Lexington, KY - April 9, 2012 - Prize lists have been sent for Country II, scheduled for June 6-10 and June 13-17, 2012, at the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington and I. This year's show is a World Championship Hunter Rider event during Country Heir II, the second week of competition. The prize money has been increased for the jumpers during Country Heir II, making it a Level 5 Jumper event with the highlight being a $55,000 Grand Prix. Country Heir will be offering $370,000 prize money over the fun two-week event.

Country Heir pride itself on offering a fun, friendly show with a great lineup of classes for everyone from Leadline, Walk Trot, to Grand Prix! Some of this year's highlights include:

$45,000 Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital Grand Prix
$55,000 Country Heir II Grand Prix
$30,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
$10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
$10,000 Welcome Prix I
$20,000 Welcome Prix II
$10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame I & II
$8,000 NAL Low Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper
$10,000 Children's/Adult Jumper Prix
$5,000 Children's/Adult Hunter Classic
$7,000 High Performance Hunter Division
...the list goes on!

A total of $105,000 HUNTER MONEY offered and prize money checks are written to exhibitors at checkout!

Lexington, KY - March 30, 2012 - This year, the hunter divisions will be one of the main features during the Kentucky Spring Horse Show Series at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. The highlight events will include the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby held during the Kentucky Spring Horse Show May 9-13, 2012, and the World Champion Hunter Rider week of competition during the Kentucky Spring Classic, scheduled for May 16-20, 2012. Both competitions will also feature a $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby, the latest addition to the lineup. The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows are hosted by Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC, and will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, which was also the site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Meet the adoptable horse of the week: Grayball (Noble Causeway-Mizlala by Unbridled Song).  He's a 3-year-old, 16-hand, unraced Thoroughbred who is looking like a good show hunter prospect. 

He's currently in the retraining program at the Maker's Mark Secretariat Center here at the park, and they say he "has the ease and grace of Tiger Woods' swing in his stride," which you can see from the video of his first ride at the Maker's Mark Secretariat Center.

Written by: Kendall Bierer
http://www.kentuckyhorseshows.com
Release Date: 2012-03-22

Lexington, KY – March 22, 2012 – The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows is quickly approaching, and one of the highlight events that will kick-off the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows is the 2012 Hagyard Challenge Series, sponsored by the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. The Hagyard Challenge Series consists of seven grand prix classes to be held during the 2012 show series at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the final event, a cash prize will be awarded to the rider accumulating the most points throughout the series.

The Kentucky Spring Horse Show, held May 9-13, 2012, features the lead-off event on May 11, 2012, with the $50,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, CSI 2*. This event will also be a US Show Jumping Team Observation Event, and will feature the country’s top horse and rider combinations vying for the top honors. The Kentucky Spring Classic, May 16-20, 2012, will host the second $32,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, CSI 2* on May 17.

Later in the year, four more Hagyard Lexington Classic grand prix events will be held during the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show, and the KHJA Horse Show. The Series concludes with the $50,000 World Cup Qualifier held on September 21, 2012, during the Kentucky National Horse Show. Following that exciting competition, the winner for the Leading Rider Award will be announced and presented with the prize by the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute.

“The Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is pleased to be continuing its sponsorship of the Hagyard Challenge Series in 2012. We enjoy being able to support competition at the highest level of the show jumping sport,” said Dr. Stuart Brown, President of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. “As a Lexington-based company, we are happy that we can encourage riders to stay in the area and compete throughout the spring and summer through the Leading Rider Bonus. The Hagyard Challenge Series offers a wonderful opportunity for the Bluegrass community to come out and enjoy the exciting sport of show jumping at a beautiful venue.”

Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is one of the oldest and largest equine veterinary practices in the world. Founded in 1876, the institute offers a staff with qualifications unparalleled by any single non-university veterinary group in the equine industry, and Hagyard veterinarians have dedicated themselves to the health and well-being of the horse for more than 130 years.

The facility at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute offers 13 Digital Radiology systems, 1.5 Tesla Siemens Open MRI, Nuclear Scintigraphy, a high speed treadmill, an on-site laboratory, an on-site pharmacy, full surgical services, 24-hour ambulance and emergency services, and Hyperbaric Medicine. The institute has practiced veterinary medicine for more than 133 years and is currently composed of over 60 experienced veterinarians, with 12 board certifications in specialty areas of Medicine, Surgery, Critical Care, and Theriogenology.

For more information about the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, please visit http://hagyard.com.

For more information about the Kentucky Horse Shows or to download a copy of the prize list, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Photo Credit: McLain Ward, winner of the 2011 Hagyard Challenge Series’ $45,000 Leading Rider Bonus. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG. Photo may only be used in relation to this PMG press release.

KENTUCKY HORSE SHOWS 2012 HORSE SHOW SERIES FAST FACTS

Events: 2012 Kentucky Spring Horse Shows

What:
The Kentucky Horse Shows 2012 series includes two weeks of top competition during the month of May. These premier hunter/jumper competitions feature a USEF 5* Jumper Rating and a "AA" Hunter rating. The Kentucky Horse Show Series is the host of the Hagyard Challenge Series and Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby Series.

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

When:
KENTUCKY SPRING HORSE SHOW CSI3* - May 9-13, 2012

$35,000 Welcome Cup
$50,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic(US Show Jumping Team Observation Event) $75,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix(US Show Jumping Team Observation Event)
$15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby


KENTUCKY SPRING CLASSIC CSI2* - May 16-20, 2012
$32,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix sponsored by Audi of Lexington
WCHR recognized hunter competition
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

Sponsors:
A special thanks to the generous sponsors of the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows: Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Hallway Feeds, Audi of Lexington, Johnson Horse Transportation, Farm Vet, Dietrich Insurance and Sleepy P Ranch.

Hours:
8am – 5pm daily

Lexington, KY – (February 22, 2012) – Entries are being taken for the inaugural show for off-the-track Thoroughbreds conducted by the Thoroughbred Horse Show Association (TBHS) on April 14-15 at the Kentucky Horse Park. The TBHS Spring Show is geared for Thoroughbreds just starting their show careers with entry-level divisions in multiple disciplines, including dressage, combined training, hunter/jumper and competitive trail riding. TBHS will hold a second show at the Horse Park on October 6-7, and is working with rescue organizations and others to hold additional events.

“I've received phone calls from people who are interested in the show from West Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas and Washington, D.C., in addition to Kentucky,” TBHS Executive Director Jan Roehl said. “One woman from West Virginia said she wanted to bring her ex-racehorses just so she could ride them at the Kentucky Horse Park. Some people want to come a day or two early to enjoy Lexington.”

TBHS (tbhorseshow.org) was founded in 2011 by a group of Central Kentuckians interested in creating opportunities to showcase the talent and competitive spirit of off-the-track Thoroughbreds. Horses must be entered in the TBHS shows using their registered names with The Jockey Club.

Horses competing in the TBHS Spring Show will be eligible for The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) High Point Awards. The Jockey Club will award ribbons, prizes and $100 to the winner with the highest number of points in the following divisions: Starter Hunter, Hunter, Jumper, Beginner Novice Combined Test, Training Level Dressage, and First Level Dressage.

Officials of the Spring Show include Dressage Judge Susan Posner, Hunter Judge Shelley Mann, Showmanship Judge Samantha Kline and Technical Delegate Joe Carr. John Prather is the Show Manager, and Tina Desjordy is the Show Secretary. The opening reception for participants on April 13 will include a talk with Posner about how to get the most from a Thoroughbred in the dressage ring. Posner is a noted dressage trainer who has ridden and trained ex-racehorses. The show also will include a seminar titled “Ins and Outs of Feeding Your OTTB” with Kristen Janicki from Buckeye Feeds; tips from Mann on show ring etiquette and what to do if things don't go as planned in the show ring; and a presentation about success in showmanship by Samantha Kline. Former jockey P.J. Cooksey, director of public relations for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, will emcee the opening reception and present awards on Saturday.

To date, the Spring Show has received generous support from the following patrons: Adena Springs, Akindale Farm, Bantry Farms, Buckeye Nutrition, Darley, Ellen Frost, John and Devi Hall, Juddmonte Farms, Kris S. Bloodstock LLC (Kris Stuebs), New Vocations, Pauls Mill, Siena Farm, Taylor Made Farm and WindRiver Fence. Information about the event, including a schedule and class list, class descriptions, rules and information and entry form, is available at tbhorseshow.org.

The TBHS offers an annual membership of $25 and to date has members from 17 states, the District of Columbia and Ontario. Benefits include a monthly electronic newsletter; assistance in promoting and encouraging Thoroughbred adoptions; email notification about horses entered in TBHS and affiliated shows by their registered name with The Jockey Club; and networking social events with like-minded people and organizations. Members of the TBHS also become members of the Kentucky Horse Council at no charge and are able to receive a discount on insurance premiums and weekly e-News with links to articles pertaining to everything in the equine world in Kentucky.

For more information, contact Jan Roehl at (859) 559-1409 or 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. .

Photo by Gayle Strickroot.

By Joanie Morris, NAJYRC

Lexington, KY - The dates and location of the 2012 Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North have been designated. 

The competition will take place at the Kentucky Horse Park from July 18-22, 2012 - the week before the Olympic Games commence in London.

Adequan has returned as the title sponsor of this competition, and makes the dreams of young equestrians (ages 14-21) a reality. It is through the support of Adequan that this event has been able to grow - it now boasts nine FEI Championships.

Dressage, Eventing, Jumping and Reining each offer a championship for Juniors and one for Young Riders. Endurance - which was added in 2011 as a championship, offers an FEI championship for Young Riders.

In 2011 both Vaulting and Para-Equestrian produced exhibition performances at the championship - both were very well received by the other athletes and spectators.

"We look forward to another excellent year of competition at the Kentucky Horse Park," said John Long, CEO of the USEF. "This is the showcase for our youth athletes in these five disciplines and it is a fantastic opportunity for them to compete in a championship of this caliber."

Other supporters of the only FEI Championship held annually in North America include: Gotham North, SmartPak, Equine Canada, Platinum Performance, Ariat, Howard and Martha Simpson, the United States Dressage Federation, the United States Eventing Association, the United States Hunter Jumper Association, the American Quarter Horse Association, Griffin Gate Marriott, Sallee Horse Vans, Hodges Badge Company, Phelps Media Group and the Alltech National Horse Show, the Mexican Equestrian Federation, Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC., Hagyard Equine Medical, WISE Equestrian, Equifit, Dever, Inc., Best of Flowers, and Hertz.

A huge number of people and farms made the first 75-mile Endurance ride possible: Barton Brothers Farm, Ben Koostra, Black Fences/After Hours Farm, Billie Steffie, Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, Chad Needham, Dunroven Stud (Steve and Martha Brown), Emmett Ross, Fayette and Scott County Police, Gaylord Highlander, Glenn Thompson, Kentuckiana Farms, Oscar and Eloise Penn, Secretariat Center, Spy Coast Farm, UK-Ag Department (Dr. Nancy Cox), Ulrike McGovern, Equine Monitors (Donna Shifflette) and Distance Depot.

And thanks to all of the staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to make this event a success.

ENDS
Please visit: www.youngriders.org for more information.

Mark the Calendar for the 2012 Event, to get involved, please contact Joanie Morris at 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 859.225.2052.

Written by: Kenneth Kraus/ PhelpsSports.com.
Client: Alltech National Horse Show
Release Date: 2011-12-14

Lexington, KY – December 14, 2011 - - Following an amazingly successful debut this year, the second edition of the Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky, is set for October 31 through November 4, 2012. The show will once again be held at the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park.

The Alltech National Horse Show, 128th edition, closed with great excitement, receiving unanimous approval from the horse show community. The Show was a great success with the thousands of attendees, in addition to nearly half a million viewers who watched the events unfold online.

More than 560 horses and 350 riders from nine countries, including nine Olympic veterans, competed this year, and according to Mason Phelps, Jr., the President of the National Horse Show Association, next year’s show will build on the excitement of the 2011 debut. “We couldn’t have been happier with our first year effort in Kentucky. But, that being said, we are already working on a bigger and better event for next year,” he said. “We expect bigger prize money, we’ve already added an extra competition day and the American Saddlebreds will return to the Alltech National Horse Show next year. So we are very excited about what lies ahead.”

The show’s debut this year will go down in the record books as one of the most successful in the history of equestrian events in the United States.

“The Alltech Arena is an ideal location for the National Horse Show, it is perfect for all the horsemen and horses, and it really captured the feel of Madison Square Garden,” noted legendary horseman George Morris after attending this year’s show. “The Alltech National Horse Show has brought back class, something that has been lacking in horse shows today.”

Next year’s show, scheduled for October 31 through November 4th, will build on the success generated during this inaugural run.

“It’s been fantastic. It’s been amazing. It’s been wonderful,” agreed Alltech President and Founder Dr. Pearse Lyons. “This inaugural event was a good beginning, but it was only the beginning. This show will continue to grow and next time around the city of Lexington will embrace this show more and we, in fact, will go all out to create a super experience for all who attend.”

“We hope that everyone will mark their calendars for next year,” added Phelps. “With what we learned during our first year, I can promise you that the Alltech National Horse Show in 2012 will prove to be an amazing event.”

Photos above:  (Top) Kent Farrington on Up Chiqui in 2011 Alltech National Horse Show; (Bottom) National Horse Show Association President Mason Phelps, Jr. and Dr. Pearse Lyons, President and Founder of Alltech. ©Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.com.

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. 

Thoroughbred Horse Show Association Created to Provide Opportunities for Thoroughbreds beginning Show Careers

Lexington, KY –  A group of Central Kentuckians interested in creating opportunities to showcase the talent and competitive spirit of Thoroughbreds off the racetrack has created the Thoroughbred Horse Show Association. The association is working to develop shows exclusively for Thoroughbreds to give them valuable show experience while helping rescue organizations place Thoroughbreds in new homes. THSA members will be able to follow these horses in the shows because the horses must be entered using their registered names with The Jockey Club. 

“Adopting Thoroughbreds after they race is a significant issue and will become even more important if race-day medication is ended and additional racehorses need to find second careers,” said THSA founder Jan Roehl of Lexington. “Our logo of a horse jumping out of a paddock symbolizes these horses are not ready to retire.”

Shows are geared for Thoroughbreds just starting their show careers with entry-level divisions in multiple disciplines, including dressage, combined training, hunter/jumper, suitability for hunting and competitive trail riding. THSA already has scheduled shows in 2012 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington for April 14-15 and October 6-7, and is working with rescue organizations and others to hold additional shows next year.

“Thoroughbreds off the track make very talented show horses, but they first need experience to develop their abilities and be seen by trainers who can take them to the next level,” said Roehl, who has spent much of her life working with Thoroughbreds in the show ring and on the racetrack.

Because Thoroughbreds that compete in THSA or affiliated shows must be entered using their registered name with The Jockey Club, THSA members will be able to follow the second careers of horses they admired at the racetrack.

“This is a great feature of THSA membership,” Roehl said. “Many of us would like to keep up with horses after their racing careers end and they become show horses. More often than not, Thoroughbreds off the track don't show under their registered names, so there hasn't been an easy way to follow them.”

Roehl said THSA is a membership-driven community designed to connect Thoroughbred owners to a large group of like-minded people who care about the future of these horses. The association's annual membership of $300 will finance shows and promote Thoroughbred adoption. THSA has launched a website at http://tbhorseshow.org where people may learn more and join the association.

Joining Roehl in THSA is John Prather, a veteran event coordinator and manager. Prather is a board member for Equestrian Events Inc., the governing body of the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event, and is on the board of Blue Grass Farms Charities. He was the main stadium manager at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games at the Kentucky Horse Park.

For more information, contact Jan Roehl at (859) 421-8710 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Note:  Photo above of Party Leader, a retired Thoroughbred in retraining for a second career at the Maker's Mark Secretariat Center at the Kentucky Horse Park.