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CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON 8,000-SQUARE FOOT MUSEUM EXPANSION - The Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse Launches Exhibition Space to Honor the Horse of the Near East

LEXINGTON, KY (April 7, 2008) Today the Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse broke ground on an 8,000-square foot addition to the museum, funded entirely by the Purebred Arabian Trust and the American Arabian horse community. The Arabian Horse Galleries, honoring the horse of the Near East, will be the first major addition to the 52,000 square foot museum since its opening in 1978, and will expand its permanent exhibition space by nearly 30 percent.

John Nicholson, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park observed, “Upon its conception three decades ago, the Kentucky Horse Park made a commitment to honor mankind’s relationship with the horse throughout history, not just Kentucky’s relationship with the Thoroughbred. There could be no greater symbolic manifestation of that commitment than this magnificent addition to the International Museum of the Horse.”

As part of the donation, the museum will also receive the outstanding collection of art, artifacts and library and archival material from the Arabian Horse Trust and an equally significant collection of art and artifacts from the Arabian Horse Owners Foundation. The new Arabian Horse Galleries are expected to open in the summer of 2009.

Today’s speakers were Jane Beshear – Kentucky’s First Lady, Bob Fauls - president of the Purebred Arabian Trust, Bill Cooke - director of the Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse, and John Nicholson. Honored guests at today’s groundbreaking included Howard Shenk - executive director of the Arabian Horse Owners Foundation, Anna Bishop - executive director of The Pyramid Society, Howard Pike - vice president of the Purebred Arabian Trust, Gina Gibson - art director of the Kentucky Horse Park, Dr. Donald Jacobs - chairman of the museum’s Advisory Board, and representatives from David Construction.

The new galleries will feature state-of-the-art exhibit design and will utilize an array of interactive exhibits to engage all visitors, especially children and young adults. They will tell the story of the arrival of the first horses in the Near East and the evolution of the Arabian horse from the earliest times through the present day. The storyline and concept development will include the efforts of International Museum of the Horse staff, world-renowned experts in equestrian history and museum design, and knowledgeable individuals from the Arabian community.

Arabian horse organizations supporting the project include the Arabian Horse Owners Foundation (AHOF), the Arabian Horse Trust (AHT), the Arabian Horse Association (AHA), Arabian Breeders Association (ABA), Arabian Professional & Amateur Horsemen’s Association and the Purebred Arabian Trust (PAT).

The Purebred Arabian Trust conceived, developed and funded this project over the past several years. “Joining with the Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse has provided us with the unique opportunity to share our passion for the Arabian horse,” says Howard Pike, a long time supporter of creating meaningful educational opportunities for the public to know the Arabian horse.

The Trustees of the Arabian Horse Trust have provided the funds required to transition the collections of both the Arabian Horse Trust and the Arabian Horse Owners Foundation to their new home. A capital campaign to fund exhibit planning and construction for the interior of the Galleries is underway.

“We are thrilled by the generous support shown by the Purebred Arabian Horse Trust, the Arabian Horse Owners’ Association, the Arabian Horse Trust and the Arabian horse community in funding this new addition to our museum,” said Bill Cooke, director of the International Museum of the Horse. “Without a doubt, this project represents the most significant event in our 30 year history.”

As an added attraction, from June first through the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010, a special exhibit, A Gift from the Desert: The Art, History and Culture of the Arabian Horse will be featured in the museum’s changing galleries. Following the museum’s previous international exhibitions, Imperial China and All the Queen’s Horses, this project, A Gift from the Desert will be the most comprehensive exploration ever of the significance of the horse, and particularly the Arabian horse, on Near Eastern cultures.

The International Museum of the Horse is an affiliate museum of the Smithsonian Institution.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A pdf of the architectural rendering of the museum expansion is available for use by emailing crullman@kyhorsepark.com.





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