Lexington, Ky. – Dec. 17, 2018 – As the premier horse show management company, Kentucky Horse Shows LLC would like to acknowledge some of the generous sponsors who help make the show series such an immense success each year, including Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, one of the oldest and largest equine veterinary practices in the world.
Founded in 1876, the renowned equine medical institute based in Lexington, Kentucky offers a staff with qualifications unparalleled by any single non-university veterinary group in the equine industry. Hagyard veterinarians have dedicated themselves to the health and well-being of the horse.
Each year at the Kentucky Horse Shows, show jumpers vie for top honors as they compete in the popular Hagyard Challenge Series that takes place starting in May and culminates in September at the Kentucky National Horse Show. The 2018 Hagyard Challenge Series consisted of seven grand prix classes held during the 2018 show series at the Kentucky Horse Park.
This year’s winner of the Hagyard Challenge Series was Ireland’s Lorcan Gallagher, who earned a $50,000 Leading Rider Bonus cash prize presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. His consistent results throughout the Hagyard Challenge Series were recognized in November when he received the coveted award at the National Horse Show.
A rider and trainer at Sweet Oak Farm based in Wellington, Florida and Lexington, Kentucky, Gallagher was awarded both first and third place during August’s $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic riding Hunters Conlypso II and Charlie, respectively.
“It’s so great. I wasn’t going to totally chase it, but after getting a few early results that did become a bit of a goal,” Gallagher said. “To be able to pull it off at the end was really nice. We showed at basically every show here. It’s great fences, always good course designers there, and the footing is always really good. It was great to be able to show at home basically every few weeks in the summer.”
Rounding out the top three places in the 2018 Hagyard Challenge Series rankings was Alex Granato in second place while Darragh Kenny took home the third place ribbon.
“Thank you to Hagyard for their support and to Kentucky Horse Shows,” Gallagher continued. “They really do a great job at running the shows, they’re very hospitable. And then of course, the team at Sweet Oak, Shane and Ali Sweetnam, just thank you to them for their support and the horses.”
As the year draws to a close, the team at Kentucky Horse Shows LLC is proud to have Hagyard Equine Medical Institute as a generous supporter and sponsor. The team is grateful for their many contributions and is looking forward to another great Hagyard Challenge Series in 2019.
The 2018 Hagyard Challenge Series would like to thank its title sponsor, MWI Animal Health, and its presenting sponsor, Zoetis, as well as Dean Dorton Allen Ford, PLLC, Audi of Lexington, Pike & Preston, Sallee Horse Vans, Central Kentucky Ag Credit and Hagyard Pharmacy who helped make the thrilling series happen once again.
With more than 50 veterinarians and 142 years behind it, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is the oldest and one of the largest private equine veterinary practices in the world. Based in Lexington, Kentucky, the facility, located across the street from the Kentucky Horse Park, boasts superior ambulatory services, the world-renowned Davidson Surgery Center, McGee Medicine and Fertility Centers, Hagyard Laboratory, Hagyard Sports Medicine & Podiatry Center, and hyperbaric medicine facilities. For more information about the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, please visit www.hagyard.com.
For more information about the Kentucky Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.
