Two of the largest and most prestigious Hunter Jumper shows at the park will take place this month: the Kentucky Spring Classic Horse Shows I & II, May 10-14 and May 17-21. The shows will involve more than 1,500 horses from across the country during 10 days of competition using seven show rings.
One of the events, The Legacy Cup, is an annual national championship Hunter event sponsored by the American Hunter Jumper Foundation. It will include three evening classics on May 12,13, and 20. Jumpers will compete for more than $160,000 each week, beginning with the $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic Grand Prix. Some of the riders expected include Beezie Madden (Olympic team gold medalist in Athens), Joe Fargis (Olympic team and individual gold medalist in Los Angeles), Schuyler Rielly (recently returned from representing the United States in Dubai), Todd Minikus (alternate at Sydney Olympics) and Aaron Vale, the leading money-winning rider in U.S. Grand Prix in 2005 with over $568,000 won, and winner of both Grand Prix’s at last year’s Kentucky Spring Classic Horse Shows.
Some of the distinguished judges and course designers for these shows will come from Great Britain, Mexico, Bolivia and Venezuela.
For those who want to know more about Hunters and/or Jumpers, Kentucky Horse Park is offering a guided, walking tour of the show rings and introduction to this discipline. The tours will include general information, an explanation of the various types of shows, a description of Hunters and Jumpers, their divisions, course design and fence heights. The tour will also include biographies of some of the big name horses, riders and officials.
For more information on the Kentucky Spring Classic Horse Shows, contact Cheryl Kincannon at 859-233-0492. A live webcast of the shows will be available on www.xmievents.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.