FEI World Games to boost US Horse Economy

The 2010 World Equestrian Games will be held September 25th through October 10th at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. It will represent the largest equine sporting event ever held in the United States. The venue will host more than 900 competitors and their 1,300 horses from 58 countries, requiring the largest single importation of horses into the United States since World War II.

This is the first time since the Games began in 1990, that the event has been held outside of Europe. Prior Games have been held in Sweden, Italy, Spain and the 2006 Games were held in Aachen, Germany. The 2014 Games will be held in Normandy, France. The first Games in 1990 involved six disciplines – Dressage, Show Jumping, Eventing, Driving, Endurance Riding and Vaulting. In 2002, the discipline of Reining which is dominated by the American Quarter Horse was added. This year Para Dressage was added, which is a Dressage competition for the physically and mentally handicapped.

It is also the first time the Games have been held in a single venue, as there is not another facility worldwide, other than the Kentucky Horse Park that has the facilities to host such a large event.

Kentucky Horse Park is a 1,224 acre year round educational theme park and working farm, dedicated to “man’s relationship with the horse.” It offers horse education, horse museums, carriage ride tours and is a year round venue for major horse shows like the Rolex Three-Day Event.

The Games take place every four years and are administered by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) who is recognized by the International Olympic Committee. They are considered the pinnacle of equestrian sports by equestrians even more important than the Olympic Games. They are the major international championships for the eight equestrian disciplines, representing the world’s best horses and riders. The selection process to compete is rigorous and takes up to four years.

Germany has dominated the Games since its inception winning a total of 46 medals. The United States ranks second with 27 medals, France third with 24 medals and the Netherlands fourth with 19.

The 16 day event is expected to draw more than 600,000 spectators from around the world and have a $167 million economic impact. The event will be televised in 180 countries bringing more than 1,000 international journalists. The worldwide coverage of the event is expected to have a positive impact on the US horse industry for years to come as this is an opportunity for the equine industry to showcase itself worldwide. In the United Sates the games will be broadcast on NBC Sports, marking it the largest commitment of coverage of equestrian sports in US television history.

The event boasts that the event is accessible and economically affordable for local and out of state US visitors with ticket sales only costing $25.