The 2009 World's Championship Horse Show (WCHS), held annually in conjunction with the Kentucky State Fair, was held at Louisville's Freedom Hall from Sunday, August 23, through Saturday, August 29. There was plenty of excitement at WCHS this year, as new World's Grand Champions were crowned in the Five-Gaited and Fine Harness World's Grand Championships, while the 2008 Three-Gaited World's Grand Champion repeated as such in 2009. Among a formidable field of competitors, as in each class,...

The richest weeks of the year began on Sunday, August 23, for American Saddlebreds, with the opening of the World’s Championship Horse Show at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville, followed by the All American Classic at Indianapolis, IN, beginning Tuesday, September 8. Total premiums and awards at the Kentucky State Fair are estimated to reach approximately $1.2 million over the week of the World’s Championship, culminating Saturday, August 29, with the World’s Grand Championships and the...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) Youth Committee has organized a three-day long scavenger hunt, sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Louis Johnson and Judy and Roy Werner of Redwing Farm, for ASHA Youth during the World's Championship Horse Show (WCHS) at the 2009 Kentucky State Fair (KSF). The scavenger hunt will begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, August 25, at the Junior Judging section of Freedom Hall, and all Junior Exhibitors 17 and under are encouraged to participate. Participants must work...

The American Morgan Horse Institute (AMHI) has signed a 99-year lease with the Kentucky Horse Park (KHP) for the site on which the Morgan Horse Pavilion will be constructed. Construction begins in September and will be completed for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in September 2010. "The Kentucky Horse Park facility is a wonderful opportunity for the Morgan horse community to showcase our beautiful breed," said Bob Morgan, AMHI President and member of the Kentucky Horse Park...

The American Farrier’s Association will provide hoof care services for the test events leading up to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. As the Official Farriers for the games, the AFA has extended its partnership to provide hoof care services for a series of test events beginning in 2009. The test events, called "The Kentucky Cup," will allow organizers to prepare for the world championships coming to the Kentucky Horse Park in 2010. "The AFA is very pleased to provide hoof care...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) announced that Henk van Bergen has signed on as the featured presenter at the 2010 Succeed/USDF FEI-Level Trainers’ Conference, presented by SmartPak, to be held January 18-19, 2010 in Loxahatchee, FL. Each year, USDF offers a trainers’ conference to those individuals who meet the attendee criteria to learn training techniques and study with a world class dressage trainer. Born as the son of a baker in Nijmegen, Holland, Van Bergen started his career...

The New England Equitation Championships (NEEC) will return to the Eastern States Exposition Coliseum in West Springfield, MA, October 15-18, with all the excitement, camaraderie and keen competition it is known for. Judges Bob Crandall, Mindy Darst, Jimmy Lee, Randy Roy, Christine Tauber and Andrea Wells will preside over this year’s competition as well as the ever-popular Challenge of the States sponsored by the friends and family of Grazing Fields Farm. Fran Dotoli and Dr. Kate Chope will...

Equestrian vaulters from around the world will descend upon the Bluegrass state in July in preparation for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, performing dance and gymnastics on cantering horses in two events. Athletes and horses from around the world will compete at the Kentucky Horse Park in two of the most important vaulting competitions of the year: the American Vaulting Association (AVA)/United States Equestrian Federation National Championships and the Kentucky Vaulting Cup. For...

LOS ANGELES - On Saturday, July 18 the famous L.A. Memorial Coliseum, site of the spectacular Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, again will be center stage for a special gala celebrating the 25th anniversary of those memorable Games, arguably the greatest event in the history of Los Angeles. The celebratory dinner will be held that evening on the floor of the Coliseum. Many Olympic notables are expected to attend, including 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Organizing...

Those interested in owning DVDs of the championship dressage and jumping competition at the 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup Finals can now place their advance orders online at www.thesporthouse.com . The Rolex FEI World Cup Finals return to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, April 15-19, featuring the world's best horses and riders competing for the title of FEI World Cup Champion in the two Olympic disciplines of show jumping and dressage. The "Live and Unedited" DVDs feature all the...