Category Archives: National Horse Show

Todd Minikus and Sweetheart Blaze to Victory in Sasco Creek Farm $50,000 Welcome Stake at the Alltech National Horse Show

Todd Minikus and Sweetheart won the Sasco Creek Farm International Open Jumper $50,000 Welcome Stake at the Alltech National Horse Show. Photo By: Shawn McMillen.

Lexington, KY – November 2, 2011 – It was a thrilling night of competition in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park as the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition, made its debut at its new home. The top horses and riders from around the world showed up tonight to compete during the Sasco Creek Farm International Open Jumpers $50,000 Welcome Stake, benefiting the Alltech Sustainable Haiti Project. Riders raced over the technical track set by Richard Jeffery, and with a blazing pace of 57.93 seconds the winning honors went to Todd Minikus riding Sweetheart, owned by Candy Tribble and the Windsor Show Stables of East Windsor, CT. McLain Ward and Pjotter Van De Zonnehoeve, owned by Louisburg Farm of Boston, MA, followed in second with a clear time of 58.02, while Laura Kraut and Teirra, owned by Stars and Stripes of Middleburg, VA picked up the third place honors with a time of 60.56 seconds.

Jeffery built an excellent course for tonight’s event, big but inviting. It included multiple inside options, as well as striding options and a technical oxer-vertical-oxer triple combination. Fourteen horse and rider combinations managed to complete clear efforts.

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Sweetheart Lives Up to His Name for Minikus

Todd Minikus and Sweetheart galloped to victory in the Sasco Creek Farm International Welcome Stakes on the opening night of the Alltech National Horse Show 2011. Photo: Shawn McMillan Photography.

Kentucky, USA, 2 November 2011 — Floridian Todd Minikus stormed to victory in the Sasco Creek Farm International Welcome Stakes on the opening night of the Alltech National Horse Show at the Horse Park in Kentucky, USA tonight riding the aptly-named Sweetheart.

With a sparkling field of 43 starters from six nations all vying for a cut of the $50,000 prize-fund this was never going to be an easy one to win.  And, sixth to go, fellow-American and newly-crowned Pan-American team champion McLain Ward made sure of that when setting a super-fast early target with Pjotter van de Zonnehoeve.

Ward’s dare-devil ride saw him race through the finish in 58.02 seconds to put it up to the rest of them.  And, in the final analysis, only Minikus found a faster route home when leaving all the fences up with a great ride on his handsome 12 year old gelding.

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Multiple Hunter Wins for Scott Stewart on Opening Day at the Alltech National Horse Show

Scott Stewart and Garfield won the Pony Lane Farm High Performance Hunter Handy Class at the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG.

[Lexington, KY] – November 2, 2011 – It was a historic day in Lexington, KY, as the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition got underway at its new home in the Alltech Arena of the Kentucky Horse Park. The top horses and riders from around the world have gathered to take part in this exciting event. The professional hunter divisions were the first to take place, and it proved to be Scott Stewart’s day as he won over half of the blue ribbons with his talented mounts.

The 14 Hands Winery Regular Conformation Hunters kicked off the first day of competition at the Alltech Arena. The winner of the first class over fences was Sambalino, ridden by Scott Stewart and owned by Becky Gochman of New York, NY. Taking home the blue ribbon honors in the handy round was Elizabeth Boyd and Casallo, owned by Erin McGuire of Cornelius, NC.

“The management here did an amazing job, it feels different, and it feels like the National Horse Show,” commented Boyd. “They dressed it up and the courses are amazing. Richard Jeffery did a great job and the handy was really fun to ride. It’s exciting to have the horse show here.”

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Alltech National Horse Show Prized Trophy Collection Arrives in the Commonwealth

Dignitaries pose with the official trophies of the Alltech National Horse Show.

[Lexington, KY] – The trophies for the oldest indoor horse show in America have arrived in Kentucky. The Alltech National Horse Show trophy collection was transported at the Alltech Arena in the Kentucky Horse Park with a ceremonious entrance. The trophy collection that dates back to the 1700s has an estimated value of more than $1,000,000 worth of silver.

President of the National Horse Show Association, Mason Phelps, explained, “How do you put value on something that is priceless? These trophies hold the history of men and women who have shaped our country for the past 128 years.”

The trophies were carefully transported by the Kentucky National Guard as they made their journey to the Horse Capital of the World, Lexington, KY.  The trophy collection was previously being stored in the vaults of Tiffany and Cartier in New York City.

Upon arrival to the Kentucky Horse Park the guards were met by executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park, John Nicholson, and Kentucky’s First Lady Jane Beshear. Members from the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and city and state officials joined as well.

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The Alltech National Horse Show – It’s On Its Way Back!

Lexington, KY – October 31, 2011 — Anticipation and excitement is at an all-time high as the Alltech Arena at The Horse Park in Kentucky receives its final make-over ahead of this week’s Alltech National Horse Show. In five days’ time, a new era in the history of the oldest indoor horse show in the world will begin, and fresh life will be breathed into a story that began over 128 long years ago. But it is its distinguished past that makes this event stand out from the rest – and the tale of the alliance between two remarkable men from opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean whose foresight, drive and ambition had led to an unique, and lasting, link between the USA and England, and to the sporting tradition of both countries.

America’s Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt and Hugh Cecil, the 5th Earl of Lonsdale whose English estate was at Lowther in Cumberland, were giants of their day and had a lot in common, including fabulous wealth and a passion for sport. The colourful Vanderbilt – father of artist, author, heiress and socialite, Gloria Vanderbilt, who went on to develop the whole concept of designer jeans – was a keen horseman and President of the Association of American Horse Shows and the Hackney Horse Society. Lonsdale, who was also known as the “Yellow” or “Sporting” Earl, was once described by King Edward VII as “almost an Emperor, not quite a gentleman”! The flamboyant character was an arctic explorer, friend of royalty, an avid follower of hounds, and a lover of all sporting activities including boxing, to which he left a lasting legacy in the shape of one of its great honours – the championship trophy known as the Lonsdale Belt.

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Pan American Gold Medalist Christine McCrea Headed to Alltech National Horse Show

Christine McCrea, Individual Gold Medal at the XVI Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico will compete at the Alltech National Horse Show beginning on Wednesday

Lexington, KY – October 30, 2011 – Christine McCrea, who on Saturday powered her way to the Pan American Games Gold Medal in Guadalajara, Mexico, makes her next stop at the debut of the Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky, beginning on Wednesday.

McCrea, who was perfect through five rounds of world-class jumping in Mexico, picked up two Gold medals in her first ever appearance at the Pan American Games.  Her two clear rounds on Thursday in the Nations Cup were a key factor as the United States Show Jumping squad scored Gold, and in so doing, secured one of the final coveted spots at the Olympic Games in London in 2012.

In addition to McCrea, the big money Open Jumper division at the Alltech National Horse Show features nine Olympic veterans, including McLain Ward, who was also a member of the United States Gold Medal team in Guadalajara.

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America’s Favorite Equestrians to Be Announced at Alltech National Horse Show. Voting Closes on October 31st!

WESTPORT, CT – October 29, 2011 – America’s Favorite Equestrian will be selected based on the athletes with the highest number of votes on October 31, 2011 in each of the eight disciplines of Dressage, Driving, Endurance, Eventing, Jumping, Para-Dressage, Reining and Vaulting. The announcement will be made at a Victory Party hosted by the EQUUS Foundation and the United States Equestrian Federation on Friday, November 4, 2011, at 9:30 p.m. during the Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky.

This is it! Keep Voting! All it takes is a $5 gift to The EQUUS Foundation to insure that your favorite is America’s favorite. Click here to see the equestrian entries and to vote.

For information on The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., visit the EQUUS website at www.equusfoundation.org or contact The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., at (203) 259-1550 or equus@equusfoundation.org.

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The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Center to Visit Alltech National Horse Show

“State of the Art” Mobile unit at the Kentucky Horse Park Starting October 31st

Aqua Pacer Water Treadmill

Lexington, KY – October 26, 2011 – The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, already recognized as one of the nation’s most advanced conditioning and rehab centers for horses, announced that their new mobile unit will be on the grounds for this year’s Alltech National Horse Show, beginning on Monday, October 31, 2011.

The Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition, will be held from November 2-6, 2011, at the beautiful, new Alltech Indoor Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center is located near Ocala, Florida, on nearly 30 acres adjacent to Highway 27 in northwest Marion County. After two years of extensive planning, the multi-million dollar facility at the Sanctuary has quickly been recognized by horsemen and women from all disciplines as the finest, most comprehensive facility of its kind in the world. “We now have stall capacity for 42 horses. We have two 20 stall barns and the therapy building has two 12 x 24 air-conditioned & heated stalls,” related general manager, Brenda McDuffee.

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The Alltech National Horse Show: Affordable and Good Shopping

Country’s Oldest Indoor Horse Show Comes to Kentucky

What are you doing next week? Anything really exciting? Riding season is winding down… weather is getting chilly… you’re looking forward to Thanksgiving but it’s not quite here.

Hop in the car and come to the National Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park November 2-6th — this is America’s OLDEST INDOOR HORSESHOW, founded in 1883 and held in Madison Square Garden in New York for many years.

Now it has moved to Kentucky, for what we hope will be a permanent home.

If you were one of those people who thought the World Equestrian Games’ tickets were too expensive, you’ll like what you hear about the National Horse Show: TICKETS START AT $10.00. (Children 12 and under are FREE.)

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ASPCA Celebrates Rescued Horses with Parade at Alltech National Horse Show

Equine Welfare Ambassadors and World Class Riders Will Take Center Ring on November 6

LEXINGTON, KY — Sunday, November 6 has been officially designated as “ASPCA Day” at the Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, Ky. and to celebrate, the ASPCA is holding a parade of rescued horses that will be highlighted in the competition arena preceding the finals of the prestigious ASPCA Maclay National Championship competition.

The Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition, will run November 2-6, 2011, in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Horses from the Kentucky Horse Park Mustang Troup will begin the parade. These mustangs were once completely wild on the plains of North Dakota and were later rounded up and removed from their native land. Rescuers have since worked to rehabilitate and train them, and they are now much more accustomed to humans and have become trustworthy riding and performance horses.

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