Meet the adoptable horse of the week, Port Allen. 

He's an 8-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, 15.3-hands, who had a previous life as a show hunter.  He is currently in the retraining program at the Kentucky Equine Humane Center, where he's doing very well (the photo above was taken before he came to the Humane Center).

Port Allen went to first horse show in April and did very well in that new situation. He is personable and has good ground manners.  He does have an old suspensory ligament injury but he is fully recovered.  He would probably be best suited for flatwork. In his retraining program it appears that he might make a nice dressage horse. He has requested an advanced beginner or intermediate rider. 

At 8 years of age, he is just starting to come into his best years, so he'd love to have a new home with a wonderful owner. 

For more information about Port Allen 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 www.kyehc.org

Laura Klumb
Kentucky Horse Park Foundation
859-255-5727
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Toyota Donating 100 Cars to 100 Nonprofits in 100 Days – Public to Choose the Winners on Facebook. Kentucky Horse Park Foundation Needs Toyota Tundra Truck to Help Care for Park’s Horses and Maintain the Park

Lexington, Kentucky – May 9, 2012 – The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation announced today that it has been selected as one of 500 nonprofit finalists in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program, a major philanthropic initiative in which the automaker is giving 100 cars to 100 nonprofits over the course of 100 days.  The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation was selected as a finalist from more than 4,000 applications nationwide.

Each day, beginning May 14, 2012, 100 Cars for Good will profile five finalists at www.100carsforgood.com.    Individual members of the public will be able to vote for whichever nonprofit they think can do the most good with a new vehicle.  The nonprofit with the most votes at the end of each day will win one of six Toyota models.  Runners-up will each receive a $1,000 cash grant from Toyota.

The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation will be up for consideration on Sunday, May 20, 2012 from 10 a.m. EDT to 11:59 p.m. EDT. 

"Everyone at the Kentucky Horse Park is thrilled that the Foundation has been selected as a finalist for the 2012 100 Cars for Good program," said Laura Klumb, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation.  "We’re grateful for this incredible opportunity to showcase the Kentucky Horse Park and hopefully win a new truck for the park!  We hope everyone will help us spread the word now and, of course, will make time to visit www.100carsforgood.com on Sunday, May 20, to vote for us.  A new truck would really be a game changer for our ability to care for the 130 horses living at the park and keep our park looking beautiful for our 1 million annual guests."

"At Toyota, we appreciate what a significant impact a new car can have for nonprofits nationwide," noted Michael Rouse, vice president of philanthropy for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.  "Toyota has donated more than half a billion dollars to nonprofits across the U.S. over the past 20 years, and 100 Cars for Good allows us to expand that commitment to local communities in important new ways.  The 500 finalists are an extraordinary group, and we look forward to the public learning more about them."

100 Cars for Good is the first initiative to directly engage the public to determine how Toyota’s philanthropic donations are awarded.  

For more information on the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and its efforts to win one of Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good, please visit the Kentucky Horse Park’s website at www.kyhorsepark.com.  You can also follow us on Facebook or Twitter at https://www.facebook.com/kyhorsepark  or http://twitter.com/#!/KyHorsePark. For complete information on 100 Cars for Good and profiles of all 500 finalists, please visit www.100carsforgood.com.  

Local residents are encouraged to support the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and its quest for a new Toyota Tundra truck. If the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation receives the most votes and is awarded the vehicle, it will be used daily at the park to take feed and hay to the 130 horses living on its over 1200 acres, to repair and maintain the park’s 33 miles of white fences, and keep the park’s grounds safe and beautiful for the guests visiting year-round.

A six-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty will also be provided for each vehicle, compliments of Toyota Financial Services.

About the Kentucky Horse Park
The Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm/theme park and equine competition facility dedicated to man's relationship with the horse. The park is an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet and hosted more than 825,000 visitors and campers, as well as 15,000 competition horses in more than 200 special events and horse shows in 2011. The park is home to the National Horse Center which comprises more than 30 national and regional equine organizations.  Located at Exit 120, Interstate 75, just north of Lexington, the Kentucky Horse Park is The place to get close to horses.  Open daily March 15 to Nov. 4, and Wednesday through Sunday, Nov. 5 to March 15.

About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants in eight states. Toyota directly employs nearly 30,000 people in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design facilities. Toyota's annual purchasing of parts, materials, goods and services from U.S. suppliers totals more than $23 billion.

Toyota is deeply committed to being a great community partner and is focused on supporting programs in ways that achieve long-term sustainable results. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, with a particular concentration on education, the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed more than half a billion dollars to philanthropic programs across the U.S.

For more information on Toyota, please visit www.toyota.com.  

About Toyota Financial Services (TFS)
TFS is the finance and insurance brand for Toyota and Lexus in the U.S., offering retail auto financing and leasing through Toyota Motor Credit Corporation (TMCC) and Toyota Lease Trust and extended service contracts and other payment protection products through Toyota Motor Insurance Services (TMIS). TFS employs 3,300 associates nationwide, and has managed assets totaling more than $91 billion. It is part of a worldwide network of comprehensive financial services offered by Toyota Financial Services Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation.

Lexington, Ky (May 7, 2012) – She is every little girl’s dream -- the beautiful woman in the spotlight surrounded by a spellbinding herd of Arabian horses at liberty. Her name is Sylvia Zerbini, and she transforms liberty work into the ultimate equestrian performing art.

“I’ve been with horses my entire life. It’s in my blood,” says Sylvia, a ninth-generation performer who has captivated audiences throughout Europe, North America, and South America since her debut on stage at the age of 5.

“It’s about the bond,” explains Sylvia, who grew up around her family’s Lipizzaner, Arabian, and Spanish horses. Studying their behavior at rest and play became her equine classroom, inspiring Sylvia to adopt liberty as a chosen way of communicating with horses. “I listen to what they tell me,” remarks Sylvia, who uses only body positions and a handful of verbal cues to communicate with 8-10 horses on stage - one third of which are stallions.

Most recently the star of the acclaimed equestrian spectacle Cavalia (2008-2011), Sylvia’s gift for orchestrating nine Arabians at once in her mesmerizing "Grande Liberté" performance has earned accolades from widespread media ranging from the Los Angeles Times to CNN to Arabian Horse World. Now, The Pyramid Society and the Kentucky Horse Park are excited to welcome Sylvia Zerbini and "Grande Liberté" to the 2012 Egyptian Event, to be held June 4-9 at The Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY!

“For over 40 years, The Pyramid Society has promoted the humane handling of horses at the Egyptian Event,” states Executive Director Anna Bishop, “Sylvia's "Grande Liberté" is a commanding example of how horses respond to abuse-free training.”

Zerbini’s critically-acclaimed performance will be open to the public and will kick off the action-packed Egyptian Event Championship Finals, beginning with a social hour at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 9, in the Kentucky Horse Park Covered Arena.

“We’re absolutely anticipating large crowds for this one-of-a-kind show,” said Bishop. “Local spectators should make plans to arrive early to do a little shopping, get a drink, and find a great seat before the arena fills up!”

John Nicholson, Executive Director of The Kentucky Horse Park adds, “For three decades the Egyptian Event has been one of our most popular annual horse shows here at the park, so to have horses trained by Sylvia Zerbini performing for our guests will make this event even more enjoyable than ever. We really hope the public will attend and experience these Arabian horses with all their charm and exotic beauty. It’s guaranteed to be a memorable experience.”

General admission seating is free to the public during The Egyptian Event Finals night. Reserved Seating options are also available. Visit the Event website at www.TheEgyptianEvent.com or contact The Pyramid Society at 859-231-0771 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

MORE ABOUT SYLVIA ZERBINI

Born in Sarasota, Florida, Sylvia grew up with her parents on tour. Her father, was a wild animal trainer. Like her mother, a famous trapeze artist, Sylvia took to the air as a girl, but horses were her true passion. At an age when most teens get a driver’s license, Sylvia was professionally training and performing with liberty horses. Sylvia calls the horses themselves her greatest mentors. She coined the phrase Grande Liberté (French for grand liberty) specifically for liberty exhibitions involving more than six horses - her specialty.

Honored with numerous awards including the prestigious Cup of Monaco, presented to her by Monaco’s Prince Rainier, Sylvia has performed for nearly 10 million people in her career, to date. She appeared at landmarks such as Madison Square Gardens in New York, Playa De Americas in Mexico City, Molsen Center in Montreal, and Los Angeles’ Staples Center, before touring with Cavalia.

Now launching a dream that has been a lifetime in the making, Sylvia is developing seminars and clinics, which have never before been offered to the public, to share her knowledge of liberty training. Seminars and clinics will be available throughout the country, as well as in Ocala, Florida, where her headquarters is located.

PRESS CONTACTS Richie Waite
Business Manager
941-256-1063 
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
MORE ABOUT THE EGYPTIAN EVENT

Every year in early June, thousands of people from across the globe gather in “The Horse Capital of the World” to experience The Pyramid Society’s annual Egyptian Event, well-known as the world’s largest showcase of the Egyptian Arabian Horse.

This year’s highly-anticipated Event, “Born of the Desert Wind,” will take place June 4-9, 2012, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. The Egyptian Event is free to attend for Kentucky Horse Park guests and offers world-class halter and performance competition, expert-led educational seminars, superb shopping, exciting live and silent auctions, and a variety of social activities for all ages – all in celebration of the legendary and exotic Egyptian Arabian horse!

Come feel the desert wind blowing across the heart of horse country! Get a complete schedule, order activity tickets, and make your plans to attend this year’s Event today by visiting www.TheEgyptianEvent.com. Please direct any inquiries to The Pyramid Society at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (859)-231-0771. The Pyramid Society is pleased and honored to recognize Pyramid Society Life Member Al Baydaa Stud, Shebin El-Kom, Egypt, as the returning Signature Sponsor of the 2012 Egyptian Event.

MORE ABOUT THE PYRAMID SOCIETY

The Pyramid Society is a member organization actively seeking to educate, inspire and connect people world-wide who are interested in Arabian horses with Egyptian bloodlines. Formed in 1969 by a small group of American Arabian horse breeders, The Pyramid Society originally set out to prevent Straight Egyptian Arabian blood from completely vanishing in North America.

Today, The Pyramid Society has grown into an international community of breeders, owners, and supporters who remain dedicated to this mission: to preserve, perpetuate and promote the Straight Egyptian Arabian horse as the premiere source of classic Arabian type in the world. Visit www.PyramidSociety.org today to learn more about the Straight Egyptian Arabian horse, The Pyramid Society, and the many ways you can get involved.

MORE ABOUT THE KENTUCKY HORSE PARK

The Kentucky Horse Park is the leading equestrian facility of its kind in the world, recognized as the theme park for the American horse industry, as well as the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s leading tourism attraction. In addition, the park is the nation’s epicenter for equestrian events and includes a recreational campground and the National Horse Center equine office park. Visit www.kyhorsepark.com or contact (800)-678-8813 for more information.

The $32,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic will be held on Thursday, May 17 as riders try to accumulate valuable points for the Hagyard Leading Rider Bonus. On Saturday, May 19, riders will compete under the lights in the Rolex Stadium during the $75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix sponsored by Audi of Lexington.

Watch all the action and enjoy gourmet burgers,
fresh-made sandwiches, salad bar and cash bar at
"The Tack Room"
tent by the lake at Rolex Stadium

FREE ADMISSION
$3 Parking
Kentucky Horse Park 

Celebrities Join Freestyle Field for Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup Jockey Chris McCarron, Olympic Eventers Gina Miles, David and Karen O’Connor to Take On World’s Best in Saturday’s World Championship Freestyle Country Music Legend Lyle Lovett Entered to Compete on Friday
 
Lexington, KY –  April 20, 2012 – Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron and Olympic Eventing riders Gina Miles, David and Karen O’Connor will compete with some of the world’s leading Reining riders in the $25,000 World Championship Freestyle Reining at the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup.

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.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 23, 2012) - The Kentucky Horse Park will welcome 4,800 fourth-graders to the Alltech Arena on March 29 to watch an original, live equine show, written and choreographed exclusively for them. The show is a highlight of a reading program created by the Kentucky Horse Park Literacy Program, which the students have been participating in since last year.   

For Further Information Contact:
Marty Bauman, Press Chief, (508) 698-6810, 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.

Lovett, Concert by Exile and Freestyle Championship Make Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup and Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event "More Than A Day at the Races"

Lexington, KY - March 22, 2012 - Four-time Grammy Award winner and country music legend Lyle Lovett will join a world-class field of Reining riders competing in the second annual Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup, April 27-28 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY.

The Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup (AKRC) is held during the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, which runs April 26-29. The AKRC features a CRI3*, the only Three Star Reining competition currently scheduled in the United States for 2012, along with the popular $25,000 World Freestyle Championship. It is expected to draw some of the best horses and riders from around the globe.

Lovett's participation adds to a musical theme for the weekend. Much like the Freestyle performances in figure skating, the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup's $25,000 World Freestyle Championship features top Reiners riding choreographed programs set to music. Additionally, the famed Country music group Exile will perform as part of a free two-hour concert on Saturday, April 28 from 3:30-5:30 pm. The show will be free to anyone holding a ticket to either the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event's Cross-Country competition, 9:00 am - 3:30 pm, or the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup's World Freestyle Championship, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Lyle Lovett has been a fixture of the country music scene for 25 years. He released his self-titled debut album in 1986, and has released a total of fourteen albums. He has won four Grammy Awards, including Best Country Album for The Road to Ensenada (1996) and Best Country Male Vocal (1989). He has acted in a number of films and television shows and he recently contributed a cover of Buddy Holly's "Well... All Right" for the tribute album Listen to Me: Buddy Holly, released on September 6, 2011.

In addition to his music career, Lovett has made a name for himself in the horse world as a horse breeder and reining competitor. He raises about a half dozen foals a year, keeping some, selling others and just giving some of his "babies" away. Reining is one of his particular passions. As a horse owner, he was present to see one of his horses emerge with a Gold Medal in the Reining World Championships at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. Last year, he competed alongside all four members of the 2010 World Championship Gold Medal team in the inaugural Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup. He looks forward to his return for this year's Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup competition in Lexington.

"I was here for the World Equestrian Games in 2010, and when I was invited to ride in the Reining event at Rolex last year, nothing was going to keep me from doing that," said Lovett, who rode his horse Smart and Shiney in the CRI5*, the sport's highest level, at the 2011 Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup.
Reining is a judged event designed to show the athletic ability of a western type horse in a show arena. In Reining, competitors are required to run one of several approved patterns. Each pattern includes small slow circles, large fast circles, flying lead changes, roll backs, 360 degree spins done in place, back-ups and the exciting sliding stops that are the hallmark of the reining horse.

"It is so exciting to have Lyle Lovett come to compete in the $100,000 CRI3* at this year's Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup," said Brad Ettleman, show manager of the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup. "Last year he proved that he is capable of riding at our sport's highest level and I know that his many fans join Reining fans in looking forward to seeing him ride at this year's event."

Advance tickets for the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup are $12 per person for Friday's $100,000 CRI3* with Lyle Lovett and $20 per person for Saturday's World Freestyle Championship. Hospitality options include the opportunity to purchase the use of luxury suites in the Alltech Arena for both nights of competition.

Further information on the 2012 Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup, including ways to purchase tickets, is available on line at www.KentuckyReining.com.

Those interested in up-to-date news may also follow the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup online at:
www.facebook.com/KentuckyReining
www.twitter.com/KentuckyReining
www.youtube.com/KentuckyReining

Coming to the park during Spring Break?

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