The inaugural Sport Horse National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Show will debut as the only national single breed show focusing specifically on the sport horse disciplines at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Va., September 17-21, 2003. The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) of Aurora, Colo., produces the event that features top-level sport horse competition, a commercial trade fair, an open barn party and many exciting exhibitions.

The show features the nation's best Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian sport horses competing in 63 classes in three divisions: sport horse in-hand and under-saddle, dressage and hunter/jumper. Competition starts Wednesday, September 17 and runs through Sunday, September 21 and is open to the public. Most days, four rings will run simultaneously with classes starting at 8 a.m. and running to approximately 5 p.m. Admission to all performances and exhibitions is free for the duration of the show. This event will feature more than 400 horses, and the economic impact to Lexington is estimated at $1.8 million.

The event showcases three panels of sport horse specialty judges: dressage, hunter/jumper and sport horse. The dressage judges are Trenna Atkins, of Coupeville, Va.; Inez Propfe-Credo, of Tucson, Ariz.; Maryal Barnett, of East Lansing, Mich.; and Dr. Max Gahwler, of Darien, Conn. The hunter/jumper judges are Mrs. Robert A. Powers, of Hugo, Minn., and Linda Allen, of Salinas, Calif. The sport horse judges are Janet Brown, of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Bitsy Shields, of Petaluma, Calif.

Nine businesses are sponsoring the Sport Horse Nationals. Primedia Business Magazines and Media has partnered with three of its publications as division sponsors: Dressage Today, Practical Horseman and Arabian Horse World. Award sponsors include AHA Corporate Partner Arabian Saddle Company, Bennett Fine Jewelry, Freedman Harness, Mobile Milling Services, Inc., Paint Rock Designs, Schneider's Saddlery, Stanley Ranch and The Gorgeous Horse.

For each class, champions, reserves and top tens will receive plaques and ribbons. Champions and reserves will also receive garlands and Gladys Brown Edwards horse trophies. Seventy percent of the total paid class entry fees will go into the prize money for each class. Seventy-five percent of this payback will be divided among the top ten horses, with the remaining 15 percent and 10 percent going to the champion and the reserve.

Attendees of Sport Horse Nationals will have the opportunity to watch top Arabian and Half-Arabian driving horses demonstrate pleasure driving and combined driving techniques on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. The driving demonstrations will take place in Anderson Coliseum on Wednesday, September 17 after the sport horse in-hand classes (early afternoon) and on Thursday after the 5:00 p.m. hunter schooling rounds.

An Open Barn Night will be held for all exhibitors on Thursday, September 18 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Barns will be offering various refreshments and goodies at their stalling locations and invite other exhibitors, spectators and media to drop by and chat "sport horse" with them.

On Saturday, September 20, a special evening session will be held beginning at 7:00 p.m. in Anderson Coliseum featuring the Jumper Mini-Prix and a Dressage Pas de Deux Musical Freestyle exhibition.

Culminating on Sunday, September 21, the Practical Horseman Hunter Classic will be held after the amateur working hunter classes are completed. Following the Hunter Classic on Saturday evening, dressage enthusiasts will be treated to an Intermediate I musical freestyle dressage exhibition. As the finale, the Sport Horse Supreme Champion will be named when all Champion In-Hand horses are brought back before the judges for their selection of the ultimate sport horse. The winner will be awarded a gift certificate to have famed classical horse portraitist Joan MacIntyre do a personalized 24" x 30" framed oil portrait of their horse.

Throughout the five days of competition, Anderson Coliseum will also house a sport horse trade fair with dozens of booths offering art, jewelry, tack, clothing, books and more.

The AHA press office is located in Anderson Coliseum at the AHA Booth. Press passes, show programs and current class schedules are available here, as are tentative class and special events schedules. Show results can be found at www.ArabianHorses.org.

AHA is a 40,000 member equine association that registers and maintains a database of more then one million Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses. It administers more than $4 million in annual prize money, produces national events, maintains official event records, recognizes more than 400 Arabian horse shows and distance rides and provides activities and programs that promote breeding and ownership. For information about Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses, call 303-696-4500, e-mail info@ArabianHorses.org or visit www.ArabianHorses.org.

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