Best Equestrian Events in the United States
If you’re a fellow horse lover, you probably take every chance to spend time around those magnificent beings. With the plethora of riding disciplines, you have many opportunities to see the biggest and best competitions. From horse racing to breed-specific events, here are the best equestrian events in the United States that you don’t want to miss!
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a top-ranked stakes race for 3-year-old Thoroughbred horses. The race is one and one-quarter miles long on the dirt racetrack at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Twenty horses compete in the Kentucky Derby, and those that make it to the Derby are the top-ranked Thoroughbred racehorses in the world. The stakes are high, as the Kentucky Derby winning purse is $2 million!
This prestigious race takes place on the first Saturday in May each year. On average, this elite equestrian competition pulls in a crowd of 155,000 people. The Kentucky Derby debuted in 1875 and is America's longest continually held sporting event.
This year, the Kentucky Derby is happening on Saturday, May 6th.
Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event
The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event is the first and longest-running annual five-star eventing competition in North America that occurs the last weekend in April each year at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. The slogan for the Kentucky Three-Day Event is well-fitting: “The Best Weekend All Year”. The multi-day competition is an exciting event featuring the world's best horses and riders contending for $400,000 in prize money.
Eventing is an equestrian sport with three phases: cross country, show jumping, and dressage. The horse and rider pairs that qualify for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event are the best in the world, as this event helps competitors prepare for the Olympic Games and World Championships.
The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event is April 27-30, 2023.
All-American Quarter Horse Congress
The All-American Quarter Horse Congress is the world's largest single-breed horse show. In 2022, about 28,000 Quarter Horses entered the competition held at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio. This equestrian event attracts around 650,000 people each year and generates close to $410 million in the central Ohio economy.
The Ohio Quarter Horse Association, a state affiliate of the American Quarter Horse Association, hosts the All-American Quarter Horse Congress. The organization's mission is to protect and promote the Quarter Horse and the interests of owners, breeders, exhibitors, and enthusiasts.
Quarter Horse and rider pairs will compete in various disciplines at this equestrian event, from western pleasure and trail to hunter jumper. Across these breed-specific events, more than $3.5 million is awarded in cash prizes.
This year, the All-American Quarter Horse Congress will happen from September 26 to October 22, 2023.
Hampton Classic Horse Show
The Hampton Classic Horse Show is one of the largest outdoor horse shows in the United States. Located in Bridgehampton, New York, this equestrian event is a premier destination for horsepeople and a much-anticipated stop on the summer tour for competitors. The Hampton Classic Horse Show has been running for five decades and is in a class of its own in the hunter-jumper world.
Top equestrians worldwide compete for more than $1 million in prize money. Competitors in this event are everywhere, from national champion hunter competitors to Olympic medalists to children and adult amateurs alike. Approximately 1,400 horses enter the Hampton Classic annually in more than 200 separate competitions.
The Hampton Classic Horse Show has become a must-see showcase event involving the country’s top riders. In addition to watching the world-class equestrian events, spectators can enjoy more than 80 onsite shops, international food options, and daily kid's activities.
The Hampton Classic runs from August 27 through September 3, 2023.