by Jessica Schroeder, U.S. Trotting Association Outreach

Columbus, OH — Standardbreds will be presented during the World Equestrian Games starting this Thursday (Sept. 30) at the International Equestrian Festival.

Held in downtown Lexington, this trade show is honoring the Standardbred with a “USTA Breed Appreciation Day.” Laura Harbour and her 16-year-old pacing mare Veruca Salt will be demonstrating in the EcoTrack Park ring at 1:30 p.m. in the Lexington Convention Center. The USTA will also have a booth that day, adjacent to the stall Veruca Salt will be housed in, to answer any questions about Standardbreds, harness racing and using Standardbreds as pleasure and competitive riding horses.

Starting Oct. 3, eight Standardbreds will be presenting 30 minute sessions during WEG at the Kentucky Horse Park in the Equine Village Arena. The schedule for demonstrations is as follows:

Sunday, Oct. 3 – 5:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 4 – 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 5 – 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 6 – 12:30 p.m.

The following horses and their owners are coming from across the country to participate in the demonstrations:

Horse-Owner-Discipline
Draken-Kathleen Haak (PA)-Pleasure Driving
Dreamy Starlet-Elizabeth Tewksbury (ME)-Jumping
Jambalyabar Man-Helene Gregory (NJ)-Jumping
Pro Gem-Jennifer and Steven Sperry (CA)-Combined Driving Events
Road Kar-Lena O’Brien (NJ)-Hunter Under Saddle
Sea The Gray-SPHO-FL (FL)-Dressage
Veruca Salt-Laura Harbour (KY)-Western Pleasure
Whiz Bang-Tina Bombardo (FL)-Dressage

The USTA is also co-sponsoring a booth in the Trade Show at the Kentucky Horse Park in association with New Vocations Racehorse Adoption for the duration of WEG.

The “Standardbreds on Stage” would like to thank their trip sponsors: Callaway Farms, Finn Tack, JH Harness and SPHO-FL for donating shavings, blankets, halters and human logo-wear for this event.

To learn more about the horses participating during the World Equestrian Games, click here for a brochure.