Equestrian Events, Inc. welcomes MARS EQUESTRIAN, a division of MARS INCORPORATED, as the new Presenting Sponsor of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event — a role that will continue through the 2021 event. The company is also the presenting sponsor of the Land Rover/USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN.
“Having MARS EQUESTRIAN join as the presenting sponsor of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event is not only exciting for us, but for the sport overall,” said Stewart Perry, president of Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), organizer of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. “MARS is stepping up for three-day eventing and we are grateful they will be a part of this event through 2021.”
Advanced ticket prices end at midnight this Friday, March 1, and we hope you’ll be joining everyone for the Best Weekend All Year, April 25-28, at the gorgeous Kentucky Horse Park!
LEXINGTON, KY–This fall, visitors from around the world will get a chance to experience all the sights, sounds and tastes that Kentucky has to offer during the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, without ever leaving the Kentucky Horse Park.
“Our goal is to immerse visitors in all that is Kentucky so that before they return home, or the next time they travel, they won’t be able to resist seeing the real thing,” said Mike Cooper, Kentucky’s Commissioner of Travel & Tourism.
While the primary focus of the 2010 Games is eight world championships in equestrian sport, spectators from around the world will be able to enjoy The Kentucky Experience, which will present the multitude of Kentucky cultural, historical and artistic features that make the Bluegrass State such a unique and special place among the world’s travel destinations.
Located at the Kentucky Horse Park and grounds of the Games from September 25 through October 10, The Kentucky Experience is a major exposition that will feature the nine tourism regions of the Commonwealth, from the lakes in the west, to the mountains in the east, and even to the caves and Corvettes in the south.
The Kentucky Experience will have three Pavilions to entice visitors. The first stop, though, is The Kentucky Experience Welcome Center. At the Welcome Center, visitors will get a dose of Kentucky hospitality as hosts will provide a list of daily events and provide information on each region represented.
Next, walk through the regions of Kentucky and experience the Bluegrass State in the Exhibit Pavilion. Images, artifacts and audio will combine to present a virtual tour of the Commonwealth. From Ali to Colonel Sanders, horses to houseboats, artists to aquariums, and so much more, the Exhibit Pavilion will present an unbridled Kentucky experience.
The Kentucky Product Pavilion is designed give visitors a taste of Kentucky, literally. Local bourbon distillers will be on hand to show (and let you sample!) the bourbon distilling process, in addition to local wineries and wine tastings. Kentucky ales will also be featured. Visitors will also be able to taste a selection of Kentucky Proud products, such as beer cheese and bourbon balls. Beautiful handmade Kentucky folk crafts and world-famous art will be on display and even available for purchase.
Follow the sounds to the Entertainment Pavilion, where performances will be occurring throughout the Games, all by Kentucky artists. Kentucky is well known for its Bluegrass and Country artists, and will be found at the entertainment pavilion, but so too will the full array and diversity of talent that resides in Kentucky.
The Welcome Center and pavilions will surround a beautiful Kentucky courtyard garden designed by nationally known master gardener and Rockastle County native, Jon Carloftis.
See it, experience it…The Kentucky Experience!
Access to the The Kentucky Experience will be available with a Grounds Pass or a competition ticket. Grounds Pass ticket sales begin April 16 at 10 a.m. at www.alltechfeigames.com, www.ticketmaster.com, at any Ticketmaster outlet, and at (800) 745-3000. Tickets will be on sale at a promotional rate of $20 until May 31. Grounds Pass tickets will be priced at $25 after that time. All children 12 years of age and under will be granted free entry with a paying adult.
I made it out to Keeneland today for World Equestrian Games Day. I had received my invitation as a volunteer for the Grandstand seating but stayed down below as I prefer to run back and forth from the padock to the rail to watch the horses. Speaking of watching the horses, did anyone else notice that in the 7, 8, and 9th race that the corresponding horse won the race.
As part of World Equestrian Games Day they had a number of demonstrations out on the track. We did get to see the Dressage demonstration and heard about the reining and everyone seemed to like. So it is good to see the Foundation do these kind of events to promote the Games. All and all I think it was a Great event and a Great day and the weather was about perfect.
The first World Equestrian Games were held in Stockholm, Sweden in 1990 from July 24th to August 5th. There were 13 competions in the 6 disciplines of Dressage, Driving, Endurance, Eventing, Jumping, Vaulting. 37 Nations competed, West Germany was 1st in the medal count with 12 total, the U.S. finished 6th with 3 total (1 Gold, 3 Bronze).
It hit the airwaves late today that Jack Kelly, CEO of the World Games 2010 Foundation has submitted his resignation effective July 31, 2008. Little explanation beyond personal reasons was given for what appears to us on the outside to be out of the blue but I am one that believes that people do not have to give detailed reasons when they resign such a position. Jack Kelly will be missed, no doubt about that but with a little more then two years to go until the Games there is enough time for the board to appoint someone else with hopefully little negative impact to the course of the Games success. In truth I believe Mr. Kelly did the honorable thing in that he had some questions about his ability to stay with this through its completion and so chose to resign now in order to minimize his loss in such a key role. So I give my thanks and appreciation to Mr. Kelly for all that he has done for the Games and wish him all the best in the rest of his life.
I wanted to wish everyone a Happy 4th of July. Because of what the 4th of July celebrates, our Independence, I am able to post these words for everyone to read without fear of censor by the Government. I am also able to pursue the success of the Kentucky World Equestrian Games in an environment that not only supports but natures the ideas of free people to be successful. So on this and everyday I am happy and proud to be an American.
Today marks the 14th anniversary of Mr. Jones coming into my life and had Mr. Jones survived he would of turned 18 yesterday. Thinking about his loss has got me to thinking a lot about the tragedies of recent and the agenda a certain organization is pushing. Mr. Jones was a Thoroughbred and when his life began that was going to be his life’s work but that was not to be and he found his way to me. Ultimately the agenda that this unnamed organization is pushing would basicly remove horses from our lifes, of course they may try to argue that, but ultimately that is what their agenda would lead to.
For me, it comes down to a simple question, is it better to have loved and lost then to have never loved at all. For non horse people the point I am going to make next probably will be hard to understand, but if the world had been different when I was born and horses had been removed from our lives so Mr. Jones never came into my life would I or he been better off. Losing him was very hard and I still feel that loss to this day and I believe that he fought the fight to survive as long as he did because he was happy in this life. So would he or I been better off if he had never existed, I think you can guess my answer? So for those of you who think that horses do what they do because we mear humans command them to, you are sadly mistaken.
I will end on a more upbeat note. I heard that Laine Ashker was released from the hospital on Tuesday and by now should be home sleeping in her own bed which is great news though she still has much in front of her both physically and emotionally. I wish you all the best and look forward to seeing you ride at another Rolex in the future.
I lost my dear friend Mr. Jones of 12 years this past weekend. He was my first true horse and he is so much a part of me that I will never forget him and I will always miss him.
Thank you Mr. Jones for being such a special part of my life.
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