The 42nd Annual U.S. National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show (U.S. Nationals) makes its debut in Tulsa, OK, at Expo Square on October 17-25, 2008. The move comes after years of the show alternating venues between Albuquerque, NM, and Louisville, KY. This year is the first of a three-year contract with the city of Tulsa that was four years in the making. Expo Square staff and leadership worked diligently with the U.S. Nationals Show Commission to provide an upgraded, functional facility that will adequately host the U.S. Nationals. According to a formula developed by the International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, U.S. Nationals will have approximately an $18.2-million impact on Tulsa.
The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) of Aurora, CO, produces the nine-day event, which reigns as the flagship competition for the Arabian horse industry and the grand finale of the show season. Almost 1,800 horses from all over the U.S. and Canada will make their way to Tulsa to compete in 125 classes that include reining, cutting, working cow, trail, mounted native costume, pleasure driving, show hack, in-hand, sidesaddle, park, and English, hunter and Western pleasure.
U.S. Nationals will again host the nationally accredited Arabian Horse Youth Judging Contest, which attracts more that 150 youth contestants from all over the U.S. and Canada, competing in three divisions: 4-H/FFA, Junior AHA and Senior AHA/Collegiate Teams. The contest awards youth contestants over $10,000 in scholarships and prizes annually.
This year's show is highlighted by another huge shopping expo and a Final Saturday Spectacular, featuring a freestyle reining invitational, cowboy mounted shooting and an Barn Party Exclusive.
Explore the U.S. Nationals Shopping Expo in two locations—the Exchange Center and the Ford Truck Arena. The expo features an array of lifestyle and equine vendors offering small gifts to fine art, perfectly timed for early holiday shopping. The Ford Truck Arena is open October 13-25 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Exchange Center is open October 17-25, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Final Saturday Spectacular
Brought to you by D'Novo Lean Gourmet, the Final Saturday Spectacular begins at 1:00 p.m., Saturday October 25, 2008, and includes:
—Freestyle Reining Invitational
See the best of Arabian reining in the Ford Truck Arena from 1:00-3:00 p.m.
—Cowboy Mounted Shooting Exhibition
Experience the exciting event that is catching on like wild fire in the Ford Truck Arena from 3:00-4:00 p.m.
—Barn Party Exclusive
The Arabian horse lifestyle is represented by a Barn Party Exclusive in the Ford Truck Arena from 4:00-6:00 p.m.
AHA corporate partners include: Bank of America, Cardinale GMC, Armstrong Display Concepts, Inc., Markel Insurance Company, United Healthcare, New Holland and the Hat Lady.
General Admission tickets will be available September 15, 2008 at www.exposquare.com/es/tickets.
For horse show schedule, activities, discounts and more, visit www.ArabianHorses.org/USN.