Lexington, KY – April 11, 2016 – The National Show Hunter Hall of Fame announced the winners of their annual membership voting for the 2015 season and for the fifth year in a row, the CP National Horse Show has been voted the Horse Show of the Year.
The top honors once again came as a result of voting by the members of the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame, comprised of exhibitors, owners, trainers and riders in the equestrian industry.
Walter J. Lee, the President of the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame, said that what’s unique about the vote of the Hall of Fame is, “It’s a vote of the people. There are no committees; this is the membership, the people in the field, voting their preferences. And obviously, they love the National Horse Show.”
NSHHOF Awards for Horse Show of the Year
Additionally, the CP National Horse Show has been one of the North American Rider’s Group (NARG), top rated shows in all five years since moving to Lexington and the Kentucky Horse Park in 2011.
“As I’ve said now for the fifth time, we at the CP National Horse Show are so grateful to the members of the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame for their continued support of what we’re doing here in Lexington. We take the hunter competitions very seriously and try and put on a perfect product,” said Mason Phelps, Jr., the President of the National Horse Show Association.
“To be considered as the Horse Show of the Year even a single time is a great honor, but to win the title for the fifth year in a row is quite overwhelming. The award is something that is very special to us and proves that we must be doing all lot of things right. Once again, I tip my hat to Hugh Kincannon and his wonderful staff for making the CP National Horse Show the great event that it is, year after year.”
Change is on the horizon however; as last year was Kincannon’s last at the CP National Horse Show as he has decided to slow down a bit and take some additional time off. Kincannon runs a large series of shows throughout the year at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Mason Phelps, President of the National Horse Show Foundation accepts the 2015 award for Horse Show of the Year.
The management baton has been handed to Michael and Matt Morrissey.
“The pressure is on the Morrisseys now,” laughed Phelps. “We definitely want to win this award again and make it six in a row.”
The National Horse Show will be inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame during the special induction ceremonies and dinner to be held at the Merion Cricket Club on May 31st in Haverford Pennsylvania. For further information or tickets please call 859-879-3600 or email showhunterhalloffame@gmail.com.
With nearly $800,000 in prize money offered, the 2016 edition of the CP National Horse Show has again been designated a CSI-W 4* show by the FEI. The International Open Jumpers will compete for over a half a million dollars in prize money, while the top rated hunter sections have a total purse of $195,000. Meanwhile, $100,000 in total is offered to the Amateur-Owner and U 25 Jumper sections.
The world’s best international competitors return for the 2016 CP National Horse Show, which will take place November 1-6, 2016 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY.
The awards table at the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame Dinner
Founded in 1883 at the original Madison Square Garden, the National Horse Show is America’s oldest indoor horse show, firmly established as a major fixture on the national and international sports and social event calendars. The National Horse Show Association’s primary activity is the annual production of the National Horse Show and all ancillary events. Over the years, the National Horse Show has provided financial aid to many worthwhile charities.
For more information about the National Horse Show, visit the website at: http://nhs.org/
2016 CP National Horse Show Fast Facts:
What:
The CP National Horse Show is a week-long championship event featuring the $250,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Lexington, presented by CP, “AA”-rated hunters, open jumpers, junior/amateur jumpers, and the ASPCA / NHSAA Maclay Championship Finals. The event will run November 1 – 6, 2016, in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
Information:
Cindy Bozan
cindy@nhs.org
(859) 608-3709
(866) 285-9496
Website:
www.nhs.org