High-Stepping Horse Shows Headline Summer Events in Shelbyville, KY

SHELBYVILLE, Ky. - June 16, 2016 - PRLog -- This summer, horse lovers won't want to be anywhere else but the American Saddlebred Capital of the World - Shelbyville/Simpsonville/Shelby County, KY - to witness the excitement, grace and athleticism of beautiful horses as they compete in two high profile shows. See www.VisitShelbyKy.com for a complete calendar of events.

Horsin' around
Several equine events take place in July and August at the Shelby County Fairgrounds, including the 2016 Kentucky Classic Paso Fino Show, which gets underway Friday through Sunday on July 8-10. This All Paso/ United States Equestrian Federation Local N-rated show features the Paso Fino, a "melting pot" breed of horse with a smooth, rhythmic and purposeful gait that is often a blend of the best of Puerto Rican and Colombian bloodlines. The breed dates back more than 500 years to the time of the Conquistadors when the horse was known as "Los Caballos de Paso Fino" - the horse with the fine walk.

The world-class Shelbyville Horse Show is a four-day event showcasing the "peacock of the horse world" that takes place 7-9 p.m. Aug. 3-6, also at the Shelby County Fairgrounds. The Horseman's Club opens at 6 p.m. Tickets are $45; Main Gate tickets are $5 per night or $15/pin admittance for all four nights. Preceding the horse show are Jubilee events that begin on July 24 with a multi-day Youth Art Show at the Historic Courthouse and, on July 25, an ice cream eating contest and a street party concert at Veteran's Park. www.ShelbyvilleHorseShow.com

"Saddlebred horses move and go like they're breathing fire, yet they have to be trained to be mannerly enough for anyone to ride them," said saddlebred horse breeder Hoppy Bennett, owner of Undulata Horse Farm in Shelbyville, of the breed known for its grace and athleticism.

Concerts, tractor pulls

Other summertime events in Shelbyville include free live music concerts, featuring a variety of musicians and genres, at a Street Party Concert at Shelbyville's Veteran's Park on Sat., Aug. 20, and at Talon Winery, 4-7 p.m. Saturdays now through October. Pack a lawn chair and blanket, select a bottle of Talon wine and settle in for a concert in the vineyard.

Enjoy dinner and a concert at Smith-Berry Vineyards & Winery on these nights: June 11 - Tymes Band (soul and classic rock of the 60s-70s); June 25 - Leo Night & Nobody's Bizzness (Motown, R&B, soul); July 9 - Jimmy Davis Band (rock, country, blues, funk); July 23 - The Decades (classic rock, soul, R&B); Aug. 13 - Rigbys (Beatles Tribute Band); and Aug. 27 - 14th Anniversary Party with Lunar Beach House (a Jimmy Buffett tribute band).

Two tractor pulls also take place, both at the Shelby County Fairgrounds: The Antique Tractor Pulls for Salt River Antique Power and Central Kentucky Antique Pullers will enter the ring on Sat., Aug. 13 and 27.

Plan a long weekend to catch all the summertime fun. Choose from a number of well-known chain hotels, two lodges ideal for large families and small groups, and several bed and breakfast inns, including Yellow Carriage House, Blues End Farm and the Loft on Main. See all there is to do at www.VisitShelbyKy.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Katie E. Fussenegger, CTP, Executive Director, KatieF@VisitShelbyKy.com, 502-633-6388

ShelbyKY Tourism Commission & Visitors Bureau, www.VisitShelbyKy.com

HI- and LOW-RES photos available.

ABOUT SHELBYKY (http://www.visitshelbyky.com/) │ Tucked between Louisville and Frankfort, Ky., Shelbyville/Simpsonville/Shelby County (ShelbyKY) form a community of small-town charm and world-class equestrian events. The American Saddlebred Capital of the World is home to 90-plus historic Saddlebred horse farms and breeding and training facilities where visitors can go behind-the-scenes for a rare peek into the world of these captivating show horses. ShelbyKY's dining landscape includes culinary icons Old Stone Inn and Claudia Sanders Dinner House; overnight choices include a number of brand name chain hotels, group lodgings and bed and breakfast inns. Outdoors adventure includes water sports (fishing, canoeing, paddle boating), horseback riding, golf and fall-fun pumpkin patches and corn mazes. A pastoral gem with rural roads and uptown downtowns, ShelbyKY is also known as Design Destination for its wealth of interior design, antique, home accessory and furniture shops, including the highly regarded Wakefield-Scearce Galleries. Here too is Kentucky's only designer outlet mall, the Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass. Niche.com ranked Shelbyville No. 1 on its "Best Towns to Raise a Family in Kentucky" and among the best places in the U.S. to live and work. Movoto.com named Shelbyville as one of the 10 safest places in Kentucky and one of America's most caring cities. www.facebook.com/VisitShelbyKY