Meet the Adoptable Horse of the Week: Donna!

As you can see, Donna is an exceptionally beautiful mare.  She is also sound, intelligent, young, and kind -- what a great combination!

She is only 3-years-old, 16.1-hands, and spent only a short amount of time on the racetrack, so she doesn't have any bad habits.

Donna is currently in the retraining program at the Kentucky Equine Humane Center where she is preparing for a new home and new career.  She is being recommended for low-level jumping or low-level dressage. 

If you'd like more information about the lovely Donna, call 859-881-5849 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  You can also visit their website to see other adoptable horses, www.KyEHC.org. 

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!

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.

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. .

Eventing Riders Coming From Around the World
2010 WEG Gold Medal Team Entered in Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup
 

Lexington, KY—April 11, 2011—It comes as no surprise that the entry list for this year's Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, boasts the names of many of the best horses and riders from around the world. A field of entries containing Olympic veterans, past Rolex Kentucky Champions and World Equestrian Games (WEG) veterans will converge on the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, when the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, returns April 28-May 1.

This year, the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup will debut alongside the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and it will feature the world’s best reiners including the four members of the Gold Medal team from last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, all of whom are entered to compete.

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is part of the HSBC FEI ClassicsTM and features the world’s best horses and riders vying for their share of $250,000 in prize money as well as a shot at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing which is awarded to any rider who wins the Rolex Kentucky, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton and Land Rover Burghley Four Star Events in succession.

The only CCI4* in the Western Hemisphere, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event features the 14th championship for the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation Pinnacle Cup, signifying the zenith in Eventing competition in the United States. The event draws 50-100,000 spectators and is seen by millions more on worldwide telecasts including a 60-minute live broadcast on NBC in the United States that will air from 2-3:00 pm on May 1.

As always, spectators at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event can look forward to rooting on their favorite horse-and-rider combinations as they compete in the three phases of competition: dressage, cross-country and show jumping.

Those expected to compete during this year's Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event include:

• William Fox-Pitt of Great Britain, an Olympic Silver and Bronze Team Medalist, winner of the inaugural HSBC FEI ClassicTM Series, 2010 Alltech FEI WEG Team Gold and Individual Silver Medalist, and defending Rolex Kentucky Champion
• Mary King of Great Britain, a 2010 Alltech FEI WEG Team Gold Medalist
• Mark Todd of New Zealand, a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and 2010 Alltech FEI WEG Team Bronze Medalist
• Clayton Fredericks of Australia, a 2008 Olympic Team Silver Medalist and 2006 WEG Individual Silver Medalist
• Karen O'Connor of the U.S, a three-time Olympic veteran, 1999 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4* winner and two-time Rolex Kentucky CCI3* winner
• Phillip Dutton of the United States, a two-time Olympic team Gold Medalist for his native Australia and 2008 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4* Champion
• Kim Severson of the United States, a three-time Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4* Champion and 2004 Olympic Team Bronze and Individual Silver Medalist
• Boyd Martin of the United States, a 2010 Alltech FEI WEG team member
• Bruce “Buck” Davidson, Jr. of the United States, a 2010 Alltech FEI WEG team member
• Jil Walton of the United States, a 1992 Olympic veteran

The Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup includes a CRI5*, the sport’s highest level, as well as the first-ever World Championship Freestyle. The CRI5* offers $50,000US in prize money and will be the only Five Star Reining event in the western hemisphere in 2011.

The World Championship Freestyle marks the first time that the title of “World Champion” will be awarded in Freestyle Reining, a consistent crowd favorite. The event’s $25,000US prize money also marks the largest purse for a Reining Freestyle anywhere in the world.
Heading the list of entries are the four riders who led the United States to the team Gold Medal at last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games:

• Tom McCutcheon, who also won the individual Gold Medal
• Craig Schmersal, who also won the individual Silver Medal
• Tim McQuay
• Shawn Flarida

"In 2010, the world turned its attention to the Kentucky Horse Park for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games," said Christina Gray, Director of Competition for the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. "We are ready for that attention again as we welcome back riders who participated in the Games as well as an impressive roster of Olympians, past Champions and legends in the sports of Reining and Three-Day Eventing."

Further information on the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Presented by Bridgestone, is available at the Rolex Kentucky website at www.rk3de.org and for the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup visit www.KentuckyReining.com.

Follow Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone and the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup online at:
www.facebook.com/RolexKentucky
www.twitter.com/RolexKentucky
www.youtube.com/RolexKentucky
www.facebook.com/KentuckyReining
www.twitter.com/KentuckyReining
www.youtube.com/KentuckyReining

NBC Sports to Feature Live Telecast of Rolex Equestrian Championships Presented by Land Rover

Lexington, KY- Mark your calendar, plan the party and get the big screen ready! For the first time in its history, the Rolex Equestrian Championships presented by Land Rover will air LIVE on NBC Sports, Sunday, May 1, from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. EDT.
 
With the support of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and Equestrian Events, Inc., organizer of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, NBC Sports will broadcast the final show jumping rounds LIVE, alongside taped highlights of the dressage and cross-country phases. One of the world's most prestigious equestrian competitions and America's only CCI4*, Rolex Kentucky returns to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, April 28-May 1. The event attracts tens of thousands of spectators and millions of viewers on telecasts worldwide.
 
"Those final rounds during show jumping are full of suspense and excitement - you just never know when rails will fall," said Lisa Ball, President of Equestrian Events, Inc. "We are thrilled that fans across the nation will be able to share in that excitement along with the thousands of fans here at the Kentucky Horse Park."
 
The 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event will crown the 14th USEF National CCI4* Champion, and is the only North American leg of the HSBC FEI ClassicsTM  Series. The world's best horses and riders will compete for their share of $250,000 in prize money as well as a shot at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing which is awarded to any rider who wins Rolex Kentucky, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton and Land Rover Burghley, consecutively. (The term "consecutively" shall not be limited to wins which occur within the same competition year or same calendar year.)
 
Past winners of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event include United States Olympic Medalists David and Karen O'Connor, Kim Severson and Phillip Dutton, New Zealand's Blyth Tait and Nick Larkin, Pippa Funnell and William Fox-Pitt of Great Britain and Andrew Hoy, Clayton Fredericks and Lucinda Fredericks of Australia.
 
To find out more about tailgating and ticketing packages available for the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, visit www.rk3de.org. Tickets may be ordered online, or by printing the ticket order form from the website and returning it via mail or fax 859-254-5116 to Equestrian Events, Inc. Tickets may also be ordered by calling 859-254-8123. Advance ticket sales close on April 10!
 
ENDS
 
Equestrian Events, Inc., (EEI) is a non-profit charitable Kentucky corporation that was established initially to produce the 1978 World Three-Day Event Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park.  Following the success of those championships, EEI established an annual event which quickly evolved into what is today the only four star three-day event in the Western Hemisphere, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone.