WHO:  Nearly 250 riders, ages 14-21, from 6 countries, along with their families, trainers, friends, veterinarians, farriers, judges, volunteers and spectators (174 riders from the U.S., 59 riders from Canada, 10 riders from Mexico, 2 riders from Columbia, 1 rider from Germany and 1 rider from Spain)

WHAT:  Opening ceremonies of the Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships

WHEN:  Wednesay, July 27, 6:30pm;  Entire event, July 27-31.

WHERE:  Kentucky Horse Park's Rolex Stadium

WHY:  The NAJYRC is the premier equestrian competition in North America for junior and young riders, age 14-21. Young equestrians vie for team and individual FEI medals in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage, eventing and the FEI World Equestrian Games disciplines of reining and endurance.  Many of North America's best equestrians who now regularly represent their country on Olympic, World Championship and Nations Cup teams got their first taste of international experience at NAJYRC. Watch a short video of last year's NAJYRC.

HOW:  Members of the media who wish to attend the opening ceremonies should park in the main Visitor Parking lot and walk to the Media Center, located next to the large Hospitality Tent by the Rolex Stadium. For more information, contact Cindy Rullman at the Kentucky Horse Park 859-259-4209, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or go to www.youngriders.org.

The public is invited to attend. The NAJYRC is included with park admission; opening ceremonies are free of charge.

WHO:  Competitors, ages 14-21, who are in Kentucky for the Adequan FEI North American Junior/Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) at the Kentucky Horse Park

WHAT:  75-mile endurance race from the Kentucky Horse Park, utilizing part of the now world-famous Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games endurance course

WHEN:  Friday, July 30, 6:30am

WHERE:  The race begins and ends at the Kentucky Horse Park in front of the Maker's Mark Secretariat Center.

WHY: The NAJYRC is the premier equestrian competition in North America for junior and young riders, age 14-21. Young equestrians come from the U.S., Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean Islands to vie for team and individual FEI medals in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage, eventing and the FEI World Equestrian Games disciplines of reining and endurance. The competition is run under rules of the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale), the international governing body for equestrian sport, and is the only FEI championship held annually in this country. Many of North America's best equestrians who now regularly represent their country on Olympic, World Championship and Nations Cup teams got their first taste of international experience at NAJYRC.  Watch a video, shot at 10:45am< Jul 29, at one of the endurance veterinary inspections.

HOW:  Members of the media who wish to attend should contact Cindy Rullman at the Kentucky Horse Park (859-259-4209, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) or Vonita Bowers at the United States Equestrian Federation (859-225-6001, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) for additional information.  There will be other opportunities throughout the day to follow the race, however, there will be no media or public access to the private lands through which much of the race will take place.  A map of the entire 75-mile route is available by request.

Tolley Graves, American Saddlebred Museum
859-259-2746 ext 304
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.                                

WGC CHWILD-EYED & WICKED
 BRONZE AND COURTYARD DEDICATED

LEXINGTON, KY - At 11:30 a.m. on July 16, 2011, Sally and Joe Jackson hosted the unveiling and dedication of the WGC CHWild-Eyed & Wicked bronze and courtyard seating area at the American Saddlebred Museum. 

The ½-life size bronze portrays the two-time World’s Grand Champion Five-Gaited horse at the rack and was sculpted by his owner Sally McClure Jackson. A noted artist, Jackson’s works are in the collections of the United States Equestrian Federation, the Kentucky Horse Park, and Lord Westmorland of London, England, among others.

A crowd gathered to hear Museum Executive Director Tolley Graves give a brief explanation of the origin of the Museum’s sculpture Garden and thank the Jacksons for their generous donation of not only the magnificent sculpture but also the beautifully designed courtyard seating area. Located to the left of the main entrance to the Showplace For Saddlebreds, the bronze serves as a focal point, drawing visitors from within the Horse Park to the Museum. Signage affixed to the base of the bronze gives a brief Saddlebred history along with an explanation of the breed’s gaits. The multi world’s champion gelding was also a two-time winner of the American Saddlebred Triple Crown among other awards throughout his stellar show career. CHWild-Eyed & Wicked is buried outside the Kentucky Horse Park’s Hall of Champions.

The museum is open daily from 9-6. For more information contact museum curator Kim Skipton at 859/259-2746 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Photo (top) by Kentucky Images.  Photo (bottom) sculptor Sally McClure Jackson with her sculpture courtesy of American Saddlebred Museum..

Presented by Alltech and Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital
Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, Kentucky

Hats Off Day is a special day to celebrate Kentucky’s horse industry at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentuckians are invited to the Kentucky Horse Park for a FREE day of family fun and educational activities to learn about the state’s amazing horse industry.

Hats Off Day provides something for everyone – fantastic entertainment for families, intense show jumping competition, a state-of-the-art facility for riders, and premium hospitality and enhanced benefits for sponsors.

Activities include all the regular features of the Kentucky Horse Park, plus free pony rides (1 per child), educational booths and interactive equine stations, equestrian demonstrations, and more, all leading up to the featured event of the evening, the Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix.

The $50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix is a premier show jumping competition with a 27 year history at the Kentucky Horse Park. Top level show jumpers are guaranteed to impress and thrill the crowd as they fly over 5 foot fences.

In addition to thrilling spectators over the years, The Rood & Riddle Grand Prix has served as a charity fundraiser since 2003 and raised over $350,000 for charitable organizations.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT HATSOFFKY.COM!

Our Beneficiaries

Since its inception in 1985, the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation has followed its mission to “expand and enhance the Kentucky Horse Park.” The Foundation has provided funding for many of the park’s facilities, such as show rings and barns for equine competitions, new horses, tack and carriages, safety equipment, costuming, educational programs, landscaping projects, signage, sound systems, special research projects, and special exhibits at the International Museum of the Horse.

The mission of the Kentucky Equine Humane Center is to provide humane treatment and shelter while working as a clearinghouse to seek adoptive homes for all of Kentucky’s unwanted equines, regardless of breed; To educate the public and raise awareness for responsible equine ownership so that fewer horses end up in crisis; To work with and serve as a model for organizations with the same mission in other states: to save America’s equines from inhumane treatment.

Next week, Jul 27-31, we'll have the very prestigious Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships here at the park.

The NAJYRC is the premier equestrian competition in North America for junior and young riders, age 14-21. Young equestrians come from the U.S, Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean Islands to vie for team and individual FEI medals in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage, eventing and the FEI World Equestrian Games disciplines of reining and (for the first time) endurance.  They will use 75 miles of the now world-famous endurance course designed for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

The competition is the only FEI championship held annually on this continent.

The NAJYR is included with park admission.

For more information go to www.youngriders.org or contact Joanie Morris at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

BREYER’S 22^nd BREYERFEST® BRINGS FAIRY TALES AND HORSES TOGETHER

Where Equine Fantasies and Fairy Tales Connect Kids with the Horse World

(Pequannock, NJ – July 12, 2011) – Equine fantasies and fairy tales will come true for more than 6,000 Breyer fans and horse lovers whenBreyerFest, the annual horse fair and model horse collector festival hosted by Breyer Animal Creations®, prances into Lexington, KY for its 22^nd consecutive festival at the Kentucky Horse Park. BreyerFest will be held Fri.-Sun., July 15th-17^th rain or shine. The three-day family festival features nationally known equine entertainers, a trade show, petting zoo, free pony rides, fine Artisans’ Gallery, model horse customizing workshops, a free craft & activity tent, dog agility and more! Most importantly, BreyerFest is a place where kids and horses can connect.

Matt McLaughlin’s Pecos has claimed the coveted spot as the 2011 BreyerFest Celebration Horse, the horse whose Breyer portrait model comes with each three-day ticket. Pecos isa gorgeous Andalusian stallion descended from the Champion of Champions Legionario III of Spain (also honored as a Breyer model). They will perform their signature garrocha act daily.

Also performing daily will be the Awesome Aussie Guy McLean, dubbed the “Steve Irwin of horses.” He has brought his four Australian-bred horses out of the Outback and into America dazzling crowds with their mesmerizing performances. Mark & Dusty will prove to you that there is no limit to what you can teach your horse to do. Mark Peterson and Dusty have traveled the country showcasing Dusty’s astonishing ability to learn new tricks and skills on command! The All American Cowgirl Chicks, a team of daredevil, trick riders whose performance partners are rescue horses and rehabilitated mustangs, will dazzle audiences delivering thrills and chills as well as demonstrating the importance of equine rescue and rehabilitation.

BreyerFest will also welcome Kentucky’s own knight in shining armor, when Dan Peterson, director of the Don F. Pratt Museum, Fort Campbell, KY brings his Medieval Pavilion to life. The 30’ pavilion is complete with artifacts, period clothing, furnishings and full suits of armor.

As always, BreyerFest is the place where kids can connect with the horses that inspired the Breyer models. This year’s event features a stellar assembly of the most portrait models ever. Breyer Portrait Models include:KONG, the legendary ‘wheeler’ of the famed Priefert Ranch Equipment Hitch, a massive Percheron, who performs for more than six million people each year. Sato, a Jockey Club registered Thoroughbred stallion that is an extremely rare palomino pinto sabino. He has flashy Paint coloration and the elegant conformation of a Thoroughbred. Kripton Seni II, stunning Andalusian was a USEF Horse of the Year honoree and has more than twelve (12) National Championship titles to his record. TS Black Tie Affair, a 7/8 Arabian Pinto that has won an astonishing 22Pinto World and Reserve World Championships and two Pinto All-Around Pleasure High Point titles. And Grand Central, grandson of Prince Jester, a Missouri Fox Trotter stallion that is a three-time World Grand Champion. Prince Jester has sired 15 World Grand Champions, six Reserve World Champions, and six Futurity/World Champions.

BreyerFest holds two raffles and both a Silent Auction and a Live Auction to support worthwhile animal welfare-related causes! 2011 Beneficiaries include: The Grace Foundation (Saved By Grace), Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue, PATH (formerly North American Association Riding for the Handicapped), People Helping Horses, as well as various local Kentucky non-profit organizations including: Lions Club of Lexington, Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, Kentucky Horse Council and more

Other Activities include:

• 40 unique and thrilling equine performances: Friesians, minis, Pony Club Mounted Games, and much more!
• Breyer Craft Activity Center – FREE craft activities for children!
• FREE pony rides
• Exotic petting zoo with camel rides
• Dog Agility (on Saturday only)
• Autograph sessions with guest horses and speakers.
• 65-Booth Trade Fair featuring equestrian collectibles, equine art, jewelry and more.
• Breyer Store – Find models made ONLY for BreyerFest plus much more!
• Model Horse Shows: Open, Youth and Children (pre-registration)
• Model Hobby Workshops (pre-registration required)
• Free Seminars: Learn to Collect Model Horses, Valuing Your Breyer Collection and more!
• Artisans’ Gallery featuring top equine artists/sculptors at the Clarion Hotel
• A Swap Meet for buying, selling, swapping model horses at the Clarion Hotel

TICKETS: Tickets are available for purchase on-site at the BreyerFest Ticket Booth at KHP.

• Single Day Tickets: Adults: $20 / Children 7-13 yrs: $10 – Each paid ticket comes with a Ltd. Ed. Breyer Stablemates^® model horse available only at BreyerFest.*
• Three Day Tickets: Adults: $85 / 7-13 yrs: $55 – Comes with 2011 Celebration Horse model, Pecos, a Ltd. Ed. Traditional^® Breyer model valued at $40 - available only at BreyerFest.*  *while supplies last

Visit www.BreyerHorses.com for more information or call 973-633-5090.

       For further information or media credentials, please contact:

Kathleen Fallon, Reeves International, Inc.

Mobile : 917-592-5185
mailto: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

WATCH A VIDEO SHOT FRIDAY, JULY 15 AT BREYERFEST BY A KENTUCKY HORSE PARK EMPLOYEE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWaIAfpxom4

This weekend, July 15-17, you can meet Sato, a Thoroughbred who is an extremely rare palomino pinto sabino.

This 16-hand stallion is registered with The Jockey Club and the American Paint Horse Association.

He has the flashy coloration of a Paint and the sleek, elegant conformation of a Thoroughbred, making him one show-stopping piece of equine eye candy. Sato will be appearing courtesy of BreyerFest so come out and see him!

Watch a video of him, shot at the Kentucky Horse Park on July 14, 2011:

Contact: Charlene Mingus                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tel. 859-281-1202

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

UK Healthcare’s Bluegrass International Cup at Polo in the Park

Benefiting Bluegrass Conservancy & The Fayette Alliance

May 19, 2011 – Lexington, KY

The location of the 5th annual Bluegrass International Cup at Polo in the Park presented by UK Healthcare has changed. It will now be held at the Kentucky Horse Park’s renowned John Henry field. The eventwill still be held on Saturday, July 16, 2011. The Bluegrass International Cup at Polo in the Park benefits the crucial efforts of Bluegrass Conservancy and the Fayette Alliance. Main tent patrons enjoy a delicious dinner by Dupree Catering and drinks as they watch an exciting polo match between Team U.S.A. and Team South Africa.  While tailgaters get a front row view of the polo match from the limited availability tailgating spots. Tailgaters should bring their own food and drink, as well as, blankets and chairs so they can stretch their feet out in the lawn. After the match, tailgaters are invited to join the main tent for an evening of dancing to the sensational beats of 24/7. Tickets are now available. Please visit PoloBenefit.com or call 859-255-4552 for more information or to purchase tickets.

Last year, over 800 guests enjoyed a fantastic evening of professional polo between South Africa and the United States, delicious food, and dancing. This year, over 1,000 guests are expected to enjoy the same good cheer and unique field sport while supporting farmland preservation and the work of Bluegrass Conservancy and The Fayette Alliance.

Founded in 1995, Bluegrass Conservancy is a private, nonprofit land trust working to protect the Inner Bluegrass Region of Kentucky through land conservation for future generations. We encourage the preservation of these lands through the use of conservation easements for agricultural viability, natural habitat, rural heritage, and scenic open space. Our service area includes but is not limited to Anderson, Bourbon, Boyle, Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Jessamine, Madison, Mercer, Scott, and Woodford counties. Conservation easements are voluntary legal agreements between a landowner and a qualified land trust such as Bluegrass Conservancy. These flexible agreements are tailored to the landowner’s objectives and property in order to preserve the land for agriculture and/or other open space activities in perpetuity, thereby protecting the land’s conservation values. A landowner donating a conservation easement to Bluegrass Conservancy may be eligible for significant income tax and estate tax savings. Our land trust currently holds 74 conservation easements permanently protecting 11,279 acres.

The Fayette Alliance is Lexington’s ONLY land-use advocacy organization that regularly educates and lobbies local government for a sustainable Lexington that benefits all of us. We believe that preserving and promoting our signature Bluegrass landscape and its related agricultural industries, creating a dynamic and equitable city through responsible development, and improving our infrastructure and environment are key to achieving success here in Lexington-Fayette County. We are an alliance of citizens from the entire community. As a united voice for sustainable growth, we only weigh-in on those land-use issues that have countywide significance. Together we chart our future, and positively impact local zoning and policy decisions—the very building blocks of our community.

To learn more about these organizations, please visit www.bluegrassconservancy.org and www.fayettealliance.com.

Meet the Kentucky Equine Humane Center's adoptable horse of the week: Derby! 

Derby is a 4-year-old Thoroughbred mare, 15.3 hands, who is busy absorbing all kinds of new experiences at KyEHC.  She is cautious yet curious when introduced to new objects and obstacles but is learning to explore her new world more confidently.

Derby gets along in a herd with both mares and geldings. She is sound for any discipline, a quick learner, and ready for a new home and career. 

For more information about her or any of the other adoptable horses at the Kentucky Equine Humane Center, contact them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or go to www.kyehc.org