Mark your calendars and ready your Friesian horses. The International Friesian Show Horse Association (IFSHA) proudly announces that the 2010 IFSHA World and Grand National Championship Horse Show are to move west this year to the prestigious Del Mar Arena in the San Diego area of beautiful Southern California. The Del Mar Arena is a coastal gem of a facility in a community well known for its equestrian passions and sports venues. The facility has hosted grand events before, such as the 1992 World Cup Finals, the Del Mar National and the Charity Fair Horse Show. The Del Mar Racetrack, founded by Bing Crosby, Jimmy Durante and Desi Arnaz, is located adjacent to the show grounds.

Not only is Del Mar a wonderful equine community by the sea, its location is central to many great coastal restaurants and hotels and is within an easy driving distance to the San Diego Airport, San Diego Wild Animal Park, Sea World, Lego Land and the San Diego Zoo.

Judges for this grand event have been selected from the best in their fields of expertise. Olympic judge Axel Steiner of San Marcos, CA, will officiate on dressage day with Veronica Holt of Colorado as technical delegate. Audrey Bostwick of Perkasie PA, a founding member of the American Driving Society and one of the nation's most respected driving experts will pick the winners in carriage pleasure driving. A very special dancing horse competition will make its debut at this year's show with Dr. Walter de la Brosse of Los Angeles adjudicating the classes. All of the other performance and halter classes will be judged by a real “Dream Team” trio of extremely knowledgeable and respected USEF Officials: Chris Bickford of Sherwood, OR; Bill Hughes of Chino Hills, CA; and Richard Petty of Jacksonville, OR. Shirley Nowak of Medina, OH, will be the USEF Steward all week.

Osteen Photography will once again be capturing all of the magic moments of the show with stills and Lavoy Shepard Team of Classic Video will record the event in motion.

A Saturday Evening Gala performance will feature a spectacular benefit show for the Warrior Foundation and Project Freedom Station, with Warrior Foundation founder and talk radio 760KFMB AM personality, Rick Roberts. Blazing chariots, gleaming knights in armor and classical riding will thrill the audience.

IFSHA is very excited to announce that Kathie Cox has agreed to manage this very special performance. A well-respected organizer of such events as the Belmont Horse Fair and exhibitions at Equitana USA, State Fair of Texas, Madison Square Garden, 2006 and 2010 World Equestrian Games, productions in Rockefeller Center and on NBC’s Today and Weekend Today’s shows. Please come join us for a night full of fantastic entertainment in honor of our armed forces which preserve and protect our freedom.

Shopping has always been a big part of the World Show, and this year the sport of shopping will rise to a new level at the Del Mar facility. Come shop the Ring Side Trade Fair while you watch the competition. Dozens of booths will feature tack, costumes, jewelry, supplements, art and all things equestrian. Shopping will not be limited to the inanimate as this year—a sale barn for pure and part-bred Friesians will be offered as well as silent auctions of stallion services and gift items to benefit the horse show.

Please join IFSHA, USEF, USDF, ADS and all our registries in celebrating the "War Horse of Old" that is the Friesian, as we honor the Soldiers of Today. Visit www.ifshaworld.com and www.friesianshowhorse.com. For more information contact Show Secretary, Nancy Nathanson at (805) 448-3027 or [email protected] or Show Manager Gareth A. Selwood at (262) 325- 0283 or [email protected].