The National Horse Show Association of America, Limited (NHSAA), is pleased to announce that this year's hunter divisions at the 126th National Horse Show will be 'AA'-rated. The 126th National Horse Show will be held in conjunction with the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament on October 28-November 1, 2009, in Syracuse, NY.

"We are thrilled to receive an 'AA'-rating for our hunter divisions," said National Horse Show President Mason Phelps, Jr. "The National Horse Show has a long history of excellence. We attract the best hunters in the nation to our show, and our rating will now reflect that."

This year's show will feature $7,500 in prize money for each hunter section and will include a Green Conformation Hunter Section, a Regular Conformation Hunter Section, a Green Working Hunter Section, and a Regular Working Hunter Section for the professional hunters. For amateurs and juniors, there are six sections, including: Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunters, Amateur-Owner Over 35 Hunters, Small Junior 15 and Under Hunters, Large Junior 15 and Under Hunters, Small Junior 16-17 Hunters, and Large Junior 16-17 Hunters.

The National Horse Show features the top hunters from across the country and also hosts the ASPCA Maclay National Championship. The ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship class has been held since 1933, and it is one of the most prestigious competitions for junior riders in the United States.

For more information on the National Horse Show Association of America, Limited, please visit www.nhs.org. For more information on the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament, please visit www.syracuseinvitational.com.