Katy, Texas – The 2017 International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association (IALHA) National Championship Horse Show returns to the Great Southwest Equestrian Center, October 10 through 15, and is dedicated to Malen Dell. Judges Leslie Connor, Joan Harms, and Richard Petty will be joined by dressage judge Peggy Klump and international guest judges Rafael Ortíz Alcalá-Zamora (Spain) and João Ralão Duarte (Portugal) to evaluate the country’s best Andalusian and Lusitano horses.
The IALHA show committee has worked hard to provide new opportunities for exhibitors and membership. New in 2017, a sanctioned National Purebred Spanish Horse Breeders’ Association (ANCCE) show will run in conjunction with the IALHA National Championship Horse Show on Sunday, October 15. These classes will run in accordance with the rules and regulations of ANCCE and give exhibitors the chance to show their horses under international judges.
For Lusitano horses that have an Associação Portuguesa de Criadores do Cavalo Puro Sangue Lusitano/the Portuguese Lusitano Breed Association (APSL) LN or LA number indicating that the horse is registered with the APSL, the show also will offer APSL-sanctioned classes on Sunday, October 15.
Social opportunities and the new IALHA Iberian Fair will also take place at the event. There will be a barn party and wine walk on Friday, October 13, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. CST. Exhibitors can socialize with fellow Iberian horse lovers and speak with breeders and trainers. The 2017 Show Dedication Award will also be presented that evening.
During the Friday evening barn party, IALHA, along with the Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse, will host the wine walk and guide participants through the barn, introducing them to stallions and sale horses as part of the 2017 Iberian Fair. Horses participating in the fair will be indicated with an Official Iberian Fair Horse banner for their stall and will receive time slots for exhibition during the evening.
The 2017 show will offer Opportunity Classes, including a musical freestyle jackpot class open to single horses or teams, a fantasy/heritage costume driving class open to horses three years of age and over, and a dressage seat equitation class open to amateurs of any age.
Download the 2017 IALHA National Championship Horse Show premium book and watch live on AndalusianWorld.com. For show results and updates, follow the IALHA Facebook page.
Find out more about Andalusian and Lusitano horses, and all of US Equestrian’s 29 recognized breeds and disciplines in this Learning Center video. Join the conversation and follow US Equestrian on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using #JoinTheJoy.