Horse Show

Proceeds from the 10th anniversary United Mountain Horse World Grand Championships will benefit Hope Hill Children’s Home. Scheduled in conjunction with the American Gaited Mountain Horse Breeder’s Cup, the week-long show will include horses from 22 states and two foreign countries competing for $70,000 in prizes. The show began Monday and will continue through Saturday at the Kentucky Equestrian Center.

The Kentucky Equestrian Center on Kiddville Road is hosting a Fun Show today at the center. The fun begins at 10 a.m. with the American Competitive Trail Horse Association ride. Signup begins at 8 a.m. with a riders' briefing at 9 a.m., concluding with the awards presentation at 1 p.m. A fun horse show begins at 4 p.m. with 24 categories open to all breeds. The event continues on Sunday with another trail ride beginning at 11 a.m. Cowboy Church will be before the ride at 10 a.m. For more information contact Julia Bowen at 327-9089 or by email at julia@kentuckyequestriancenter.org, or Mikie Bowen at 771-4692.

The Jessamine County Fair officially got under way last Saturday with the annual Jessamine County Fair Horse Show, held at the fairgrounds near City-County Park. Horses and riders came from all across the central Kentucky area to compete, according to event organizer Jay Bruner. Bruner said 35 head of horses participated in this year's event, which is about half of what it has been. “We were down in our participants,” he said. “I guess some of it has to do with the economy and other horse shows held on Saturday.” Bruner said despite the low turnout, the quality of the show was high.

Monday 7 p.m.: Bumper to Bumper Truck Tug on the Pulling Track Tuesday 7 p.m.: Dirt Drags at the Motorsports Track 7:30 p.m.: Horse show Wednesday 7 p.m.: Horse show 7:30 p.m.: Mini Car Figure 8 Races Thursday 7 p.m.: Horse show; demolition derby on the Motorsport Track Friday 7 p.m.: Horse show; diesel truck and tractor pull on the Motorsports Track Saturday 7 p.m.: Horse show; Clementsville...

The horse show has long been the signature event of the Mercer County Fair and Horse Show - after all, it's right there in the name - but this might be the first time the horses will have the stage to themselves. No carnival lights, no truck pull, no demolition derby. Nothing at all, in fact, for the entire five-night run of the horse show. Mercer fair officials have separated the horse show from the rest of the fair, creating what is essentially a two-week, two-part fair. So while most of the fair activities will be held this week, one week earlier than usual, the horse show will remain in its traditional spot on the calendar, beginning July 24. “This is definitely something different for us,” horse show manager and fair board member Brad Noel said.

HARRODSBURG¿ - Dan Grigson has been coming to the Mercer County Fair &¿Horse Show for years, but he could never get the seat he wanted. That changed this week when Grigson finally found his way his way into the announcer's stand. The Stanford resident, who has been a horse show announcer for 30 years, served as a pinch-hitter of sorts for the past two nights and said he would love to have the opportunity to work the show on a more permanent basis someday. “That would tickle me to death.

HARRODSBURG - Deborah Butler is a Florida girl, but she keeps getting drawn back to Kentucky. And winning in Kentucky. Her latest victory came Wednesday night when she rode Bi Mi's Southern Rose to a win in the adult five-gaited pleasure class at the Mercer County Fair & Horse Show. Bi Mi's Southern Rose is trained by Danville residents Raymond and Lillian Shively, who operate DeLovely Farm in Rockport, Ind. Butler, who is also the horse's owner, bought her in Lexington last year and has fallen in love with her. “She's wonderful.

The Derby Classic, sponsored by the Kentucky Walking and Racking Horse Trainer's Association, will be held Friday and Saturday, May 2 and 3 at the Mercer County Fairgrounds. During the weekend event, approximately sixty-nine classes will be featured. The Derby Classic will benefit the Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, a non-profit organization established in 1981 to provide horseback riding for therapeutic purposes and social and recreational activities. The program, which operates at the Kentucky Horse Park, has proven highly successful in helping people with a wide range of disabilities to develop self-esteem, confidence, coordination and a sense of achievement while learning horsemanship, tack and riding principles.

HARRODSBURG - The ancestors who bear his name had a presence in Mercer County both in the horse show ring and beyond, so I.C. James IV said he's pleased to see that they're being honored by the county's historic horse show. James' father, grandfather and great-grandfather, I.C. James I, II and III, are this year's inductees for the Mercer County Fair & Horse Show Hall of Fame. The three men, all of whom are deceased, owned standardbred horses were successful both in the show ring and on the race track.

The highlight of any summer is the annual fair and the warm nostalgia it brings. This year will be no different, though things may look a little different. “We've changed the appearance and the layout of the fairgrounds,” Jessamine County Fair president James Bruner said. “Some new colors for the livestock building, a few things rearranged, and we've moved where the demolition derby will be.” Though things on the grounds may be slightly altered, this year the Jessamine County 2012 Fair will still be held at the same location down Longview Drive on Park Drive in Nicholasville.

A number of Clark County 4-Hers competed in the District 4 4-H Horse Show at Lakeside Arena in Frankfort on Saturday, June 8. Seventeen Clark County youth participated. The youth will compete at the Kentucky  State 4-H Horse Show in July. Congratulations to the following: Walking, Racking and Mountain Division Sarah Clark: Reserve High Point WRM II; Showmanship II, third place, red; English Pleasure Mountain Horse, third place, blue; Trail Pleasure Mountain Horse, first place, blue; Country Trail Pleasure Mountain Horse, third place, blue.

HARRODSBURG - A Harrodsburg man has filed a lawsuit against the Mercer County Fair and Horse Show alleging that excavation work done at the fairgrounds to fix problems related to an earlier lawsuit have damaged his property. Joe M. Roby, who lives on Fairview Court adjacent to the fairgrounds, filed the complaint Tuesday in Mercer Circuit Court, naming the fairgrounds and contractor Claunch Construction as defendants. According to the lawsuit, the fairgrounds, employing Claunch, used coal ash and other coal byproducts for backfill during excavation and grading work in 2008.

Forkland Festival Schedule Friday 9 a.m. - Gate opens 10 a.m., Cake Contest Judging  10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on the hour, Living History Skits 7 p.m. - Old Country Supper Theatre in gym; doors open at 6:30 p.m., drama starts at 8:30 (tickets must be purchased in advance) All day - Silent Auction   Saturday 8 a.m.  - Gate opens 8 a.m. - Fox & Hound Race 8 a.m. - Pancake Breakfast begins 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on the hour - Living History Skits  3 p.m. - Photo Contest judging 4:30  p.m. - Car & Bike Show judging; show goes on all day 6 p.m. - Final bids in Silent Auction 7 p.m. - Old Country Supper Theatre in gym; doors open at 6:30 p.m., drama starts at 8:30 Tickets are still available for a great night of good old-fashioned food and fun. Relax and enjoy a wonderful meal served by young people of the Forkland community.

Oct. 5, 1987 The annual Iroquois Hunt Club Barbecue and Horse Show was held Sunday on the Athens-Boonesboro Road to thank the landowners for allowing club members to hunt on their property. WASHINGTON (AP) - The harvest moon will dim slightly, possibly blushing red, on Tuesday night when a penumbral eclipse occurs. Astronomers at the U.S. Naval Observatory report that the moon will edge into the fainter part of the Earth's shadow Tuesday evening. William O. Billiter Jr. has returned ot his home in Huntington Beach, Calif., after a visit with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.O. Billiter, Boone Avenue.

LEXINGTON - The Kentucky Horse Park is often home to the sounds of thundering hooves, but on Nov. 3, it will be the thundering feet of the runners and walkers in the Alltech Countryside Canter 5K and Fun Run/Walk presented by Get Healthy Kentucky.  New this year, runners and walkers can take part in either a 5K or a one-mile fun walk or run. Participants will follow a course around the Kentucky Horse Park, beginning and ending at the Alltech Arena....

Whitney Turner was 5 years old when she rode in her first horse show. Twenty years later, she is still competing and may add a national title to her collection. After being named the 2012 Mideast Kentucky Quarter Horse Queen in June, Turner will travel to Columbus, Ohio, in October to compete in the All-American Quarter Horse Congress. “It's been a childhood dream since I was little. Everything that the queen wins is on display in a booth (at the Kentucky Horse Park), and I would walk by it and see that,” Turner said.

HARRODSBURG - Tré Lee had just ridden out of the center ring with his blue ribbon, and his wife was trying to get in. Lee got off his horse and helped wife Emily and a few handlers get the horse she was showing out of the trailer and hitched to a buggy, and they had no time to lose. Minutes later, Emily Lee earned the family's second consecutive win, making it a blue ribbon kind of night for the family at the Mercer County Fair & Horse Show. “We're thrilled,” Tré Lee said.

HARRODSBURG - Deborah Butler is a Florida girl, but she keeps getting drawn back to Kentucky. And winning in Kentucky. Her latest victory came Wednesday night when she rode Bi Mi's Southern Rose to a win in the adult five-gaited pleasure class at the Mercer County Fair & Horse Show. Bi Mi's Southern Rose is trained by Danville residents Raymond and Lillian Shively, who operate DeLovely Farm in Rockport, Ind. Butler, who is also the horse's owner, bought her in Lexington last year and has fallen in love with her. “She's wonderful.