Currently underway, the 38th annual U.S. National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show (U.S. Nationals) is the flagship event for the Arabian horse industry, featuring top quality horses, a commercial trade fair and the annual Arabian Horse Judging Contest. This year’s show features 3,000 entries vying for champion, reserve champion or top ten in 104 classes that include reining, mounted native costume, working cow, show hack, breeding-in-hand, driving, English, hunter and western pleasure and more. The event draws approximately 75,000 spectators and 2,000 horses from across the United States and Canada and awards almost $1 million in cash and prizes. The action continues through October 16 at the Kentucky Fair and Expo Center.

AHA members and horseman are invited to the Finals Extravaganza, a free program taking place until the last day of the show at the Kentucky Fair and Expo Center, offering special discounts, demonstrations and a peek-behind-the curtain look at some of the finest Arabian horses in the world by eight of the industry’s most notable farms. Attendees will receive a free ticket voucher to attend the show each day they attend a Finals Extravaganza Barn Party.

The Arabian Horse Judging Contest, the longest running AHA youth program, will be held Friday, Oct. 15. Marking its 34th year, it attracts 35 teams that compete in the following divisions: collegiate, 4-H/FFA and Junior and Senior AHA levels. The contest awards more than $10,000 in scholarships and prizes and requires contestants to recite oral reasons to a panel.

In addition to amateur and open competition, the U.S. Nationals features a trade fair with 130 commercial vendors selling handcrafted and other unique items as well as tack, equestrian gifts, clothing and jewelry. The trade fair is open to the public from 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. daily, and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., October 15-16.

The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) of Aurora, CO, produces the show. Competition runs from 7:30 a.m. through approximately 10 p.m. each day, with morning, afternoon and evening sessions. Tickets are priced at $5.50, $7.50 and $9.50 per session. Day passes and session tickets are available from Tickets.com and may be purchased online at www.tickets.com or by calling (800) 905-3315. Tickets are also available at the box office during the show.

Show results and online information can be found at www.ArabianHorses.org.

AHA is a major breed association serving 46,000 members across North America that registers and maintains a database of more than one million Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses. It administers more than $4 million in annual prize money, produces championship events, recognizes almost 400 Arabian horse shows and distance rides and provides activities and programs that promote breeding and ownership. For information about Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses, call (303) 696-4500, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.ArabianHorses.org.