News/Press Release

On Monday, April 7, a formal groundbreaking ceremony took place under sunny skies at the site of the new Arabian Horse Galleries addition to the Kentucky Horse Park's International Museum of the Horse. The ceremony marked the beginning of construction for what will be one of the most significant permanent additions ever made to the Kentucky Horse Park.

"I challenge all of you here today," said John Nicholson, Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Park, "when you're here in 2010 for the World Equestrian Games, to try to find one horse that doesn't trace its ancestry to the Arabian."

A crowd of nearly 100 people gathered for the ceremony, including dignitaries such as Jack Kelly, President of the 2010 World Games Foundation and First Lady Jane Beshear, an accomplished horse woman and active supporter of the Kentucky Horse Park.

Nicholson was joined at the podium by Bill Cooke, Director of the International Museum of the Horse; the First Lady; and Bob Fauls, Chairman of the Purebred Arabian Trust. Also present were: Howard Pike, Co-Chairman of the Arabian Horse Galleries; Howard Shenk, Executive Director of the Arabian Horse Owners Foundation; Anna Bishop, Executive Director of The Pyramid Society; Dr. Donald Jaco, Gina Gibson of the International Museum of the Horse,

"There isn't a more appropriate place for the Arabian Horse Galleries to call its permanent home than the Kentucky Horse Park," said Fauls. "And there isn't a more capable, passionate group of people to entrust it to than Bill Cooke or [Assistant Director] Gina Gibson. We're excited to share the story of the Arabian horse with the world."

Construction began the day following the ceremonies, and is set to be finished by the end of 2008 for exhibit move-in through May 2009 and opening to the public June 2009.

The Arabian Horse Galleries is the most comprehensive permanent museum dedicated to the Arabian horse ever developed. It is being funded and supported by the Purebred Arabian Trust and the global Arabian horse community.

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The Purebred Arabian Trust exists for the purpose of aiding, promoting, and fostering the preservation and use of purebred Arabian horses and the Arabian breed and to engage in undertakings incidental to or designed to further promote these objectives.