Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
The Kentucky Spring Horse Show will mark the first week of competition, from May 8-12, 2013, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. The first week will include the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby in the Rolex Stadium, an event riders will use to gear up for the $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals, which will be held in August. Each year the derby includes jumps reminiscent of the hunt field, such as a natural post and split rails, a stonewall, a coop, an aiken, hedges, logs, banks, and ditches.
The jumper highlights in the Rolex Stadium during the first week will include the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic on May 9th, which will kick-off the seven part Hagyard Challenge Series. On Sunday, May 12th, the $75,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix will take center stage.
Competition will continue the following week with the Kentucky Spring Classic held May 15-19, 2013. The $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic will be held on Thursday, May 16 as riders try to accumulate valuable points for the Hagyard Leading Rider Bonus. On Saturday, May 18, riders will compete under the lights in the Rolex Stadium during the $75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix sponsored by Audi of Lexington.
The $50,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby Series will return for the Spring and Summer shows with events each week that culminate with the $15,000 Leading Hunter Rider Awards. The Kentucky Spring Classic will also be a WCHR Member event, where riders can earn points towards year-end awards. Both weeks of the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows will offer WIHS & NAL classics for Children's & Adult hunter and jumper riders as well as $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Classics.
The Open Jumper competitors will also have an opportunity to showcase their mounts during the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic held each week. The newest addition to the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows will be the Take2 Thoroughbred Hunter and Jumper divisions.
The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows would also like to extend a special thanks to all of their generous sponsors including Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Hallway Feeds, Audi of Lexington, Johnson Horse Transportation, Farm Vet, Dietrich Insurance and Sleepy P Ranch.
While competing at the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, exhibitors and their families can also explore downtown Lexington, which features fine dining and shopping. The beautiful Lexington area offers numerous hotel accommodations near the horse show facilities and the main downtown area.
For more information on Kentucky Horse Shows LLC and the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com. To request a prize list please email [email protected].