The 38th annual U.S. National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show (U.S. Nationals) held at the Kentucky Fair and Expo Center in Louisville, KY, from October 7-16, 2004, named national champion, reserve and top ten winners in 104 classes. The show attracted more than 3,000 entries from across the United States and Canada representing 47 states and four Canadian provinces.

The largest open class was Arabian Hunter Pleasure with 63 horses entered won by WF Reigning Heir, owned by Shannon and Donna Chudzicki of Norco, CA, and shown by Cynthia Burkman. The largest amateur class with 74 entries was Arabian Country English Pleasure AAOTR 40 and Over, won by Its My Toi, who was ridden by Shelly Kaltenbaugh, Monroeville, PA.

The U.S. Nationals, produced by the Arabian Horse Association (AHA), of Aurora, CO, is the grand finale to the Arabian show season and the most prestigious event of the year. It alternates venues each year between Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM, and the Kentucky Fair and Exhibition Center.

The 104 classes include the following disciplines: reining; working cow; trail; mounted native costume; show hack; driving; in-hand; sidesaddle; park; and English, hunter and Western pleasure. Classes are held for riders, drivers and handlers in both adult amateur and open professional divisions. There is a separate Sport Horse Nationals held in September for dressage, hunter/jumper and sport horse in-hand championship classes.

At the U.S. Nationals, more than $600,000 in Breeders Sweepstakes and $230,000 in Halter and Performance Futurity prize money is available to winners in designated classes.

Held in conjunction with the show is a 150-booth trade fair offering tack, equestrian gifts, clothing, art, jewelry and many other unique items.

The U.S. Nationals is also the site of the annual AHA Arabian Horse Judging Contest. Youth judging teams from colleges, clubs, 4-H and FFA competed on October 15, with winners receiving $10,000 in saddles and prizes at an awards breakfast on Saturday, October 16.

AHA is a major equine breed association serving 46,000 members across North America. AHA registers and maintains a database of 1,000,000 Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses. It administers $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.