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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Mary Simons (859)533 8055

SAVE THE DATE
The Annual Spring Moneigh® - ReRun - eBay® Auction – “Homage to the Triple Crown/Triple Tiara Participants and Rising Stars”, hosted by Thoroughbred legends Cigar and Storm Cat.
May 27 – June 3, 2012
www.ebay.com  search word Moneigh

A Moneigh® is an original, abstract painting, made by a horse, using whiskers, muzzle, tail, hoof, or paintbrush.

From May 27 to June 3, some of horse racing’s biggest names will show off their artistic talent when their paintings will be auctioned on eBay ® to raise funds for ReRun, Inc., a Thoroughbred retraining and adoption charity.

In addition to Cigar and Storm Cat, featured artists will include Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes winners.

The Kentucky Horse Park is proud of the creative talent shown by Cigar along with 2 other Hall of Champion residents:

Go For Gin won the 1994 KY Derby and was 2nd in the Preakness and Belmont. He currently is the oldest living KY Derby winner.

Funny Cide won the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness and was 3rd in the Belmont.

For more information, please contact Mary Simons at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or go to www.rerun.org.

Kentucky Department of Agriculture
James R. Comer
Commissioner of Agriculture
111 Corporate Drive
Frankfort, KY  40601
Phone: (502) 573-0450
FAX: (502) 573-0046
www.kyagr.com
  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
For more information contact:
Holly VonLuehrte
(502) 573-0450

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Today, Agriculture Commissioner James Comer issued a warning that weather conditions are ripe for an outbreak of West Nile Virus and cited State Veterinarian Dr. Robert Stout’s advice that Kentucky equine owners should consult their veterinarians about vaccinating their horses against the disease.

“While we do not wish to cause unnecessary alarm, we are concerned about the equine population’s vulnerability to this potentially deadly disease,” said Commissioner Comer. “I am confident that Kentucky’s equine owners will act in the best interests of their horses and seek guidance on vaccinations.”

West Nile is spread by mosquitoes, and mosquitoes thrive in the warm, wet conditions Kentucky has experienced in the last few weeks. No horse in Kentucky that has undergone a full West Nile vaccination regimen is known to have contracted the virus since 2003, according to Dr. Stout. West Nile was first discovered in Kentucky in 2001, and Kentucky experienced 513 equine cases of the disease in 2002 and 102 cases in 2003. Kentucky recorded one equine case in 2011, in Fleming County. 

West Nile Virus causes encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, in horses, humans, birds, and other warm-blooded animals. It is transmitted by mosquitoes that acquire it from infected birds. Humans and equine cannot transmit the disease. It was first discovered in the United States in 1999 in New York.

Lexington, KY, March 5, 2012 - The Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) is providing coordination for the U.S. Equine Disaster Relief Fund to support horse owners affected by this past week's tornadoes. KHC has experience responding to equine crises through this fund and the Save Our Horses (SoHo) Fund.
 
"In the past, we have supported many victims of flooding and disasters in other states, and now it is Kentucky which needs this support. Our hearts and prayers go out to all who have been affected by this tragedy. The U.S. Equine Disaster Relief Fund will help Kentucky horse owners with temporary feed and fencing as they work to recover from this disaster," remarked Anna Zinkhon, President of the Kentucky Horse Council.
 
"We are also in touch with the Indiana Horse Council to determine the extent of the need there," she continued.
 
The Kentucky Horse Council has been contacting officials in those areas most affected by the tornadoes, to assess the impact of the extensive tornado damage on horse owners.
 
"We are relieved that over the weekend, horse organizations such as the Northern Kentucky Horse Network have already relayed important information among horse owners regarding temporary shelter and how to assist those victims who have horses. Buffalo Mounted Patrol has traveled to West Liberty, where the devastation was incredible, to patrol damaged areas until rescue efforts could be fully mobilized," commented Ginny Grulke, Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Council.

When any state needs assistance due to a natural disaster, KHC notifies its members and the Kentucky horse community and begins the process of responding to the needs of the affected horses, typically by purchasing feed which the local response agencies then distributes to affected horses. For the tornadoes that hit this past weekend, it is Kentucky who needs the help.
 
Donations to the U.S. Disaster Relief Fund can be made at www.kentuckyhorse.org/disaster-relief/.  
 
ABOUT THE KENTUCKY HORSE COUNCIL - The Kentucky Horse Council is a non-profit organization dedicated, through education and leadership, to the protection and development of the Kentucky equine community. The Kentucky Horse Council provides educational programs and information, scholarships, personal liability insurance, trail riding advocacy, horse show support, and an annual statewide equine industry directory. The specialty Kentucky Horse Council license plate, featuring a foal lying in the grass, provides the primary source of revenue for KHC programs.

For the benefit of Kentucky's horses,

free gelding surgeries will be offered at the Kentucky Horse Park on Saturday, March 10, 2012.

This free clinic is being provided by the Kentucky Horse Park in partnership with the Kentucky Horse Council's Save Our Horses fund and the American Horse Council's Unwanted Horse Coalition.

The free gelding surgeries are open to any equine owner who is financially unable to afford the surgeries.  Castrations will be performed by a veterinarian or a veterinary student under close supervision by a licensed veterinarian.  Stallions must be halter broke, in good health, with two descended testicles and be at least four months of age, with current Coggins and health certificate. 

Applications are now being accepted.  A $20 registration fee will be charged per horse. Surgeries by appointment only.

Information and registration forms: Gelding_Clinic_2012_forms.pdf

  If you need additional information please contact Sheila Forbes, 859-233-4305 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Illustration (c) Chris Ware.

Written by: Rebecca Walton
Client: Kentucky Horse Shows LLC
Release Date: 2011-12-12

Lexington, KY – December 12, 2011 – On December 6, 2011, Hugh Kincannon of Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC, was recognized at the United States Hunter Jumper Association’s Evening of Equestrians Awards Dinner. Kincannon received the President’s Distinguished Service Award for his management of USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals, the USEF Pony Finals, and the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition. The USHJA presented the award to Kincannon for his dedication to these events, and his efforts to always go above and beyond to make them a success.

In 2006, USHJA created a new award category, the USHJA President's Distinguished Service Awards. These awards were developed by the President and staff to recognize and honor the dedication and service by members to USHJA and our sport. The staff and President reviewed the programs of USHJA, as well as the work involved in developing and implementing them, and those individuals who have gone beyond the call of duty to bring our sport to a new level and to benefit our membership.

These awards are presented annually at the USHJA Evening of Equestrians Awards Dinner. The recipients of these awards remain a surprise until the night of the presentations. Kincannon was not able to attend the event and Marion Maybank accepted the award on his behalf.

“Receiving this award is very gratifying,” noted Kincannon. “We’re very happy to have the opportunity to be involved with those very special events. A large part of it is the fact that we have the best place to do those events, the Kentucky Horse Park. I think it’s a combination of many factors that makes my job so much easier. It includes my talented staff, the facility, and the cooperation of the groups for whom we are producing those events.”

Kincannon is the founder of Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC, one of the leading horse show management companies in the nation, and is pleased to announce the dates for the 2012 horse show season. Featuring “AA”-rated hunter/jumper competition throughout the spring and summer at the picturesque Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, these events draw the country’s top horse and rider combinations each year.

For more information on Kentucky Horse Shows LLC please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Photo Credit: Hugh Kincannon received the USHJA’s President’s Distinguished Service Award. Photo By: Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports. Photograph may be used only in relation to this PMG press release.

LEXINGTON, KY (September 29, 2011) The Kentucky Horse Park will welcome four rare Marwari horses on permanent loan from Francesca Kelly, who imports this breed from India.  Three of the horses arrived Tuesday, September 27.

The horses came from Kelly's farm on Chappaquiddick Island off the coast of Massachusetts.  Francesca Kelly is a writer who is dedicated to preserving the breed and has increased the number of these horses outside their native India.  She is moving her herd to England and is allowing the park to keep three mares and a yearling. 

The Kentucky Horse Park is the only known location in North America where Marwari can be seen by the public.

John Nicholson, executive director of the park, stated, "We are delighted and honored that Francesca Kelly has chosen the Kentucky Horse Park as the keeper of the last, precious band of these rare equines on this continent. They will be treasured by our staff and enjoyed by the literally millions of park visitors who will see them in the upcoming years."  He continued, "We applaud the efforts of people like Ms. Kelly who dedicate their lives to preserving rare and endangered breeds."

The Marwari horse was used hundreds of years ago as warhorses known for their extreme endurance.  The Marwari are considered very brave and athletic horses. They are attentive and pick things up quickly through their senses. Visitors at the park during last year's Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games watched "tent pegging" demonstrations using some of Ms. Kelly's Marwari.

The most noted fact about this breed is their extremely distinct ears.  The ears curve inward and sometimes touch or overlap when in front position.  The ears are the main characteristic that the registry uses to judge this breed.           

The breed is available in all colors but the albino is held in highest regard.  The albino Marwari is often used for religious purposes and ceremonies in its native home of India.  They often become very attached to their handler and can become protective of them.

The three Marwari mares are on view to the public during park hours.  The fourth, a yearling colt, will arrive later this fall.

Photos by James Shambhu.