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.

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

Today, March 21, is Worldwide Equine Rescuers Recognition Day, so we're asking all of our friends to do something nice for an organization that assists horses, donkeys, mules, burros or ponies.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 13, 2012)  The Kentucky Horse Park’s 34th season is set to begin Thursday, March 15, when the park returns to its regular hours of 9am to 5pm daily through November 4. Visitors will be entertained and delighted as the park features special events and themed weekends throughout the season.

Highlights of this season will include the park’s newest attraction, the Kids Barn, which features interactive exhibits, while the park’s education department staff will host daily hands-on activities with the park’s resident horses in the Kids Barn each day.

Meet the adoptable horse of the week: Sophie.

She's a Mustang cross who is sound, loyal as a Labrador, and needs a new home. 

Sophie is going well at walk, trot and canter in the training program at the Kentucky Equine Humane Center.  She is brave and confident, a real people horse, loves barn cats and gets along well in any situation. 

She's about 14.3-hands and only 4-years-old. 

For more information on Sophie or any of the other adoptable horses from 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 go to www.kyehc.org.

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.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 14, 2012) The Kentucky Horse Park will open something akin to a school in a barn, to engage school-age children in discovering the wonder of horses. The new attraction is a joint project between the public and private sectors and it will be the first attraction at the park that is dedicated solely to children. The Kids’ Barn will feature interactive exhibits, while the park’s education department staff will host daily hands-on activities with the park’s resident horses.

“Children have a tremendous curiosity and natural affinity for horses, and since one of the most important missions of the Kentucky Horse Park is to raise awareness of - and interest in – horses, our new Kids’ Barn will be a wonderful expression of our dedication to that goal,” said John Nicholson, executive director of the park. “It will expand their knowledge and appreciation of horses and the horse industry in a fun and memorable way, through lots of hands-on interactions and other learning experiences.”