Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian Stallion MRA Donny Boy shown by William Bagliani. Don Stine Photography.

Aurora, CO - The Arabian breed's premier sport horses gathered for the Ninth Annual Sport Horse National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show (Sport Horse Nationals) at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., from Sept. 28 – Oct. 2, 2011. Unique among breed shows, Sport Horse Nationals offers classes in the sport horse divisions for registered Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses, including hunter/jumper, dressage, carriage pleasure driving, sport horse under saddle and in-hand classes. It is produced by the Arabian Horse Association (AHA) in Aurora, CO.

With 536 entered, and 1,940 entries, the numbers surpassed projections for the show. The largest class with 73 entries was Arabian Sport Horse Under Saddle won by CCF Integriti+/ (Infiniti Z x Kaboran Senora) and owner Alice Draper of Erin, Ontario. The pair also took a Reserve Championship in the Amateur to Ride class. Jebediah Black+ (Klint Black+++/ x Midnite Cynderela) owned by Lynn and James Tucker of Pedricktown, N.J., was ridden by Megan Frantz to the Arabian Dressage Training Level Championship in the largest dressage class which had 57 entries.

The Arabian/Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian Sport Horse In-Hand Supreme honor went to the stallion Legend of Khouraj (TF Crown Khourage x Zahara Shariah) shown by Austin Colangelo for Mario and Sandra Colangelo of Bronston, Ky. “He is a great potential sport horse sire,” said Sport Horse judge Diane Morgan-Stasiak, “he’s big, strong and sound with good bone.”

New this year was the Arabian/Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian 14.2 and Under Working Hunter Exhibition, spotlighting the new division of working hunter horses measuring 14.2 hands or smaller, which attracted 15 entries and was won by Majarres Fanniya (Nasrany x Moniets Majarre) for breeder and owner Sally Grissom of Columbia City, Ind., with Jessica Grissom riding.

The Sport Horse Nationals is a concept that is still on the ascent. Increasing numbers of open dressage and hunter/jumper trainers have discovered that this show offers opportunities for both them and their riders to compete at a national level, and new benchmarks are set every year.

AHA is a major equine association serving 33,000 members across North America. It registers and maintains a database of more than one million Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses and administers approximately $3 million in annual prize money. AHA produces championship events, recognizes close to 600 Arabian horse shows and distance rides and provides activities and programs that promote breeding and ownership. For information about Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses, call 303-696-4500, e-mail [email protected] or visit ArabianHorses.org