(LEXINGTON, KY)– The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final will again be held during the Friday morning performance of the Lexington Junior League Horse Show.

To be eligible to compete in this Final, riders must have won a ribbon in at least one qualifying class between June 28, 2008 and July 9, 2009. Please note the Lexington Junior League Horse Show has added a “qualifying” class to their show schedule to allow riders to qualify for the Final at the Junior League Horse Show. This “qualifying” class is a separate class (inadvertently listed as the same class in the show program). THE FINAL ITSELF WILL ACTUALLY BE HELD ON FRIDAY MORNING (class 101). Riders that are already qualified for the Final on Friday may participate in this separate class but are not required to do so. Therefore, any rider that has not yet qualified for the Final being held on Friday, July 10 is encouraged to enter the qualifying class being held during the morning session on Wednesday, July 8. Entries should be made to the Junior League Horse Show by contacting Beth Snider at (502) 647-0076.

The Adult Amateur Saddle Seat National Champion will receive a beautiful cast resin sculpture created for the Championship by noted artist Patricia Crane. In addition, the Champion will receive a hand-crafted USEF Leather Cabin Bag made exclusively by Freedman Harness of Canada. Both the Champion and Reserve Champion will also receive leather halters and coolers for their mounts, tri-colored championships ribbons supplied by Hodges Badge Company, and Bouquets of roses, courtesy of the United States Equestrian Federation. The traditional medals will also be awarded to the top three competitors.

Following the awards presentation, all exhibitors will be invited to the USEF luncheon where each participant and instructor will receive commemorative gifts.

The USEF Medal Final is one of the most prestigious Medal Finals in the country dating back to 1937. Historically, the Medal program represented the top level of competition for junior riders. It was decided in 2001 that a Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final would give adults the ability to continue to compete for the prestigious honor. Riders are judged fifty percent on rail work as a group and fifty percent on individual tests (a pattern).

For more information regarding this Final, please contact Carrie Mortensen, USEF’s Director, National Breed/Discipline Affiliates, at (859) 225-6986 or via email at [email protected].

ENDS