The Kentucky Horse Park hosts three distinct equestrian events during the same week: the USPC Festival, BreyerFest, and Pony Finals.
Held every other year, the USPC Festival is home to the USPC Championships and educational opportunities. It frequently coexists with BreyerFest, an annual celebration honouring the real horses who inspire Breyer's model horses and the model horses themselves. Concurrently, the USEF Pony Finals are a renowned event for equitation riders and pony hunters, allowing Pony Club members, Breyer aficionados, and top pony riders to meet and mingle.
Let's look at how these equestrian events and celebrations align with our research from Gambling.com.
Lexington, Kentucky's Kentucky Horse Park, hosts the USPC Festival once every two years, which lasts a whole week. The public is invited to attend as spectators, and over three thousand Pony Club members, volunteers, and their families participate.
The two main components of the USPC Festival are the Championships and the Education portion. Part one of the week is devoted to the National Championships, and part two is dedicated to clinics and seminars led by equine industry experts, Pony Club experts, and Olympians, both mounted and unmounted.
Guests and participants alike can browse the wares at the USPC Festival trade show, participate in or observe the mock foxhunt, and enjoy any and all Pony Club events happening throughout the week.
Pony Club takes great pride in hosting championships for eight competitive disciplines every other year and opening Gymkhana and Trail events. These events at the Kentucky Horse Park offer members from all 41 regions the opportunity to compete on scrambling teams or in regional events. Competitors show off their Horse Management and riding prowess across all disciplines nationally.
Members learn teamwork, respect for others, communication skills, and sportsmanship while competing. Making new friends, accomplishing old ones, and winning trophies are all part of the fun during festival championships. Everyone can find something they like at the Festival Championships, which feature up to ten different disciplines spread out over multiple days.
In case you haven't heard, the Pony Finals occur every August at the Kentucky Horse Park and attract hundreds of tiny, medium, and giant horses. Hundreds of young riders, accompanied by their families and trainers, will ride the horses. The Rolex Stadium is the site of the famous Pony Hunter World Championships, which consist of three stages: model, under saddle, and over fences.
This is a one-of-a-kind event that attracts riders and ponies from across North America. During the week, there will be seminars, parties, a golf cart procession, and a sea of cute pony faces. Pony hunters are the pinnacle of the children's show season for many who compete in nationally graded events.
Ponies can earn a spot in the Pony Finals by claiming first, second, or third place in a pony hunter division at a national or premier-rated show between July 1 and June 30 of the current year. This includes green ponies, who must win two reserve championships. Achieving this aim is within the reach of many pony hunters competing on the rated circuit. Theoretically, a pony can earn a spot in the national finals by qualifying at just one event.
At BreyerFest, you can see the real horses that inspired Breyer's models and the models themselves… You will never see anything like this at a festival or horse show!
Thanks to this innovative hybrid format, fans from all over the globe may now enjoy the thrill of equine entertainment and meet their favourite Guest Horse at BreyerFest! In addition to learning more about the model horse hobby, admirers can view breathtaking pieces of model horse art and connect with other Breyer enthusiasts from all around the globe who share their motivational tales.
Along with fantastic models come the fantastic real horses that inspire some of these models. A remarkable assortment of horses from different breeds and disciplines, all of which have accomplished amazing things, are lined up and ready to meet the audience!
Lexington is home to a thriving equestrian community that is enhanced by events like the USPC Festival, BreyerFest, and Pony Finals, with the Pony Club being an integral part of these festivals, serving both instructors and judges.
Because it hosts all three of these events, the Kentucky Horse Park becomes a summertime mecca for equestrian pursuits. Together, they bring all kinds of horse lovers, from little Pony Club members to collectors and admirers of Breyer horses, creating an ideal setting for equestrian events.
There are more interesting articles in our section on Recreation & Lifestyle.
Julie Goodnight and her assistant will demonstrate on how to properly and safely do the Emergency Dismount. This is a educational and safety video brought to you by the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) For more information on the largest certifying body of riding instructors and barn managers in North America, Certified Horsemanship Association, please visit www.CHA.horse.
Read more: The Emergency Dismount with Julie Goodnight (2:54)
We've all encountered this as horse owners, the "easy" and "hard" keeper. Feeding horses can be a complex endeavor, and the challenges are particularly pronounced when dealing with "easy keepers" (those who gain weight readily) and "hard keepers" (those who struggle to maintain weight). Both extremes require careful management to ensure optimal health and prevent serious health issues.
Sentinel Horse Nutrition offers expert guidance in their eBook "Helping All Horses Live Healthier Lives". Read the excerpt below and be sure to get your free copy of the entire eBook!
Giving weight to a custom equine feed plan.
Finding the right nutritional balance is essential for every horse, but it becomes especially critical when feeding easy and hard keepers, animals that have an “easy” or “hard” time maintaining their weight. For example, an overweight horse with insulin resistance may require a carefully controlled starch and sugar intake. Meanwhile, an underweight horse recovering from illness may need more calories to rebuild strength and immunity. Both scenarios require a tailored approach to maintain optimal body condition for long-term health and vitality.
It’s important to note, not all horses should be considered easy or hard keepers. Most horses’ weights will fluctuate throughout their lives. A horse's metabolism plays a key role in determining whether it is an easy or hard keeper.
Easy Keepers: Easy keepers generally include ponies, draft horses and some stock breeds. Some factors that might influence an easy keeper's weight include:
Behavior: Horses that are calm or less active burn fewer calories throughout the day.
Breed: Ponies and draft horses are genetically predisposed to thrive on limited forage.
Seasonal: Some horse breeds, such as ponies, conserve energy and store fat for periods with limited forage.
Some health conditions can lead to challenges with weight loss. These may include:
Obesity: Easy keepers can gain excess weight, which may lead to metabolic disorders.
Laminitis: Overweight horses, especially those with access to rich pastures or high-starch feeds, may be at greater risk.
Nutritional imbalances: Limiting feed intake to control weight may lead to deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals.
Hard Keepers: Usually, certain types of horses and breeds are classified as hard keepers. These include racing horses like thoroughbreds and standardbreds because they have very active metabolisms. Other factors may include:
Behavior: Horses that are high strung or active burn more calories each day.
Breeding: Stallions tend to burn more calories each day, and broodmares require more calories during late pregnancy and lactation.
Age: Senior horses don’t metabolize nutrients as well as younger horses.
Competition and training: Performance horses require more calories in their diets.
Some health conditions and social considerations can also lead to challenges with weight gain. These may include:
Poor dental health: Deteriorating teeth condition can cause pain and discourage eating.
Parasites: An infection of internal parasites can cause weight loss.
Herd dynamics: Less dominant horses may get run off their feed.
Lameness: An injury can discourage eating.
Illness: A sick horse may be less prone to routine eating.
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You can find out more about the requirements for "easy" and "hard" keeper horses in the full eBook "Helping All Horses Live Healthier Lives".
Horse racing is one of the most exciting sports on the global schedule, but its unpredictability can often ensure it is one of the most frustrating sports for those looking to make money on their investments.
Producing a Thoroughbred champion is the dream for all of those involved in racing, but sometimes a high-quality pedigree doesn’t necessarily mean that a runner will be a winning selection when betting at the horse races.
But, who are some of the most successful sires in recent history, and which rank among the most expensive in the modern day?
Dubawi is one of the most expensive sires in the world and has been for the last couple of years since Galileo’s death. The stallion stands at Dalham Hall Stud, and his fee is set at £350,000 for the second year running.
The former racehorse trained by Saeed bin Suroor won five of his eight career starts, which included victories in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and Prix Jacques Le Marois in 2005. Since retiring, he has produced some of the most dominant turf horses in recent memory.
Among those include Night Of Thunder, who won the 2000 Guineas and Lockinge Stakes in 2011. Recent successes have also been achieved across the world, with Notable Speech winning the Sussex Stakes, Modern Games winning the Breeders’ Cup Mile, and Ezeliya claiming the spoils in the Epsom Oaks. However, Dubawi is still yet to land an illustrious winner in the Epsom Derby.
Unsurprisingly, Frankel also ranks as one of the most expensive stallions in the world, with the superstar’s fee set at £350,000. Many regard Frankel as one of the greatest horses of all-time, and he retired from the track as the highest-rated equine in the world.
During his career on track, he was trained by Sir Henry Cecil. Success followed throughout his career, landing the 2000 Guineas, Sussex Stakes, and the Champion Stakes. Since retiring to stud, he has developed champions across the world. In England, he sired Classic winners Adayar and Hurricane Lane.
Meanwhile, Frankel has also produced champions overseas in the forms of Japense Oaks victor Soul Stirring and Australian Oaks winner Hungry Heart. He is also a winning sire of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe following Alpinista’s victory at Longchamp in 2022.
The most expensive sire in the United States comes in the form of Curlin, who stands at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Kentucky for a stud cost of £250,000. The stallion enjoyed an excellent career on track in the United States, winning the 2007 Preakness Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Classic.
He would also achieve notable success overseas when landing the Dubai World Cup in 2008. His victories saw him awarded the American Horse of the Year honors in both 2007 and 2008. Since retiring from the track, he has continued to dominant as a stallion. Curlin has produced some of the outstanding U.S. horses in recent memory, including champion fillies Malathaat and Nest.
Other notable progeny include duel Breeders’ Cup champion Cody’s Wish, and Breeders’ Cup Distaff victor Idiomatic. The stallion also achieved further success in the Triple Crown this year, as Journalism stormed to Preakness Stakes glory.
Gun Runner also ranks as one of the most expensive stallions in the United States, as the former champion stands at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky for a fee of $250,000. On track, the thoroughbred was one of the most dominant, winning a staggering $16 million in prize money during his career.
After finishing third in the 2016 Kentucky Derby, he would land notable purses over the next two years, which included victories in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Pegasus World Cup. Since retiring and being sent to stud, he has achieved further success.
Cyberknife became his first Grade One winner when landing the Arkansas Derby, before he produced Preakness Stakes victory Early Voting. Other notable offspring include Taiba, Locked, and the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic champion Sierra Leone.
Into Mischief has been one of the most dominant stallions in the U.S. throughout modern history, producing a total of 140 stakes winners. Such has been his success, his stud cost has increased yearly, and it now stands at $250,000. Into Mischief had a moderate career on track, winning three from six starts.
However, since retiring, he has been the standout sire in North America, and has been named the leading sire on six occasions since 2019. Some of his progeny have won at the highest level, including Kentucky Derby victors Mandaloun and Sovereignty.
One of his most successful offspring’s remains Authentic, who was named the American Horse of the Year in 2020 following victories in the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic. The 2025 season continues to see Into Mischief breaking new ground, with recent Grade One scorers including Barnes and Patch Adams.
There are more interesting articles in our section on Racing & Wagering.
To shoe or not to shoe – that is the question! Barefoot care can be a wonderful solution for many horses with benefits including reduced concussion, increased circulation to the foot, and more. But the decision to go barefoot must be carefully considered. Is it the right solution for your horse? Do you know how to plan for the transition? How will you be able to tell if it’s working for your horse? In this video course, Ann Ramsey BS, CERA, APF-I - founder of Equine-Rehab.com looks at what has become a hot topic of controversy. She explains how to care for barefoot horses, and examines the best practices for taking your horse barefoot should you decide to do so.
Read more: Hoof Care for the Barefoot Horse - Ann Ramsey BS, CERA, APF-I (12:15)
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