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| The horses are preparing for the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park. Photo via Facebook |
In the international world of horses, this weekend is all about the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Attending this premiere combined training competition is easily doable from Roanoke via a 6-hour road trip. If you can’t make the trip and still want to watch, it’s also being streamed live on USEFnetwork.com.
The competition gets underway Thursday at 9 a.m. with Dressage and runs through Sunday. Friday will feature more Dressage tests. Cross country will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, and the competition closes on Sunday with showjumping at 1 p.m.
If you’re on the grounds, there’s plenty to do throughout all three days at the Horse Park. A full schedule can be found here. Tickets are required to attend the event. Sunday’s showjumping phase is already sold out.
The Kentucky Reining Cup will also be held at the horse park at 6 p.m. on Friday and also will be streaming live.
Of course, for those of us staying closer to home, there are events happening right here as well.
VIRGINIA HORSE CENTER
The Lexington Spring Premiere “AA” show is at the horse center from Wednesday April 22 to Friday, April 26. The hunter/jumper show’s highlights include a $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby at 5 p.m. on Friday evening and $25,000 Rockbridge Grand Prix at 6:30 p.m. Saturday evening.
OPEN SHOWS
The Franklin County Trailblazers Horse & Pony Show is Saturday at Ginther Farm in Sontag, Va. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the show starts at 9 a.m. Chuck Nifong will judge. The show will include hunter classes on the flat and over fences, gaming classes such as barrel racing and the flag race and western pleasure and horsemanship classes. Find a show bill here.
A LOOK AHEAD
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| Photo by Bedford Hunt Club |
- Lexington Spring Encore “AA,” April 29-May 3, Virginia Horse Center
- Horseman’s Association of Southwest Virginia Open Spring Fun Show, May 2, New River Valley Fairgrounds, Dublin, Va
- Ranch Horse Gathering, May 2-3, Revo, Va.
- Bedford Hunt Club Hunter Pace, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 3, Sweet Briar College, See flyer here.
- Bonnie Blue National Horse Show, May 6-9, Virginia Horse Center
- Franklin County Equestrian Club Gymkhana Saddle Series, May 8, Never Too Late Stable, Wirtz, Va.
- Pine Spur Hunter Show, May 9, 1049 Pine Spur Road, Vinton.
- Hear the Beat Open Horse Show, May 10, Virginia Horse Center
- Cross View Horse Show Series, May 16-17, Green Hill Equstrian Center, Salem, Va.
- Bedford Hunt Club Hunter Pace, June 6, The Cedars, Goode, Va.
- Roanoke Valley Horse Show, June 15-20, Salem Civic Center, Salem, Va.
- Micheal Lyons Performance Clinic, Saturday, June 27, Walnut Springs Stables, Blacksburg. $175 to ride, $25 to audit. Limited spaces are available. (336) 267-1086
- Clinton Anderson Walkabout Tour, Aug. 22-23, Virginia Horse Center, Lexington, Va.
Roanoke Equestrian 