Kentucky Spring Shows and 2006 Legacy Cup Attract Top Hunters
Equestrian News Release

Wellington, FL – April 24, 2006 – The nation’s top hunters will be the showcase once again at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, during the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, held May 10-14 and May 17-21, 2006. These two weeks of competition, produced by Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC, also host the highly regarded Legacy Cup.

The Legacy Cup is a hunter tradition that honors both professional and nonprofessional hunter athletes. Created by the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation, Inc. (AHJF), the 2006 Legacy Cup will be included with show manager Hugh Kincannon’s Kentucky Spring events for the third year in a row. The Legacy Cup is held as a separate competition from the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, which feature top hunters and jumpers competing in their regular divisions throughout the show grounds. The partnership continues between the Legacy Cup and the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, providing exhibitors scheduling flexibility and the opportunity to take advantage of pairing their Legacy Cup experience with one of the nation's top AA rated hunter events.

Based at the famed Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, host of the 2010 World Equestrian Games, the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows offer equestrians a chance to compete at one of the finest facilities in the world. While the Legacy Cup makes use of the beautiful indoor facility, the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows utilize five different outdoor all-weather rings. For show jumping, the Johnson Arena offers one of the most spectacular and picturesque settings in the country.

Some returning hunter professionals include: Louise Serio, the 2005 AHJF Rider of the Year, Havens Schatt, Lauren Bass, and Ken Smith. Serio is the all time leader in Legacy Cup history, having won over $52,000 in prize money. She won the Legacy Cup in 2001 and took top honors as the World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) of the Year in 2001 and 2005.

Along with Serio, Schatt, Bass, and Smith were all top finishers last year in the 2005 Legacy Cup. Lauren Bass dominated in the Restricted Professional 3’6’’ division, while Havens Schatt triumphed in the Professional 3’6’’ division. Schatt also lead the professional 3’ division, winning the finals, the Walter J. Lee Perpetual Trophy, and the Leading Trainer award. Schatt is a recipient of the WCHR Rider of the Year Award, earning the title in both 1994 and 1995. Last year, Louise Serio finished second to Schatt, and Smith finished in fourth place.

Other top hunter talents attending the two week competition are Peter Pletcher, who was the 2004 WCHR Rider of the Year, Terry Brown, Courtney Donaldson, David Beisel, Renee Lenkart, Rob Coluccio, Penny Lombardo, Abby Blankenship, Rob Bielefeld, and Tim Goguen.

Hunter and jumper athletes will take part in two weeks of exciting ‘AA’ rated hunter competition. Horses that compete in the hunter divisions must show the athletic qualities that are essential in the sport of Foxhunting. They must have the ability to carry the rider safely and comfortably over obstacles found in the hunting field. The sport has evolved into judging horses’ form over jumps and the way they move across the ground.

Horses are divided into sections that relate to either the experience of the horse or the status and age of the rider. Green Conformation and Regular Conformation hunters are judged on performance over fences and their “conformation”, or physical build. Green Working Hunters are divided into sections for horses in their “First Year” or “Second Year” of rated showing, and Regular Working Hunters are the most experienced show hunters. Pre-Green divisions are for rookie equines in their first year of competition.

Always popular are the divisions for amateur, adult amateur, and junior riders. Amateur-Owner Hunters and the Small and Large Junior Working Hunters (small and large are based on the height of the horse) compete over larger jumps, while the Adult Amateurs and Children Hunters compete over smaller courses, usually set at 3 feet. Sunday features a $1,000 Hunter Classic for Adults Amateurs and an additional $1,000 Classic for Children’s Hunters. Both are member events of the 2006 North America League and Washington International Championships.

The favorite divisions for many spectators are the Pony Working Hunters. The ponies are split into 3 divisions based on the pony’s height, and many times have cute children in pigtails guiding their adorable ponies around a course of jumps ranging from 2 feet, 3 inches to 3 feet tall.

With an exceptional amount of prize money offered and top athletes competing, there is a lot to look forward to for exhibitors and spectators alike during this year’s Kentucky Spring Horse Shows.

2006 KENTUCKY SPRING HORSE SHOWS FAST FACTS

Events:

Kentucky Spring Horse Show – May 10-14, 2006

Kentucky Spring Classic – May 17-21, 2006

What:

Two of the nation’s premier equestrian competitions, featuring four CSI 3* rated grand prix competitions, one AGA sanctioned. A World Championship Hunter Rider recognized hunter competition. The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows are the host event for 2006 Legacy Cup. Both shows are qualifying events for the Washington International Championships and the North American League finals.

Where:

Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 World Equestrian Games. Home to the United States Equestrian Federation.

When:

KENTUCKY SPRING HORSE SHOW - MAY 10-14, 2006

A World Championship Hunter Rider Event

The $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, CSI-3*

The $50,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix, CSI-3*



KENTUCKY SPRING CLASSIC - MAY 17 -21, 2006

The $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, CSI-3*

The $50,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix, CSI-3*

A Member Event of the AGA Grand Prix Series

Hours:

8am – 5pm daily

Admission:

Admission is free to the public. The Kentucky Horse Park charges a $3.00 parking fee.

VIP Seating:

Tables of eight are available each week in the ringside spectator pavilions for both shows at a price of $500 per week. This will entitle table holders and their guests to a table at both the Johnson and Walnut Rings and a complimentary luncheon preceding the $50,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix on Sunday, May 14, 2006, and the $50,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix on Sunday, May 21, 2006. Tables may be reserved by calling 859-233-0492 or in the Show Office.

Parking:

The Kentucky Horse Park charges a $3.00 daily parking fee. Horse Show Exhibitors may

purchase a weekly parking pass at the main Horse Park entrance for $5.00.

Directions:

The Kentucky Horse Park is located 8 miles northeast of Lexington, Kentucky at Exit 120 on Interstate 75.

Information:

Before Show - Telephone: (859) 233-0492, Email: hakshows@earthlink.net

During Show - Telephone: (859) 254-3343, Fax: (859) 231-6097

Website: http://www.kentuckyhorseshows.com

Ring Dimensions/Specs:

All outdoor competition arenas and schooling areas consist of a limesand base and mortar sand cushion. The Indoor Arena consists of sand and loam. The dimensions of the competition areas are as follows:

Stonelea: 135’ x 285’, Claiborne: 140’ x 270’

Murphy: 140’ x 290’, Indoor: 145’ x 285’

Walnut: 300’ x 370’, Johnson: 300’ x 400’

Shopping:

Vendors offering equestrian equipment, apparel, jewelry and home furnishings are located adjacent to the Stonelea Ring. Vendors may call 859-233-0492 for information and to reserve space.

Hotels:

HOLIDAY INN NORTH-859 - 233-0512 - Approximately 4 miles

FOUR POINTS SHERATON – 859-259-1311 – Approximately 4 miles

LA QUINTA – 859-231-7551 – Approximately 4 miles

KNIGHTS INN – 859-231-0255 – Approximately 4 miles

EMBASSY SUITES – 859-455-5000 – Approximately 4 miles

MARRIOT GRIFFIN GATE – 859-231-5100 – Approximately 4 miles

RESIDENCE INN – 859-231-6191 – Approximately 5 miles

COURTYARD BY MARRIOT – 859-253-4646 – Approximately 5 miles

RAMADA INN – 859-299-1261 – Approximately 6 miles

RED ROOF INN – 859-293-2626 – Approximately 6 miles

HAMPTON INN – 502-867-4888 – Approximately 6 miles

SUPER EIGHT – 502-863-4888 – Approximately 6 miles

MICROTEL INN & SUITES - 502-868-8000 - Approximately 6 miles

Management:

Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC

P. O. Box 11428

Lexington, KY 40575-1428

859-233-0493 (phone)

859-233-0495 (fax)

email: hakshows@earthlink.net

website: http://www.kentuckyhorseshows.com

Media Contact:

Phelps Media Group, Inc.

13833 Wellington Trace

Unit E-4 #221

Wellington, FL 33414

561-753-3389 (phone)

561-753-3386 (fax)

pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com

http://www.phelpsmediagroup.com

Photo Credit: Costello and Louise Serio, one of our nation’s top hunter professionals. Photo by: Jennifer Wood/PhelpsSports.com.