At the MayDaze Horse Trials, approximately 500 horses are scheduled to compete in dressage, cross-country and stadium jumping, here at the Kentucky Horse Park on May 24-26, 2013.

On Friday, dressage, meaning training in French, where horses are described as appearing to dance, will begin in the morning at 8:00 am. Eventing in the Rolex Stadium will begin at 10:00 am, finishing at approximately 5:00 pm.  Saturday’s competitions in all three, dressage, cross-country and stadium jumping, will begin at 7:30 am and run until 6:00 pm. Sunday will run from 7:40 am to 3:00 pm and will only include jumping phases.

Competitors from both the Olympics and the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event will participate in these events as well as those in the beginner levels. Competitors will be attending from 20 states. Individual ride times may be viewed on www.champagnerun.com starting on May 21.

Date & Time: 

May 24-26, 2013 – 7:30 am – 6:00 pm daily (approximately)

Admission: 

Included in Kentucky Horse Park general admission, horse show-only rate available

Location & Parking:  

Hunter Jumper Complex, Walnut Ring, Cross Country Course

Parking is available in the main parking lot.

The 27^th annual Kentucky Dressage Association’s (KDA) Spring Warm Up & Dressage Show, demonstrating the highest expression of horse training, returns May 23-26, 2013, to the Kentucky Horse Park!

Dressage, commonly referred to as horse ballet, is a graceful and disciplined sport where rider and horse perform a series of predetermined movements with minimal direction while maintaining a relaxed posture.  At the KDA’s Annual Dressage Show, viewers can experience firsthand the fine art of dressage performed by such elegant creatures – horses.

The competition begins with the KDA Spring Warm Up on May 23-24 preceding the annual Dressage Show on May 25-26.  The KDA spring shows will conduct all CDI3*/CDI*/CDIY/CDIJ/CDIP classes and many others in the Rolex Stadium, which was the site of dressage and show jumping for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.  KDA is expecting more than 230 riders during the four-day show that attracts competitors domestically as well as internationally.  Last year, during the 2012 competition, there were riders from Canada and Spain.

The Kentucky Horse Park, in conjunction with the KDA, will present a special World of Horses show on Saturday, May 25.  Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, which teaches riding to the physically and mentally handicapped, will be introducing their horses to the public and promoting their mission.  There will also be a KDA-hosted cancer walk in memory of Mary Kearney, a former KDA member, horse lover and dressage enthusiast.  The community is invited to participate in the walk at 6:00 pm, and then to stay to watch an exciting dressage freestyle competition in the evening.  Shuttles will take participants to the run/walk course at Mt. Brilliant Farm behind the Kentucky Horse Park and then bring them back to the park afterwards for the Dressage Freestyles in the Rolex Stadium.

Dates & Time:

May 23-26, 2013 – 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Saturday, May 25, 2013 – 6:00 pm – KDA Kearney Cancer 5K & Fun Walk (Mt. Brilliant Farm/Rolex Stadium)

Admission:

Included in Kentucky Horse Park general admission, horse show-only rate available

Location & Parking:
Dressage Complex – Parking is available in the Main Parking Lot

For more information about the 2013 KDA Spring Warm Up & Dressage Show, please visit www.kentuckydressageassociation.org. 

The Kentucky Spring Horse Show will mark the first week of competition, from May 8-12, 2013, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. These events attract the nation's best competitors because of their wonderful venues, excellent stabling, plenty of exercise rings and spacious cross country fields.

During the first week, the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby will take place at 5:00 pm in the Rolex Stadium. This event includes jumps that are reminiscent of the hunting field, such as natural posts and split rails, a stonewall, a coop, an aiken, hedges, logs, banks, and ditches. This event gears up riders for the August $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals.

Kicking off the first week, the seven part Hagyard Challenge Series will include the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic on May 9th at 6:30 pm. These events highlight the jumper events which are held in the Rolex Stadium. The $75,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix will take center stage on Sunday, May 12th at 4:00 pm.

The main rings for the hunter competition are the Stonelea Ring and the Murphy Ring, which each feature the OTTO Sport footing, as do each ring's respective warm-up areas. The OTTO Riding Arena Mat System is a state-of-the-art surface that has been proven all over the world including the 1996 Olympics, the 1998 World Cup, and the 2006 and 2010 World Equestrian Games.

The Kentucky Spring Classic will continue the competition the following week, May 15-19, 2013. The $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic will be held on Thursday, May 16 at 6:30 pm as riders try to accumulate valuable points for the Hagyard Leading Rider Bonus. On Saturday, May 18, riders will compete under the lights in the Rolex Stadium at 6:30 pm for the $75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix sponsored by Audi of Lexington.

During the World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) week of competition, the Kentucky Spring Classic riders will have the opportunity to compete for valuable points. WCHR is an awards program started by the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation and now carried forward by USHJA. The awards are presented, on both a national and regional level, to Pony, Junior, Amateur, Professional, Adult and Children's hunter riders who accumulate the most points at WCHR designated horse shows throughout the year.

This event is and is AA rated and a qualifying event for The Washington International Championship as well as The North American League Finals.

The Kentucky Spring Hunter Jumper Shows are sponsored by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Hallway Feeds, Audi of Lexington, Johnson Horse Transportation, Farm Vet, Dietrich Insurance and Sleepy P Ranch.

KENTUCKY SPRING HORSE SHOW – Rolex Stadium – May 8-12, 2013
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic – Thursday May 9th – 6:30 pm
$15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby – Saturday May 11th – 5:00 pm
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby – Saturday May 11th – 5:00 pm
$75,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix – Sunday May 12th – 4:00 pm

KENTUCKY SPRING CLASSIC – Rolex Stadium – May 15-19, 2013
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic – Thursday May 16th – 6:30 pm
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby – Saturday May 18th – 5:00 pm
$75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix – Saturday May 18th – 6:30 pm (Sponsored by Audi of Lexington)

Times:
8:00 am–5:00 pm daily (approximately)

Admission:
Included in Kentucky Horse Park general admission, horse show-only rate available

Location & Parking:
Events both weeks are held at the Covered Arena, Hunter Jumper Complex, and Rolex Stadium
Parking is available in the Main Parking Lot

For further information on the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

NOTE:  NBC stations will televise a wrap-up show of this event on Sunday, April 28 at 4 pm EDT.  Check local listings for details!

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Land Rover, returns to the Kentucky Horse Park. Come experience this iconic international event, celebrating its 35^th anniversary along with the park.

One of the most popular equine sporting events in the world, it will be an exciting weekend of fun leading up to Derby the following week. Here you can experience top riders of international horse sport with their best horses in the highest classes of eventing.

Defending champion, William Fox-Pitt, as well as Olympic veterans and other past Rolex champions are included among riders set to compete. The list of entries includes some of the best riders and horses from Australia, Canada, Ecuador, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand and the United States. These contestants are chomping at the bit to win their share of the $250,000 in prize money and a shot at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing award.

The Sponsor Village and International Trade Fair will also be set up outside the Rolex Stadium for when you need to stretch your legs and shop the many offerings available. More than 175 merchants, corporate sponsors and food vendors will be ready to open at 9:00 a.m. on the days of the event selling clothing, horse related merchandise, jewelry, and artisan crafts.

The stakes are high and the award winning line-up is impressive. The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is sure to be a tough competition for the riders and a thrilling sight for spectators!

Admission –

General admission (including parking) –

Thursday - $15

Friday - $15

Saturday - $35

Sunday - $30

Kids 12 and under - Free (when accompanied by an adult)

Dates and Times –

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, April 25, 7:00am - 4:00pm

Ticket sales begin at 7:00am

For more information, please visit the Rolex Kentucky website at www.rk3de.org.

If you cannot attend in person, you can watch online at www.usefnetwork.com. 

Dancing horses, summer evening, outdoor dining.... sound irresistible?

Then join us for "Party at the Park" presented by the Kentucky Dressage Association and Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, May 26 at the Rolex Stadium to watch FEI and CDI*** Dressage Freestyle.

Doors open at 5:30. $10 for adults; children 12 and under admitted free of charge.

www.kentuckydressageassociation.org

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.