Road to the Horse International 2013 celebrates the 10th anniversary of the World Champion Colt Starting competition with the most extravagant competition yet in Lexington, Kentucky.

A competition untouched by others, tests skill, experience and colt training prowess, Road to the Horse dares four young, elite horse trainers, Guy McLean, Dan James, Sarah Winters and Obbie Schlom, to create a trusting partnership with an untouched 3-year-old Quarter Horse from the renowned 6666 Ranch in Texas.  Competitors have just three hours spread out over three days to build a working relationship with their colt.  Clinicians work through the process using their own natural horsemanship style giving spectators a chance to learn from the best in the world.  With disruptive sounds, exhilarating sights and adrenaline-pumping time constraints each competitor must face the final trial, an obstacle course.  Only one will walk away with the Colt Starting World Champion Title.

Unlike the team format of 2012, these horsemen and horsewomen will represent their countries as individuals.  Road to the Horse 2012 champions, Australians, McLean and James have their sights on once again being on top of the world.

Americans, Winters, 22, and Schlom, 18, will be the youngest ever competitors, marking only the second time another female competed in the event’s 10 year history.  In a battle of Australia versus America, will the title go back to Australia or will the challengers keep it at home?

True horse enthusiasts recognize Road to the Horse as the event of the year.  An event so big can only happen in one place; the “Horse Capital of the World,” Lexington, Kentucky.  Meet horsemen and women from around the world at the Kentucky Horse Park for a truly unique experience.  Now, for the first time ever, Road to the Horse legends will meet in one arena.

“This is the greatest equine event, held in the greatest facility, in the horse capital of the world,” says award-winning producer, Tootie Bland.

The event will expand into the Alltech Arena, home to the 2010 World Equestrian Games, Kentucky Horse Park on March 15-17, 2013.  The site boasts an on-site campground, nearby racehorse farms and historical sites.

Road to the Horse has become the hottest ticket in the equine world and historically sells out months in advance.  Don’t miss your chance to witness the World Championship of Colt Starting, much like the Super Bowl, being there is an experience that is unforgettable!  Tickets for this electrifying event are on sale now and going fast at roadtothehorse.com.

To learn more, go to www.RoadToTheHorse.com or call 325.736.5000.

2013 Competitors:  Guy McLean, Sarah Winters, Dan James and Obbie Schlom

2013 Clinicians:  Chris Cox, Clinton Anderson, Craig Cameron, Curt Pate, Dan James, Glenn Stewart, Guy McLean, Jonathan Field, Ken McNabb, Martin Black, Richard Winters, Stacy Westfall and Tommy Garland

Location and Parking:

Alltech Arena for competition and all clinicians

Nations Members park in the Alltech Arena lot

General parking in the Main Visitor Parking lot; shuttles will be available to the Alltech Arena

Dates and Times:

Friday, March 15, 2013

9:00 am - Doors open for Nations Members

9:15 - 11:30 - Clinician Meet and Greet

10:30 am - Doors Open to all Ticket Holders

12:00 pm - Clinics Begin

2:00 pm - Opening Ceremonies

6:00 pm - End of Day 1

Saturday, March 16, 2013

9:00 am - Doors open for Nations Members

10:00 am - Doors Open

10:30 am - Clinics Begin

12:00 pm - Opening Ceremonies

4:00 pm - End of Day 2

10th Anniversary Celebration Party - Alltech Arena Floor - Saturday 5:30 - 7:00 pm

Sunday March 17th, 2013

8:00 am - Doors Open

8:15 am - Cowboy Church - Section 101

9:00 am - Opening Ceremonies

3:00 pm - 2013 World Champion Announced!

Admission:

Tickets range from $80 to $200 (plus fees) and are valid for all three days

General Admission tickets or Nations Members tickets are available at

877-772-5425, or 888-695-0888, or at www.RoadToTheHorse.com.

The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation is hosting a benefit trail ride March 13 and 14 in conjunction with the Road to the Horse event being held at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Alltech Arena March 15-17, relocating to Kentucky in 2013 from Tennessee.  All proceeds from the trail ride will support the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation – a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to enhancing, expanding, and improving the Kentucky Horse Park.

The “Ride the Park on the Road to the Horse” trail ride will provide participants with a unique opportunity to bring their personal horses and ride on many trails marked throughout the park especially for this event.  The trails will be open for the exclusive use of registered participants from 10 am to 4 pm both March 13 and 14, subject to weather conditions.  Riders can enjoy the trails at their own pace on this unguided exploration of the park grounds.

Dates and Times:

Wednesday and Thursday, March 13 and 14, 2013 – 10 am to 4 pm

Registration Fee:

$50 per horse/rider combination – allows unlimited access to trails on either or both days

$20 per night stabling fee

Registration:

Registration forms are available here - http://khpfoundation.org/Latest/2013-trail-ride.html

and are available by calling 859-255-5727 or by simply visiting www.khpfoundation.org.

For more information on Road to the Horse, visit www.roadtothehorse.com.

Sylvester, Texas, March 12, 2012 – It’s the home of bluegrass, bourbon and beautiful horses . . . Kentucky. Having played host to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010 and the site of more than 85 national equine events, including the Alltech National Horse Show, the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky, now welcomes the newest star in its cap, Road to the Horse.

“We are thrilled to move forward in the growth of Road to the Horse to this world-class facility,” said Road to the Horse Producer Tootie Bland. “Murfreesboro has been a tremendous host for seven years and we’ll miss our many friends here, yet the good news is our growth has made it necessary for the event to move to a larger facility and the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park is the perfect place.”

“The improvements to the Horse Park for the World Equestrian Games were designed for events just like Road to the Horse,” said Park Executive Director John Nicholson. “From its arena to the Park’s campground, Road to the Horse fans will find the welcome mat rolled out with bluegrass hospitality.”

Furthermore, the amenities are nearly endless as Road to the Horse fans will want to make plans to extend their stay and take in the many sites around Lexington, including Claiborne Farms, the resting place of Secretariat, the Mary Todd Lincoln Home and even better, just stroll around the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park where they can take in the many exhibits and see Breeders' Cup Champion Cigar and Kentucky Derby Winners Go For Gin and Funny Cide peeking from their stalls.

Make Road to the Horse a Family Legacy
More than 58% of Road to the Horse fans are repeat visitors each year, and now producer Tootie Bland has made it that much easier for those fans to keep their experience going.

With the move to Kentucky, Road to the Horse will offer a new level of seating to its fans termed “Legacy Seats.” Through this program, Road to the Horse will hold a certain number of seats in a certain location, determined by the purchaser, each year. Ultimately, fans will find their “home away from home” each year as they claim their spot. The seats will remain with that purchaser every year until that purchaser releases the seat by not renewing their purchase.

Dates for the 2013 competition will be March 15-17 with competitors yet to be announced. However, room blocks at nearby hotels havealready been confirmed in anticipation of another sold out event and the expectation of high demand for rooms as has been the case in the past. For more information about Road to the Horse 2013, go to www.roadtothehorse.com.
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Road to the Horse is a one-of-a-kind experience that combines education and entertainment for an all-out horsemanship experience.

World-renowned horsemen along with talented trainers discovered by Tootie Bland compete in the invitation only competition to determine the World Champion of Colt Training. Horsemen select a gelding from a remuda or herd of 10-20 American Quarter Horses and are then evaluated on their ability to establish a relationship and bring the animal to its level of comfort under saddle.

Unlike a horse show, these competitors are judged not only on a final test of skill, but the means to the end result. The goal of Road to the Horse is to teach horsemen and women that natural horsemanship is a kinder, gentler way of working with horses.

Road to the Horse enjoys the support of corporate partners such as the American Quarter Horse Association, Ram Trucks, Wrangler, Martin Saddlery, Gist Silversmiths, W-W Livestock, Nutrena, the Four Sixes Ranch and Long Branch Lakes Property Development, along with other more than 20 othervalued industry products and services. To learn more, go to www.roadtothehorse.com or call 325.736.5000.
 
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