World’s Championship Horse Show Virtual Town Hall Invitation

Published: March 5, 2024 Updated: June 4, 2024

With less than six months until the world’s most prestigious Saddlebred show, the announcement of a new governing body has positioned all levels of leadership at Kentucky Venues to deliver a great show this August. All those working to make the 121st show successful have greatly appreciated our community's positive support.

This week, we will provide details on the upcoming show to all interested parties in three easily accessible ways. First, Equine Sports Council (ESC) and Kentucky Venues will update readers on the most mentioned topics in this article. Second, we are hosting a virtual town hall this Thursday that you’re invited to attend (details at the bottom of this article). Lastly, if you have questions, we’re all ears. Please submit questions you have to WCHS management here.

In no particular order, below is information addressing the six most frequently mentioned topics asked ahead of the 2024 event.

Facility & Show Management Topics

Topics addressed by Kentucky Venues

Generator(s) for Tents

o A dedicated generator will be installed for each tent, and a backup generator will also be on-site in the event of unexpected power interruption.

Safe Sport

o Abuse of any kind is not tolerated by show management of the World’s Championship Horse Show. Kentucky Venues hosts hundreds of local, regional, and national competitions each year that are not affiliated with Safe Sport. Our agency will continue to operate safe shows.

Ambulance & First Aid Preparedness

o First Aid will be scheduled in Freedom Hall during show days, and an ambulance will be stationed onsite 24/7 from August 16 through 24, ensuring safe practices and show dates.

Governance Topics

Topics addressed by Equine Sports Council

Capabilities and Preparation for 2024 WCHS

o ESC was birthed in 2019 from the need expressed by trainers and exhibitors to grow the non-Olympic horse industry. It aims to provide rules and standards, marketing, and support to our network of horse shows emphasizing integrity, sportsmanship, and safety. The World’s Championship Horse Show is a high-caliber event, and we have brought in additional industry professionals to deliver meaningful event governance.

Rules

ESC has identified key industry advisors that will collaborate in the release of ESC’s 2024 Rules & Guidelines. This advisory team will review sports concepts for the individual breeds and update and add class specifications for Saddlebreds, Hackneys, and Roadsters. These additional class specifications will be available in the coming weeks and published by March 31.
ESC’s 2024 General Rules & Guidelines DRAFT defines roles and responsibilities and establishes ESC’s independent hearing process structure, which can be viewed here.
General Rules help to define conduct outside the ring, which can be viewed here.

Drug Testing

ESC has contracted with an ISO-certified lab for drug testing. ESC is also consulting with Veterinarians in our industry to advise on the appropriate use of therapeutic drugs and medications relevant to our breeds and disciplines. The draft of the Drugs & Medications Policy can be reviewed here.

Virtual Town Hall Invitation Information

Who: Hear from Kentucky Venues Management, Officer & Co-Founder of Equine Sports Council Jackie Hale, and World’s Championship Horse Show Management.

What: On the heels of announcing the Equine Sports Council (ESC) as the new governing body of the World’s Championship Horse Show, Kentucky Venues is hosting a town hall open to all interested participants on March 7, 2024, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. ET. In creating this opportunity, Kentucky Venues and ESC will address questions, important facts, and key insights related to the most asked questions from participants. Participants are invited to submit questions here beginning today through the end of the event.

When: Thursday, March 7, 2024 from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 ET