Horse Park regularly hosts Olympic-caliber athletes

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 13, 2012) – As the 2012 Olympic Games in London close, Gov. Beshear today recognized the Kentucky Horse Park as an elite international equestrian facility for consistently hosting world-class and Olympic-caliber athletes.   

The Horse Park is also a significant economic contributor to the Commonwealth, with an estimated economic impact of approximately $180 million each year.  

“The Kentucky Horse Park is the only place in our state—and one of the few places in the world—where visitors can see world-class equestrian competitions on a regular basis,” said Gov. Beshear.  “We are not only the Horse Capital of the World, but Kentucky is also one of the premier homes for high-level equestrian sports.  I encourage Kentuckians and visitors to attend one of the many top-rated shows held at the Kentucky Horse Park and witness elite competition firsthand.”

More than 115 athletes who participated in equestrian events in the 2012 Olympics have competed at the Kentucky Horse Park.  Seventeen of those athletes earned a medal in the London Olympics.  

Athletes frequently travel from Australia, France, Great Britain and many other countries to the Lexington facility to contend for top honors in equestrian sports such as dressage, jumping and eventing.  

The Horse Park also hosted the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, which marked the first time the elite competition was held outside of Europe.  That event placed Kentucky in the international spotlight and generated more than $200 million in economic impact, and also built on the park’s international reputation as a signature event site.  The new facilities added to the Horse Park for WEG continue to attract competitors and tourists to Kentucky from across the country and around the world.  
    
"We appreciate the continued support from the Governor and First Lady.  We are exceedingly proud of our facility and the competitions that bring in visitors and athletes from around the globe,” said John Nicholson, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park.  “The Kentucky Horse Park is clearly one of the leading equestrian competition facilities not just in North America, but anywhere in the world.  We expect the tremendous growth of the sport horse industry in Kentucky will accelerate in the years ahead."  

The Kentucky Horse Park is a 1,200 acre competition facility and tourist attraction recognized as the epicenter of equestrian life, sports and business.  Most notably, the park annually hosts the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.  The event is ranked at four stars, which is the highest level in international competition.    

The Horse Park hosts a number of other award-winning shows as well.  The Alltech National Horse Show won the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame’s Show of the year. They were also named the top U.S. show by the North American Riders Group. North American Junior and Young Rider Championships and the two weeks of Kentucky Spring Hunter Jumper were named among the top 25 events in North America.

This year, the facility will host 21 grand prix jumper classes as well as seven national or international hunter derbies, with more than $1 million offered in prize money.

The Park will host three upper-level dressage events in 2013, including the U.S. Dressage Finals.  

For more information on the Kentucky Horse Park and its world-class events, please visit http://kyhorsepark.com/.

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Photo above from Rolex Kentucky, by www.PixBySteve.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ross Creech (859) 971-7038

USDF Approves National Dressage Championships

Lexington, KY (December 4, 2011) – The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce approval by its Board of Governors of a US national dressage championship beginning in 2013.  This championship will be a head to head competition showcasing Adult Amateur and Open riders at Training Level through Grand Prix. 

With invitations to be extended to competitors who have qualified through the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Regional Dressage Championships, the inaugural championship (exact name TBD) will take place in the fall of 2013 at the Kentucky Horse Park (KHP) in Lexington, KY.  The KHP was the site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.  It also hosts the annual Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and the FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships. 

According to USDF President George Williams, the first formal discussions within the USDF, regarding a US national championship, started almost 20 years ago.  Williams also states, “This is indeed an exciting day for American dressage and in particular, our adult amateur competitors.”

Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement and promotion of dressage.  For more information about USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org, e-mail 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. , or call 859-971-2277.

Join us for our annual

KHP Gift Shop
Christmas
Open House

December 2-3, 2011
9am-5pm

Storewide discounts

Refreshments

Free parking

Gifts, home decor, accessories, books, artwork, videos, toys, apparel, jewelry, kids' clothing, Breyer model horses, holiday decorations, and much more!

Call 859-259-4234 for more information.

Take a video tour of the KHP Gift Shop!

We're also conducting a Christmas toy drive for the Blue Grass Farms Charities, so please consider purchasing a toy at the Gift Shop to drop in the bin while you're here.  Thanks!

WHO:  Eight teams of working oxen from Maine

WHAT:  Demonstrations using oxen for a variety of activities for the public and RFD-TV

WHEN:  History Heritage Days, Nov 9-12

WHERE:  Kentucky Horse Park

WHY:  The oxen are expected to arrive from Maine on Monday.  On Tuesday, Nov 8 at 1pm, there will be good photo/video/media ops as the oxen will be hitched and going through some practice exercises in preparation for the History Heritage Days events. 

During History Heritage Days, the oxen will be showcased pulling trolleys, plowing, pulling carts and log haulers. It's a unique opportunity to see the oxen up close, speak to the handlers and learn how farming and logging was accomplished before the days of mechanization.  The highlight of the event will be the hitching of all eight teams to the antique log hauler from the early 1900s. There will activities to interest every age group and plenty of time to visit with the oxen as they perform and as they are stabled in the Big Barn alongside the horses.

HOW:  Media should park in the main Visitor Parking Lot and come through the Visitor Center to the Dressage Complex in back.  For more information, see the press release. Questions from the media should be directed to Cindy Rullman, 859-259-4209. 

Watch a video of their arrival at the park Nov 7: http://youtu.be/KacgGAXg5mU

Thank you!

Lexington, KY - October 12, 2011 - The Alltech National Horse Show, 128th edition, set for its exiting debut at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky on November 2 - 6, 2011, will be hosting some of the horse industry's most sought after vendors at the Alltech Arena. Retail booths will be set up around the arena featuring 25 vendors specializing in fine and equestrian jewelry, souvenirs from the Alltech National Horse Show, ladies boutiques, art galleries and many more entrepreneurial venues.

This year's show, designated CSI4*-W, will feature a complete schedule of 'AA'-rated hunter divisions, including the Pony Lane Farm High Performance Hunter section. Also on the agenda, a big money Open Jumper division highlighted by the Sasco Creek Farm $50,000 Welcome Speed Class, the $75,000 Double H Farms Thursday's Jump-Off class, the $60,000 Spy Coast Farm Faults Converted Speed class on Friday and of course, the $250,000 Alltech National Horse Show Grand Prix, an FEI World Cup qualifying event. $100,000 will be up for grabs for the Junior and Amateur Jumper divisions, including the $50,000 SJHOF Junior/Amateur Championships, sponsored by Sleepy P Ranch, Chansonette and Deeridge Farm. The final Sunday is highlighted by the signature event of the National Horse Show, the ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Finals, presented by C.M. Hadfield's Saddlery.

Matt Morrissey, the Vendor Manager, believes that the retailers will have the opportunity for huge success. "With the amount of horses and entries the horse show has received this year, and the classes being entirely filled, I am expecting a large amount of traffic and a great turnout for the horse show and for shopping."

For those with an addiction to shopping, the booths will be arranged in a way that makes them easy to find and easy to access. Each booth will have a designated area around the Alltech Arena concourse, giving both exhibitors and spectators a chance to peruse the merchandise.

"It was actually astounding how large of a response we had to the vendor spots this year," said Morrissey. "Most of the vendors received the mailing we sent out with an invitation e-mail, the response was overwhelming. We have already filled all of the slots, and have a large amount of people on the waiting list. We have even had to tell a few people that there just isn't room, it's really fantastic!"

  Cindy Hadfield, owner of C. M. Hadfield's Saddlery, will have her mobile tack shop located outside of the Indoor Arena. Cindy began riding as a child, was "bitten by the bug," and has remained involved in the horse industry ever since, founding C. M. Hadfield's Saddlery in 1978. A presence on the horse show circuit for many years, C. M. Hadfield's will be the Presenting Sponsor of the 2011 ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay National Championship and is also the Exclusive Mobile Tack Shop of the Alltech National Horse Show. "I think that Alltech's generous involvement in this event is absolutely wonderful, and I wish great success to Mason Phelps and all of the people involved," said Hadfield. "I hope that everybody has a great time and enjoys the show."

C. M. Hadfield's Saddlery will be showcasing their new, 53-ft. trailer that made its debut earlier this year. Designed by Cindy herself, the mobile store boasts over 1,000 square feet of elegantly-appointed retail space and offers an expansive inventory of fine English riding apparel and equipment, including H adfield's own product lines: the Cynthia Munro Clothing Collection, featuring hunt coats, shirts and breeches; and the Hadfield Bridleworks Ltd. line of bridles and tack accessories crafted in Hadfield's own English factory. Hadfield's also offers high quality sportswear, rainwear and unique accessory items, as well as custom fittings for both horse and rider. Added Hadfield, "I welcome everyone to visit our new store and hope that they will enjoy shopping with us as much as I enjoyed designing it and putting it together."

Located inside the Alltech Arena, along the concourse, will be custom saddle makers such as Stackhouse Saddlemakers and CWD USA. These booths will feature top-of-the-line saddles made to the consumer's exact specifications.

Five of the vendors featured at the Alltech National Horse Show will specialize in fine jewelry, including the well-known Fox Run Ltd. with Ed Infusino. Not only does Fox Run have a concentration in fine jewelry, but Infusino also sells many pieces that are considered equestrian as well. The horse show circuit is nothing new to Infusino. He has been a vendor at the National Horse Show for 19 years, dating back to the days of Meadowland and Madison Square Garden. After closing the doors to his family jewelry store in 1984, he decided to take his knowledge of horses and the equine industry and put them to good use, in the form of his fine jewelry.

"I started out running the family business as a fine jeweler and then after I started showing in 1979, I got into have equestrian jewelry and brought it with me to my shows," said Infusino. "In doing equestrian jewelry along with fine jewelry, I have grown to develop some very high expectations because this is a very select group. I understand the clientele and the people who come to the horse shows, they are a very unique group and I think the Alltech facility is a perfect fit."

Infusino actually made a special trip to Lexington, KY, when he heard that the Alltech National Horse Show was taking place at the Kentucky Horse Park. "I had never been to the Kentucky Horse Park or even Lexington, but my customers had raved about it for years," Infusino admitted. "Honestly, the facility blew me away and I realized what everyone was talking about. The Indoor Arena is an excellent facility for the National Horse Show. I was astounded by how truly horse-friendly the venue is," Infusino said. "I can really see this show having a home in Kentucky, it's in a facility that welcomes equestrians and is very convenient."

Other jewelers featured at the Alltech National Horse Show include Bennett Fine Jewelry, Corbett Frame Jewelers, Erez LLC's coin jewelry, Stern Design Works and the official jeweler of the Grand Prix, Vandermoore. The varying styles and designs are sure to catch shoppers' attention as they peruse the merchandise and find those perfect pieces their accessories collection may have been missing. In the situation that their dog needs a little more variety in their collars, Lisa Welch Designs will be more than happy to provide from her array of dog jewelry and designs.

The White Horse Gallery will feature equestrian décor and jewelry with many of their gifts starting at under $20, the perfect souvenirs to remember the Alltech National Horse Show, accented with an artistic flair. Ouisha McKinney with Ouisha Designs will provide the artistic touch to many hand-painted equestrian gifts and equestrian themed collectibles.

There will also be several prestigious boutiques located throughout the Alltech Arena. The local Kentucky based fur boutique, Embry's, will showcase their high-quality furs just in time for the cool weather and cocktail parties to grace the Alltech National Horse Show. Gretchen Hunt, a woman well-known for her boutique that travels the horse show circuit regularly, will have cashmere sweaters, jeans and designer blouses at the popular Hunt Ltd. Equine Impressions will feature their equine inspired fashion at their booth with numerous designs. Hats by Katie will also appear as a vendor this year, showcasing the eloquent and unique hats worn for many of the equestrian events.

Art enthusiasts will also be able to enjoy themselves with Procaccio Studio. Robert Casterline will have numerous pieces of art displayed during the horse show. The gallery will feature both equine and non-equine artwork alike, providing a variety of different pieces.

Along with the many vendors this year, the Equus Foundation and the ASPCA will have booths, offering them an opportunity to fundraise for their wonderfully worthwhile causes. As an initiative to help fund global water sanitization projects, there will be a charity present amongst the fundraising booths under the name, Clear Rounds for Clean Water. They are a nonprofit corporation that raises money through equestrian events for worldwide water projects. Since it's beginning in 2009, CRforCW has been able to help fund water and sanitation projects in Northern Uganda, Honduras and Southern India. All funds from donations and sales of our merchandise goes directly into their 2011 project with Dr. Jeremy Penner in Remba Island, Kenya. The non-profit organization will sell shirts and a line of jewelry with their logo on it as a way of raising money for their global projects. If people donate to their cause, they will be able to receive private label wine adorned with beautiful equine artwork.

"Every single dime we take in at that booth goes directly to water projects somewhere in the world," said founder and executive director of Clear Rounds for Clean Water, JoJo White. "It is a great cause and we are so happy to be able to make a difference at such a prestigious event. I'm really hoping and praying that this show is going to be knocked right out the ballpark, I really think it is going to be something spectacular."

Several equine equipment and service companies will extend their products and knowledge such as Lucas Equine Equipment and Dandy Products, Inc. There will be products from animal padding and footing, custom promotional products, premium corporate gifts and staffing apparel programs.

In the situation that exhibitors or spectators need to make a dry cleaners run or simply get some laundry done, Josey's Laundry will right outside the Alltech Arena to provide assistance. Josey's Laundry offers a quick turn around on clothes, saddle pads, leg wraps, towels, blankets and anything else that needs washing. 

The south side of the concourse will fondly be called the "Alltech Experience," where the Kentucky Horse Park and Alltech will provide Alltech National Horse Show souvenirs through All Pro Merchandise, a full line of Alltech products including the LIFEFORCE supplement and numerous feed partners such as Canidae/Equidae, Direct Action Company (DAC), Ritchie Feeds, Southern States, Tribute and Triple Crown.

"With such a variety of vendors and quality products, we are looking extremely forward to the outcome. I think that the Alltech National Horse Show is going to be more successful than we could ever imagine," Morrissey concluded. 

For more information on the National Horse Show Association of America, Limited, please visit www.nhs.org.Photo Credits: Alltech Arena photo courtesy of the Alltech National Horse Show. C.M. Hadfield's Saddlery trailer and interior design photographs courtesy of Cindy Hadfield. Clear Rounds for Clean Water wine label image courtesy of JoJo White/Clear Rounds for Clean Water.

International recording artist, Ronan Tynan of the Irish Tenors, will be the featured performer at the Black Tie Gala to launch the Alltech National Horse Show, on Tuesday, Nov 1.

This will be a great opportunity to hear a world-class tenor and support a very worthy cause -- all proceeds benefit the Kentucky Equine Humane Center! 

More information

Take a 6-minute
video tour of the Alltech Arena, as the Kentucky Horse Park prepares to host the Alltech National Horse Show, Nov 2-6.  Narrated by John Nicholson, executive director of the park.  Brought to you by Ky Forward.

Photo by Craig Brown

Lexington, KY - September 30, 2011 - Nine Olympic veterans, including four gold medalists highlight the talented roster of riders scheduled to compete at this year's Alltech National Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky on November 2 - 6, 2011.

This year's debut event in Kentucky, designated a CSI-W 4*, will feature a big money Open Jumper division with over $370,000 in prize money, including the main event, the $250,000 Alltech National Horse Show Grand Prix, an FEI World Cup qualifier, on Saturday night. All in all, over $600,000 in prize money is up for grabs in November. "That brings this show on par or better than any show in North America, or any indoor show anywhere in the world," noted show manager Hugh Kincannon.

American Olympians McLain Ward, Laura Kraut, Lauren Hough, Joe Fargis, Margie Engle and Todd Minikus will lead a stellar field of riders, representing eight different nations at this year's show.

Currently ranked number two in the Rolex World Rankings, two-time Olympic Gold medalist McLain Ward will be joined by his Athens and Hong Kong teammate Laura Kraut. Joining this dynamic duo is veteran rider Joe Fargis who secured Olympic Gold in Los Angeles in 1984. Margie Engle and Lauren Hough, members of the United States Olympic team at Sydney, Australia are also scheduled to compete in Lexington.

Engle and Ward are currently ranked one-two on the list of all time grand prix wins in North America.

Brazil's Rodrigo Pessoa, the Individual Gold medalist at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, leads the international list that also includes Nick Skelton, a six-time Olympic veteran for his home country of Great Britain. Pessoa is a three-time World Cup Champion, while Skelton, also a former World Cup Champion, has won Gold at the European Championships and just last month narrowly missed a second Gold, but took home the Bronze in this year's event.

Adding to the international flavor of this year's show are Harrie Smolders of the Netherlands, Pablo Barrios of Venezuela, Ireland's Shane Sweetnam, Richard Maloney and Jonathan McCrea and a strong contingent from Great Britain that includes Skelton, and up and coming stars, Scott Brash and Ben Maher. Barrios has represented his country at the Olympic Games, while Sweetnam, Maher and Brash have all just completed a very successful summer on this year's FEI Nations Cup tour.

The national roster of top rider includes top competitors Kent Farrington, Charlie Jayne, Christine McCrea, Richard Spooner and Ashlee Bond, all members of the United States FEI Nations Cup efforts over the past two seasons. Spooner is among the top five in all-time grand prix victories.

The stars of the future will be well represented at this year's Alltech National Horse Show. Led by Katie Dinan, the Individual Gold Medalist at this year's North American Young Riders Championships in Lexington, the roster also includes Young Rider Team Gold Medalists Lucy Davis and Saer Coulter of California and Reed Kessler, one of the country's top junior riders, with multiple wins on the highly competitive European circuit this summer. Joining the group is Brianne Goutal a former ASPCA Maclay national champion, and Kirsten Coe, a World Cup qualifier winner in California just a couple of weeks ago.

All in all, thirty-five of the world's best show jumpers will take center stage when the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition, gets underway on November 2 - 6, 2011, at the beautiful, new Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

This year's show, designated CSI4*-W, will feature a complete schedule of 'AA'-rated hunter divisions, including the Pony Lane Farm High Performance Hunter section. Also on the agenda, a big money Open Jumper division highlighted by the Sasco Creek Farm $50,000 Welcome Speed Class, the $75,000 Double H Farms Thursday's Jump-Off class, the $60,000 Spy Coast Farm Faults Converted Speed class on Friday and of course, the $250,000 Alltech National Horse Show Grand Prix, an FEI World Cup qualifying event. $100,000 will be up for grabs for the Junior and Amateur Jumper divisions, including the $50,000 SJHOF Junior/Amateur Championships, sponsored by Sleepy P Ranch, Chansonette and Deeridge Farm. The final Sunday is highlighted by the signature event of the National Horse Show, the ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Finals, presented by C.M. Hadfield's Saddlery.

Founded in 1883 at the original Madison Square Garden, the National Horse Show is America's oldest indoor horse show, firmly established as a major fixture on the national and international sports and social event calendars. The National Horse Show Association's primary activity is the annual production of the National Horse Show and all ancillary events. Over the years, the National Horse Show has provided financial aid to many worthwhile charities.

For more information on the National Horse Show Association of America, Limited, please visit www.nhs.org.