For the first time, Lexington, KY, known as the Horse Capital of the World to some, will host the Seventh Annual Sport Horse National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show (Sport Horse Nationals), September 22-27, 2009. Competitors will compete in more than 80 different sport horse classes across four divisions, including sport horse in-hand and under-saddle, dressage, pleasure carriage driving and hunter/jumper.

Sport Horse Nationals, which has alternated venues in the East and West since its inception, will return to Nampa, ID, in 2010 while Lexington hosts the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, but will settle in Lexington at the Kentucky Horse Park for at least three years starting in 2011.

Sport Horse Nationals ranks as the only single-breed sport horse event in the nation offered just for Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses registered with the Arabian Horse Association (AHA) or the Canadian Arabian Horse Registry. An estimated 650 horses will compete at this prestigious event, which will name the nation’s top horses.

Competitors from 27 different states and provinces will compete for walnut plaques, rose neck garlands and a Gladys Brown Edwards trophy statue depicting the renowned ideal Arabian horse. Other awards include gold jewelry, and select classes receive additional prizes such as bridles and saddles.

While they are not in the show ring, exhibitors will have a chance to shop the commercial exhibitor area that will feature jewelry, tack and clothing from the likes of Bennett Fine Jewelry, Faulkners Saddlery, The Hat Lady and more.

Exhibitors and spectators can also explore the rest of the Kentucky Horse Park, which is home to a number of attractions, including the Hall of Champions, a Parade of Breeds and the International Museum of the Horse, where The Arabian Horse Galleries is scheduled to open next spring.

On September 24 at 8 p.m., exhibitors and general public can enjoy a Progressive Barn Party hosted by a number of different Sport Horse Nationals exhibitors and then on September 26, there will be a special evening performance beginning at 7 p.m. The performance includes a jumper mini-prix, musical dressage free-style, Pleasure Carriage Driving Pick Your Own Route, Sport Horse Show Hack and Sport Horse Supreme Champion.

Sport Horse Nationals is produced by AHA and sponsored in part by Corporate Partners Bank of America, Cardinale GMC, Armstrong Display Concepts Inc., Markel Insurance Company, United Healthcare, New Holland and The Hat Lady.

For more information on the show, contact AHA at (303) 696-4500, [email protected] or online at www.ArabianHorses.org/SHN.