The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows are fast approaching and are set to start on May 12 with the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, which will run through May 16. The second week of competition will be the Kentucky Spring Classic, held May 19-23, 2010. Both weeks of the horse show will be held at the picturesque Kentucky Horse Park, which has undergone many renovations as it prepares to the host the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

The first week of competition, the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, is scheduled as a World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) recognized hunter competition. An important change to the hunter schedule this year is that all the Junior and Children's Hunter classes will be held on Saturday and Sunday so as not to interfere with school. Hunter exhibitors will be pleased to find that the OTTO Sport footing system has been installed in the Murphy Ring to match the surfaces in the Stonelea Ring and main hunter schooling area.

The top hunter riders from across the country will gather to compete during the $15,000 Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby Presented by Dietrich Insurance. This qualifying class for the Finals will be held Saturday, May 15, in the Main Stadium. Each year the derby includes jumps reminiscent of the hunt field, such as a natural post and rail, a stonewall, a coop, an aiken, hedges, logs, banks, and ditches.

The Hagyard Challenge Series will also begin during the Kentucky Spring Horse Show with the $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, CSI** on Thursday, May 13, in the Main Stadium. Riders will have the opportunity to begin competing for the $40,000 Hagyard Leading Rider Bonus. The Hagyard Challenge Series consists of five grand prix classes to be held during the 2010 show series at the Kentucky Horse Park. The final Hagyard event will be the $50,000 World Cup Qualifier held on August 20, during the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show.

Another impressive show jumping event during the Kentucky Spring Horse Show will be the $55,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix on May 16, in the Main Stadium. Riders will race to the finish line as they compete for this year's top prize.

The second week of competition, at the Kentucky Spring Classic, is scheduled for the week of May 19-23, 2010. The show jumping highlights will include the $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, CSI** on Thursday, May 20, and the $55,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix, CSI** sponsored by Audi of Lexington on Saturday, May 22. Both of these exciting events will be held in the spacious Main Stadium, which features the OTTO Sport footing system, and will host the show jumping events for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

In addition to the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC, will be hosting the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, the Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships Presented by Gotham North, the USEF Junior Hunter National Championship-East Coast, the USEF National Pony Finals, and the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show during the 2010 season.

For more information about the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows please go to www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.