The 39th annual U.S. National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show (U.S. Nationals) is underway with exciting competition in Albuquerque, NM. The 10-day show, held October 20-29, is the flagship event for the Arabian horse industry, featuring top-quality horses, a shopping expo and the annual Arabian Horse Judging Contest at Expo New Mexico.

This year’s show features 3,000 entries vying for champion, reserve champion or top ten in 109 classes that include reining, mounted native costume, working cow, show hack, breeding-in-hand, driving, English, hunter, Western pleasure and more. The event draws approximately 75,000 spectators and 2,000 horses from across the United States and Canada and awards almost $1 million in cash and prizes.

In addition to amateur and open competition, the U.S. Nationals features a shopping expo with 130 commercial vendors selling handcrafted and other unique items as well as tack, equestrian gifts, clothing and jewelry. The shopping expo is open to the public from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, and from 10 a.m.-9 p.m., October 27-29.

AHA members and horsemen are invited to the Finals Extravaganza, a free program taking place October 26-29 at Expo New Mexico, offering special discounts, demonstrations and a peek-behind-the curtain look at some of the finest Arabian horses in the world by eight of the industry’s most notable farms. Attendees will receive a two-for-one ticket voucher to attend the show each day they attend a Finals Extravaganza Barn Party.

The Arabian Horse Judging Contest, the longest-running Arabian Horse Association (AHA) youth program, will be held Friday, October 28. Marking its 35th year, it attracts 35 teams that compete in the following divisions: collegiate, 4-H/FFA and Junior and Senior AHA levels. The contest awards more than $10,000 in scholarships and prizes and requires contestants to recite oral reasons to a judging official.

The AHA of Aurora, CO, produces the show, which is open to the public. Admission to all events is free through the first weekend. The rest of the week, only events held in Tingley Coliseum have an admission charge. Competition runs from 7:30 a.m. through approximately 10 p.m. each day, with morning, afternoon and evening sessions. Tickets are priced at $10 per day for adult and $7 for seniors and students. Day passes and session tickets may be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (505) 883-7800. Tickets are also available at the box office during the show.

The event is supported by AHA Corporate Partners: Dealer Direct Automotive & Leasing, Equisure, Inc., MBNA, MD Barns Inc., Sundowner Trailers, Inc. and Turtle Neck by Paint Rock Designs. Show sponsors include Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Radisson Hotel, Platinum Performance, Melloy Dodge, Professional’s Choice, Catena Watches, Ariat International, Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau, Mountain View Tractor and Zia Graphics.

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