LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 14, 2012) — When the Alltech National Horse Show returns Oct. 30 through Nov. 4 to the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park, it will bring top horses and riders from all over the world to Lexington, Ky. But beyond the high-flying jumpers, elegant hunters and high-stepping American Saddlebreds, the show also will feature high-energy performances, fun activities and a wide array of shopping opportunities that will delight audiences of all ages.
“The success of the 2011 Alltech National Horse Show has set the bar remarkably high for us,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech. “And this year, we are building on what was already a tremendous achievement. With live entertainment, music, food and shopping – not to mention thrilling competition – there’s something for everyone to enjoy. This is truly more than a horse show.”
World-class competition will take center stage, and new divisions and classes are being added to the schedule. This year, the show will feature the $50,000 Alltech National Horse Show Puissance, which showcases true horsepower as horses and riders attempt to clear an increasingly tall jump, often reaching heights of six to seven feet. This year also marks the return of American Saddlebreds to the competition, and the perennial Saturday night favorite, the Alltech $250,000 Grand Prix, will bring some of the best and brightest stars in the world of show jumping to the Alltech Arena.
Founded in 1883 at the original Madison Square Garden, the National Horse Show is America’s oldest indoor horse show. In 2011, Alltech became the title sponsor, moving the event to Lexington, Ky., and to its new home in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park.
The show earned major accolades in its first year with a new sponsor and venue, including being ranked No. 1 in the United States by the North American Riders Group for 2011 and voted Horse Show of the Year by the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame. The event attracted more than 560 horses and 350 riders from nine countries, including nine Olympic veterans. Close to half a million viewers watched the show online on the Alltech Ag Network.
“We couldn’t have been happier with the inaugural Alltech National Horse Show,” said Mason Phelps, president of the National Horse Show Association. “But that was just the start of so many great things to come. This year, the additions of the Puissance and the American Saddlebreds are going to enhance the event and bring it to a whole new level. I’m really excited about year two in Lexington.”
Special events and performances will be conducted throughout the run of the event and there will be activities for children, as well as a wide array of vendors. Daytime admission is free, and children under 12 are free throughout the show, including evening performances. Tickets for Thursday, Friday and Saturday night events will be available at the door. Parking during the horse show is free.
For more information, visit www.alltechnationalhorseshow.com.
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