The Kentucky Summer Horse Shows are just around the corner. Held at the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, the Kentucky Summer Horse Show is scheduled for the week of July 22-26, with the Kentucky Summer Classic following the week of July 29-August 2, 2009. These two weeks of hunter/jumper competition are a main stop for exhibitors on the hunter/jumper circuit, attracting the very best horses and riders in the nation. The Kentucky Summer Classic is a World Championship Hunter Rider Event.

The Kentucky Summer Horse Shows feature two $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classics, which are part of the Hagyard Challenge Series. The series is a summer-long competition that includes seven grand prix events. With $215,000 in total prize money, the series is a unique and exciting feature that is only offered at the Kentucky Horse Park. The leading rider of the entire series will win a $50,000 Leading Rider Bonus at the conclusion of the final class, the Kentucky National Horse Show's $50,000 CSI-W Lexington Grand Prix.

The Hagyard Challenge Series is sponsored by the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, one of the top equine veterinary institutes in the country. Supporters of the $50,000 Leading Rider Bonus include: Holiday Inn Georgetown Hotel, Dean, Dorton, & Ford, Fifth Third Bank, Fort Dodge Animal Health, Hagyard Pharmacy, Kathleen Sullivan, CIMA®, Turf Town Properties, Air 51 and Audi of Lexington.

In addition to the Hagyard Lexington Classics, which will be held in the new main outdoor stadium, the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows host two $40,000 grand prix competitions. The $40,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix will be held at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show on Saturday, July 25. The following week, the $40,000 Kentucky Classic Grand Prix Sponsored by Air 51 and Audi of Lexington is scheduled for Saturday, August 1.

Jumper divisions at the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows are offered at all levels; they range from schooling classes to High Junior and Amateur-Owner Classics, which are member events of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Series. Children's and Adult Jumper Classics, sponsored by Johnson Horse Transportation, are also a highlight during the two weeks of competition. Hunter divisions range from the beginner level to top professional divisions.

To better serve exhibitors, Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC, has added exciting new divisions to the 2009 Kentucky Summer Horse Shows schedule. These include 3'3" Pre-Green Hunters, 3'3" Amateur-Owner Hunters, Baby Green Hunters, Intermediate Children's Hunters, Intermediate Adult Hunters, Low Children's Jumpers, and Low Adult Jumpers.

"We are excited to offer additional divisions this year at the summer shows," said Hugh Kincannon, manager of the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows. "We hope these new classes will appeal to a broader base of competitors and improve everyone's show experience as a whole."

Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC, recently resurfaced the main hunter ring (Stonelea) and large hunter schooling ring with state-of-the-art footing. The new high-tech surfaces are designed by the German company OTTO Sport- und Reitplatz GmbH.

The prize list for the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows is currently available online at www.kentuckyhorseshows.com. Please visit this site for more information on the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows and the Hagyard Challenge Series.