and, An Enduring Bond. These themes are illuminated by more than 140 artifacts and cultural objects from around the world including a complete Samurai saddle from Japan, a full suit of 15th-century German horse armor, and Native American horse accoutrements. Bringing the exhibit to life are a stunning 220-square foot diorama that depicts the horse’s ancestors, a high-definition video that captures in slow motion the rippling muscles of a Thoroughbred race horse, and an interactive video of a life-size horse where visitors can investigate a horse’s pulmonary and digestive systems and other biological traits.

"This extraordinary, entertaining and informative exhibition is a perfect fit for the Kentucky Horse Park, which exists to celebrate man’s relationship with the horse; a relationship that has endured through the millennia," said Kentucky Horse Park Executive Director John Nicholson.  "This amazing and most beautiful of creatures has never lost its ability to look for the good – and bring out the best – in mankind as a partner, teammate and friend.  That’s why we never lose our fascination with them, and why we are so excited to have this exhibition coming to our park."
 
The Horse is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, United Arab Emirates; the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau-Ottawa; The Field Museum, Chicago; and the San Diego Natural History Museum. Curator of the exhibition is Ross MacPhee.

"The human-horse relationship was almost predestined," MacPhee said. "Puny but clever, enterprising humans needed an animate energy source that was both mobile and controllable — hence the domestic horse. What no one could have foreseen was that, over the millennia, while we molded the horse to our ends, the horse also molded us by changing the scale and scope of what could be carried, traded, fought over, or used to make life better — in short, civilization as we know it."

For more information on The Horse, go to www.amnh.org/exhibitions/horse/, www.imh.org, or www.kyhorsepark.com.

Admission to The Horse is included with park admission, or a "museums only" ticket may be purchased for $8 for adults or $4 for children ages 7-12, which also includes admission to the entire International Museum of the Horse, the Al Marah Arabian Horse Galleries and the American Saddlebred Museum.

Park Hours and Rates: Through November 6, the park is open seven days a week.  Admission is $16 for adults, $8 for children 7-12. From November 7 to March 14, the park is open Wednesdays through Sundays.  Winter admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 7-12. Children age 6 and under are always admitted free of charge.  Admission includes the International Museum of the Horse – a Smithsonian Affiliate, and the American Saddlebred Museum.

Editor's Note:  High resolution images from the exhibition are available for use with this release by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  

Watch a video walk-through of the exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History.

Upcoming Kentucky Horse Park Events and News:

-Now through Oct 23:  Ancient Bronzes of the Asian Grasslands exhibition in the International Museum of the Horse

-Now through Dec 31:  Celebrities:  Saddlebreds and Personalities from the Silver Screen, Cinema and History exhibition in the American Saddlebred Museum

-Now through Aug 6:  Natural Horseman and Performer Guy McLean 

-Now through Aug 7: Kentucky Summer Classic Hunter Jumper Show

-This weekend Aug 6:  Hats Off Day a free day at the park!

-This weekend Aug 6:  Rood & Riddle Grand Prix to benefit KHP Foundation and Kentucky Equine Humane Center

-Aug 9-14:  USEF Pony Finals

-Aug 17-21:  Bluegrass Festival Hunter Jumper Show

-Aug 19-20:  USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals

-Aug 24-28:  Kentucky Hunter Jumper Association Show

-Sep 1-5:  Bluegrass Classic Cluster Dog Show

-Sep 2-4:  Kentucky Classique Horse Trials

-Sep 6-11:  NRHA East Coast Championship

-Sep 9-11:  MSEDA Dressage at the Park 

Other equine interests & future events:

-Alltech National Horse Show debuts new website

-Horses and Hope Trail Ride

-Save the Date - Save a Horse! Black Tie Gala at Alltech National Horse Show 

-Meet some of the adoptable KyEHC horses!

-Bronze statue of Ch Wild Eyed & Wicked unveiled at American Saddlebred Museum

-For the most current information on the Kentucky Horse Park, follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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