What:              “Test Drive an Arabian” Event

When:             Wednesday, August 1, 2-4pm

Where:            Heritage Square at EXPO New Mexico

Who:               The public is invited – young and old

Details:           The 15th Annual Youth National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse

Show (Youth Nationals) is taking place this week at EXPO New Mexico. From children to adults, the public is encouraged to come “test drive” an Arabian horse with the opportunity to get up close and personal on Wednesday afternoon.

Three horses (two Purebred Arabian and one Half Arabian) will be on hand for spectators to meet. They will be saddled so you can find out how it feels to ride an Arabian horse (all horses will be escorted and are very tame), or you can approach the horse and comb its mane.

* This will be a fantastic photo opportunity as children and adults meet these horses.

This year's show will feature 1,000-plus horses from across the United States and Canada, competing in 128 classes in a wide variety of disciplines. Competition starts Saturday July 28, and runs through Saturday, August 4. Classes run from 8am - 10pm each day and are divided into morning, afternoon and evening sessions. Admission to all performances and classes is free for the duration of the show.

According to the Visit Albuquerque, this event brings approximately 5,000 attendees to Albuquerque generating 2,553 room nights and more than $4.4 million in direct spending.

For more information on the Youth Nationals, go to www.ArabianHorses.org/Competitions.

AHA is a major equine association serving 44,000 members across North America. It registers and maintains a database of more than one million Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses and administers more than $3 million in annual prize money. AHA produces championship events, recognizes close to 400 Arabian horse shows and distance rides and provides activities and programs that promote breeding and ownership. For information about Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses, call 303-696-4500, e-mail info@ArabianHorses.org or visit ArabianHorses.org.