USEF Network

Kentucky Horse Park Offers Equine Education Classes

RELEASE: May 14, 2009
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: By Cindy Rullman

The Kentucky Horse Park will continue its tradition of offering a variety of educational opportunities for beginner and experienced horsemen and women this summer.

John Nicholson, Executive Director of the park, stated, "The Kentucky Horse Park is dedicated to equine welfare, and we believe that the best way to advance this cause is through education. The more owners and caretakers understand about horses and their needs, the less likely those horses will be to end up in precarious situations. That is why we are committed to offering educational experiences for horsepeople at all levels of interest and involvement."

The following seminars and courses are available for 2009:

Adult Beginning English Riding
This class is designed for students with little or no riding experience. The class will consist of information and hands-on instruction in grooming, tacking, and basic riding skills.
Date: May 16
Pre-Registration Required - Limited space available
Class fee: $55
Special attire needed: boots with riding heel
Contact Ellen Hamilton at ehamilton@kyhorsepark.com or (859) 259-4263

Introduction to Pair Driving Class
This class covers information and hands-on experience for basic pair driving of carriage horses. With an emphasis on safety, the information includes: harness and harness fitting, choosing your vehicle and vehicle care, choosing driving horses and how your horse should be trained for pair driving, putting the horses to a vehicle, understanding the driving horse, and limited hands-on driving.
Date: May 17
Pre-Registration Required - Limited space available
Participant fee: $80
Audit fee: $40 (booklets available for auditors for an extra fee)
Special attire needed: boots
Contact Laurie Brown at lbrown@kyhorsepark.com or (859) 259-4290

Youth Riding - For ages 10-18
Participants will learn the basics of stable management and balanced seat riding, as well as how to catch, lead, groom and tack horses. There are two sessions in each level to choose from:
Level 1/Session 1: May 26-29; Session 2: June 1-5
Level 2/Session 1: June 8-12; Session 2: June 15-19
Pre-Registration Required - Class size limited; register early.
Course fees: Level 1/Session 1 - $160; Level 1/Session 2 - $200
Level 2/Session 1 - $200; Level 2/Session 2 - $200
Participants enrolling for multiple sessions will receive a discount. All fees are non-refundable. Contact Ellen Hamilton at ehamilton@kyhorsepark.com or (859) 259-4263

Insights into Training the Horse to Drive
Spend the day learning how to introduce your horse to driving. There will be examples of introducing a green horse to harness, introducing a horse to shafts, introducing a horse to weight, and putting a horse to the vehicle. You will also learn to work at the horse's head when training and why it is important to have an attentive and informed helper. We highly encourage you to take this course with a friend or family member who will be assisting you.
Date: June 14
Pre-Registration Required - Limited space available
Participant fee: $80
Audit fee: $40 (booklets available for auditors for an extra fee)
Special attire needed: boots
Contact Laurie Brown at lbrown@kyhorsepark.com or (859) 259-4290

Introduction to Single Driving Class
With a strong emphasis on safety, this basic course will include demonstrations and conversations on harness and harness fitting, choosing your vehicle and vehicle care, choosing the single driving horse and what you and your horse should know for successful single driving, putting the horse to a vehicle, understanding the driving horse, and limited hands-on driving for the participants. We h