This week marks the beginning of the Kentucky Horse Shows at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Each week of the Kentucky Horse Shows offers exciting competition, including the race to the Leading Rider Award. $50,000 will be awarded to the rider accumulating the most points in the Hagyard Challenge Series Leading Rider Award.

Sponsors of the $50,000 Leading Rider Award include Dean, Dorton, & Ford; Pfizer Animal Health; Hagyard Flex-Tra 200; Kathleen Sullivan, CIMA, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney; Turf Town Properties; Audi of Lexington and The Spa at Griffin Gate Resort. Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is pleased to announce the 2010 addition of presenting sponsor AdequanRto the Hagyard Challenge Series Leading Rider Award Program .

One of the nation’s leaders in the fight against degenerative joint disease in equines, the veterinarian-trusted name of AdequanR (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) has joined Hagyard Equine Medical Institute as the Presenting Sponsor of the Leading Rider Award. “This sponsorship opportunity makes so much sense stated Allyn Mann, Sr. Manager at Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the makers of AdequanR. Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is a long time supporter of AdequanR, and one of the largest users of the medication in the country. This sponsorship is really a win-win for both organizations”.

The Hagyard Challenge Series is a show jumping competition that consists of five grand prix events, beginning May 13 and concluding August 20, 2010. The award will be presented following the $50,000 Hagyard CSI-W Lexington Grand Prix on August 20,2010. All grand prix classes will offer the same number of points per placing regardless of the amount of the prize money awarded. The Hagyard Challenge Series point system will be: 1st place-250 points, 2nd-170 points, 3rd-120 points, 4th-100 points, 5th-80 points, 6th-70 points, 7th-60 points, 8th-50 points, 9th-40 points, 10th-30 points, 11th-20 points, and 12th-10 points. In 2009, Hagyard Challenge Series Leading Rider was presented to former Olympian and nine-time AGA Rider of the Year, Margie Engle.

Engle has always enjoyed showing in Kentucky, and looks forward to the Hagyard Challenge Series. Engle commented, “I really love showing in Kentucky I think it has the best facilities in our country. It is fantastic, so I am planning on showing there as much as I can. The footing is great, we have preferred stabling, there are lots of places to go ride, the horses seem to really enjoy riding on the outside course, and it is just a really wonderful facility. The other nice part is that they have the indoor ring if needed.” She continued, “The Hagyard Challenge Series is a great series, it is a really good incentive to show in Kentucky because it gives the riders a chance to go for something themselves, and it is kind of nice that the riders get a bonus. It is a great incentive, and I think it is great that Hagyard is putting the money behind the horse show.”

Dates of the Hagyard Challenge Series are as follows: May 13: $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic Grand Prix May 20: $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, CSI 2* July 29: $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic August 5: $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic August 20: $50,000 Hagyard CSI-W Lexington Grand Prix

About Presenting Sponsor AdequanR:

Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc., makers of AdequanR (Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan) and EquiphenR (Phenylbutazone) Paste, continue to support the veterinarian profession and equine organizations that are responsible for the health and well being of the horse. Education is the key to better health care and the veterinarian and horse owner can access resources at the following web site www.adequan.com to learn more about equine joint health.

About Hagyard Equine Medical Institute:

Hagyard Equine Medical Institute of Lexington, KY, was founded in 1876. The practice, which is located directly across from the Kentucky Horse Park, is one of the oldest and largest equine veterinary practices in the world and is known for its excellence in veterinary medicine. The Hagyard Sport Horse Program, a specialized department at the practice, serves the nation’s top sport horse athletes and brings the same level of excellent care to high performance horses that the institute has provided for the race horse and breeding industries for decades.

The facility at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute offers 13 Digital Radiology systems, 1.5 Tesla Siemens Open MRI, Nuclear Scintigraphy, a high speed treadmill, an on-site laboratory, an on-site pharmacy, full surgical services, 24-hour ambulance and emergency services, and Hyperbaric Medicine. The practice has performed veterinary medicine for more than 133 years and is currently composed of over 60 experienced veterinarians, with 12 board certifications in specialty areas of Medicine, Surgery, Critical Care, and Theriogenology.

For more information on the practice at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, please go to www.hagyard.com .

For more information about the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows please go to www.kentuckyhorseshows.com .

Adequan

Hagyard Challenge Series Leading Rider Award Hagyard Challenge Series

Photo Credit. Hagyard Challenge Series Logo. Photo C 2010 Courtesy of Client, Logos provided courtesy of their respective owners. This photo may be used free of charge only in relation to this press release.