On Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at 9 am, the Rocky Mountain Horse Association will be holding their 24th annual International Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park, Covered Arena. 

The RMHA’s 24th International Horse Show will run until September 15th and culminate with Grand Championship classes in the Saturday evening performance.  

Admission to this event will be included with park admission.  Several local vendors will be set up around the show ring concourse daily.  Events for the whole family are planned throughout the week. 

Please join us anytime during the week of September 11-15th for family fun and entertainment at the Kentucky Horse Park to celebrate the Rocky Mountain Horse Association’s International Horse Show.  More information available on RMHA website: www.rmhorse.com.

In 1986, the Rocky Mountain Horse Association was founded as a non-profit organization in Kentucky.  The Association is dedicated to the preservation, promotion and breeding of the Rocky Mountain Horse.  Even though the Rocky Mountain Horse as a recognized breed is relatively new, the horses go back more than 70 years to a small farm owned by Sam Tuttle, in Estill County Kentucky.  Mr. Tuttle developed these horses which had a natural single foot (4-beat gait) for riding at the Natural Bridge State Park.  The name “Rocky Mountain Horse” is derived from the fact that Mr. Tuttle’s line of horse is descendant from a stallion originally from the Rocky Mountains.  This stallion bred to Kentucky mares and was the beginnings of the Rocky Mountain Horse.  There are over 19,000 registered Rocky Mountain Horses in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia, and are also found in several countries throughout Europe.  

***This brief history of the Rocky Mountain Horse® is an excerpt from the book “Rocky Mountain Horses”,
courtesy of the author, Bonnie Hodge.  For more information contact Bonnie at www.wildfireenterprises.iceryder.net.

Melissa Eller
Administrative Assistant, Rocky Mountain Horse Association
859-243-0260
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Meet Unravelled, a 6-year-old, 15.2-hand Thoroughbred mare who is available for adoption from the Kentucky Equine Humane Center.

She was surrendered to the Kentucky Equine Humane Center last year, in foal, as a starvation case, but she and the foal are doing great now.

Unravelled is progressing well in the Thoroughbred retraining program at the center.  She will need an experienced rider, but best all all, she should be sound for any discipline.

Find out why Thoroughbreds make great horses for whatever you ask of them!  With their keen intelligence and excellent work ethic, they are outstanding prospects for just about anything.

For more information on Unravelled 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. , 859-881-5849, or click on www.KyEHC.org.

The first day of the schoolyear for Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) on Wednesday, August 15, marks the start a unique program called The STABLES, which incorporates horses in the curriculum. Located at Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, which offers equine-assisted activities and therapies at the Kentucky Horse Park, The STABLES is for students in grades 7-12 who struggle with academics or vocational skills and need additional support in a more individualized setting. The STABLES allows students to participate in a work program, recover credits and take ownership of their education.

“The goal is to help the students successfully transition to employment, post-secondary education or back into their home high school,” CKRH Executive Director Pat Kline said. “This program represents an exciting challenge for us, and we are confident these students will benefit from an environment that will enable them to work with horses.”

“The STABLES will provide an amazing learning opportunity for our students, and we could not be more excited to launch this new venture with Central Kentucky Riding for Hope,” said Fayette County Schools Superintendent Tom Shelton. “This is an example of the kind of partnerships our school district hopes to build as we seek to meet the individual needs of every single student we serve.”

The STABLES, which will use classrooms and designated common areas at CKRH, will offer an academic setting while addressing students’ mental health and behavioral barriers to learning. The academic focus will remain social studies, math, English and science; however, the application aspect at CKRH will involve job responsibilities, mentorships, job shadowing and exposing students to real work. Students will have a daily equine component that includes learning about the care and management of CKRH's herd of therapy horses, the CKRH facility and the equine industry. Opportunities for students will include animal care, showmanship, construction, culinary programming, administrative assistance, service industry, filming and task analysis of problems.

The STABLES replaces the FCPS' Rebound and AIM programs. CKRH, which has accommodated small groups of AIM and Rebound Students for the past two years, has written the curriculum and syllabus for all daily equine-related programming in The STABLES. The FCPS staff from those programs will relocate to CKRH, and CKRH will provide necessary staff support.

“Fayette County Board of Education has embraced forward thinking in encouraging our partnership,” said Rachel Baker, Director of The STABLES program. “My staff is so excited to be able to encourage and educate students with such a fresh new perspective. We know we are part of a true community partnership which allows our students, and in the future many schools in Fayette County, the opportunity to really experience education beyond the classroom while investing in the heart of their community.”


About CKRH
Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, founded in 1981, is dedicated to enriching the community by improving the quality of life and the health of people of all ages with special physical, cognitive, emotional and social needs through therapeutic activities with the horse. A PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center, CKRH offers year-round activities, including a program for military veterans called Horses for Heroes. To learn more, visit www.CKRH.org and find CKRH on Facebook.

# # #

Contact
Pat Kline, Executive Director
Central Kentucky Riding for Hope (CKRH)
(859) 231-7066
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Photo by Brian Roberts

As a special treat for our guests this weekend, we have the Warm Beach Vaulters here to perform, Friday through Sunday, Jul 27-29 in our Horses of the World show. 

They are the third largest vaulting club in America and we guarantee that you will be impressed! 

Come and see them - it's included with park admission. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&;v=VzDdx1P84yk#at=154

Lexington, KY – July 23, 2012 – The 2012 Kentucky Summer Series will begin this Tuesday and run for two weeks, followed by the USEF Pony Finals, the Bluegrass Festival Classic, and the KHJA Horse Show. The Kentucky Summer Horse Show will be held July 25-29, 2012, and will be followed by the Kentucky Summer Classic, scheduled for July 31-5, 2012. The East Coast U.S. Junior Hunter Championship will run concurrently with the Kentucky Summer Horse Show from July 24 - July 25, with the USHJA/Essex Classics Hunterdon Cup Equitation Classic.

Any members of the media that require special interviews or any special assistance, or those that wish to cover this event, please contact Phelps Media Group, Inc. International on the grounds at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Mason Phelps – 561-371-0118
Kendall Bierer – 561-309-9873

Or call the Kentucky Spring Horse Show Office
859-254-3343 (phone)
859-231-6097 (fax)

The East Coast U.S. Junior Hunter Championship will begin tomorrow, July 24, and run concurrently with the Kentucky Summer Horse Show on July 25,2012. This national championship will attract the very best Junior Hunters. In addition, the USHJA/Essex Classics Hunterdon Cup Equitation Classic will be held July 25, 2012 in the Rolex Stadium.

Held at the renowned Kentucky Horse Park, the Kentucky Summer Horse Show will include the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby sponsored by Hallway Feeds, one of the six events of the Hallway Feeds series, which will provide a $10,000 Bonus to the leading professional rider and $2,500 each to the leading Amateur and Junior riders. Jumper highlights for the Kentucky Summer Horse Show include the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic on Thursday, July 26, the $40,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix on Saturday, July 28, and the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior and Amateur-Owner Jumper Classics on Sunday, July 29. The Hagyard Lexington Classic is part of a seven-class series, culminating with a $50,000 Leading Riding Award. The 2012 Hagyard Challenge Series will also feature a high point Thoroughbred Award. Following the final event, a $10,000 prize will be presented to the high point Thoroughbred participating in the Series.

Throughout the summer, the Kentucky Summer Series will feature the SSG Riding Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion, offering $30,000 in bonus money. Riders wearing the SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves with the SSG horse head logo clearly visible during all rounds of competition in designated events are eligible for the bonus.

The series will continue with the Kentucky Summer Classic held July 31-August 5. The $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic will be held on Thursday, August 2, and on Saturday, August 4, riders will compete in the Rolex Stadium in the $50,000 Rood and Riddle Grand Prix. The $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby will also return on Saturday, August 4.

The USEF Pony Finals will be held August 7 - 12. More than 600 qualifying ponies will compete for awards in Green and Regular pony sections, pony jumpers and the Pony Medal Finals.

The third show of the Kentucky Summer Series, the Bluegrass Festival Horse
Show is a WCHR Member event, where riders can earn points towards year-end awards. The $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals will return to Rolex Stadium, August 17-18. Spectators can also look forward to the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic on Friday, August 17 and the $40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix and Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classics on Sunday, August 19.

Wrapping up the summer series will be the KHJA Horse Show held August 22- 26, 2012. The $10,000 Hagyard Welcome Stake will run Friday, August 24, and will be followed on Sunday, August 26, by the $30,000 KHJA Grand Prix and the Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classics. The KHJA Horse Show will also host the final event of the Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby and the presentation of the leading rider awards.

Based at the renowned Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, host of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, the Kentucky Summer Series offers equestrians a chance to compete at one of the top facilities in the world. For more information about the Kentucky Summer Series, please check the prize list on www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Photo Credit: The Kentucky Summer Series prize list is available online. Photo Courtesy of the Client. Photograph may be used only in relation to this PMG press release.

KENTUCKY SUMMER HORSE SHOW FAST FACTS

Events:
Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, USEF National Pony Finals, Bluegrass
Festival Horse Show and KHJA Horse Show, and the 2012 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals.

What:
The Kentucky Horse Show LLC\'s 2012 series includes five weeks of top competition throughout the summer. These premier hunter/jumper competitions feature a USEF 5* Jumper Rating and \"AA\" Hunter rating. The Kentucky Horse Show Series is the host of the Hagyard Challenge Series with seven grand prix competitions that culminate with a Leading Rider Award.

Where:
Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™. Home to the United States Equestrian Federation.

When:
U.S. JUNIOR HUNTER CHAMPIONSHIP - East Coast & HUNTERDON CUP
- July 24-25, 2012

KENTUCKY SUMMER HORSE SHOW – July 25-29, 2012
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$2,500 USHJA National Hunter Classic
$40,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

KENTUCKY SUMMER CLASSIC – July 31- August 5, 2012
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

2012 USEF PONY FINALS - August 8-12, 2012

BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL HORSE SHOW - August 15-19, 2012
$100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals - August 17 - 18, 2012
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

KHJA HORSE SHOW - August 22-26, 2012
$10,000 Hagyard Welcome Stake
$30,000 KHJA Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

Hours:
8am – 5pm daily

Hats Off to Kentucky's Horse Industry Day is a celebration of the horse and its impact on the state of Kentucky. The day offers fun family activities including arts and crafts for children,  pony rides, interactive educational booths, thrilling equestrian competition, and it's all free! Hats Off Day is the only day of the year an entire family can enjoy the Kentucky Horse Park and all it has to offer, at no cost!

The horse industry in Kentucky generates 80,000 - 100,000 in direct and indirect jobs, and impacts our economy by an estimated 8 billion dollars!

In celebration of the horse, Kentuckians flock to the Kentucky Horse Park on Hats Off Day  for a free day of family fun and an opportunity to learn more about horses and the amazing things they do for our great state.

Events include children’s activities, free pony rides, educational booths, interactive equine stations, $50,000 Grand Prix Show Jumping, and much more!

The Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix, a challenging show jumping competition between top international horses and riders, is the featured evening entertainment of Hats Off Day and is taking place in the beautiful outdoor Rolex Stadium. A silent and live auction will benefit the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and the Kentucky Equine Humane Center.

2012 promises to be very exciting!  There’s something for everyone -- competition, great amenities and fantastic entertainment for the whole family. See the schedule of events

Meet Montana, a 12-year-old Appaloosa gelding, who is looking for a good home. 

He is 14.3 hands, friendly, and gets along well with his pasture mates.  He is easy to catch and has good ground manners.  Montana has been ridden for pleasure and would be suitable for an advanced beginner to intermediate rider.

To find out more about Montana or schedule and appointment to meet him, contact the Kentucky Equine Humane Center, 859-881-5849, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . 

To see some of the other great horses who are available for adoption, go to www.KyEHC.org.

Everyone seeks to find his passion in life. This is the story of a horse who was successful in finding his. Read more in Ky Forward

CANCELLED -To be rescheduled

Barn and Stable Fires Can Be Devastating

•    22 show horses killed in New York barn fire - January 2012
•    27 horses perished in a barn fire in Michigan - February 2012
•    6 race horses killed in a fire in Chicago - March 2012
•    18 horses die in a barn fire in Illinois - April 2012

We hear about these tragedies all too often, and hope it does not happen to us.  Everyone can remember the 2011 fire, recently profiled on CBS 60 Minutes, which roared through Boyd Martin’s stable claiming the lives of 6 horses and causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in loss which almost ended Boyd’s career.  Miraculously, one  of Boyd’s mounts Neville Bardos, while suffering extensive burns and damage to his lunges, was spared and came back to be his current Olympic hopeful mount.  This is one of those stories which legends are made from, but one which none of us should ever have to experience.  

Barns and stables are filled with highly flammable materials, and present a big fire prevention challenge.  Add the presence of panicked animals and you have a recipe for a disaster if a fire breaks out. However, barn and stable fires are preventable and can be extinguished with the deployment of good barn management and the right fire extinguishing agent.  

Whether you keep your horses at home, or stable them, a barn fire is an event you must plan to prevent.  The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. has teamed up with Fire Freeze Worldwide, Inc. to bring to your attention “Cold Fire” an environmentally horse safe and cost effective fire extinguishing agent.   

Join us on June 29, 2012 at the Kentucky Horse Park, for a live demonstration of the effectiveness of Cold Fire and an explanation of its benefits to the equestrian community.

Where: The Kentucky Horse Park, Alltech Arena, Lower Parking Area.
Follow the Directional Signs
When: June 29th, 2012 at 11:00am

Please R.S.V.P by June 27th to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Photo by Jonathan Kendrick