The 2020 Kentucky State Fair and World’s Championship Horse Show is still slated to be held in August as scheduled, August 22-29 However, some adjustments have been made to the qualifying guidelines for this year.

The Qualifying Period, which has historically been in place for the Pleasure, Show Pleasure, Country Pleasure (including Western and Hunt) and Park divisions, will remain the same, July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020. Points from shows held after June 30, 2020 will count for 2021.

Qualification requirements are dependent on when horse shows are able to resume.

If shows resume in May: 2 shows and 4 classes

If shows resume in June: 1 show and 2 classes

It is important to note that even horses without any shows or points for 2020 may enter. For classes that are over-filled, first the points, then the number of shows, will be used to determine the entries accepted. However, if the class is not filled, then all other horses entered (those with no points or classes) will be placed in a separate pool from which a lottery drawing will be conducted to determine the entries accepted. This drawing will be conducted by the Horse Show Advisory Committee, not management.

If shows resume in July, all are eligible to compete. If a class is over-filled, the following will be used to determine which horses are able to show:

1. Horses who have met the qualifying requirements of 3 shows and 6 classes
2. Horses who have met the qualifying requirements of 2 shows and 4 classes
3. Horses who have met the qualifying requirements of 1 show and 2 classes
4. Remaining horses will be chosen by drawing until the class is filled. Refer to page 34 in the 2019 prize list under STALL/ENTRY LIMITATIONS.

If the WCHS show isn’t held in 2020 then in 2021 for each division with a Junior class, i.e. Five-Gaited, Three-Gaited, Fine Harness, Park and Park Pleasure, there will be a Denver Junior class held for those horses that were Junior horses in 2020. These Denver Junior classes would be held only for the year 2021.

The County Fair class qualifications changes will be addressed with the Horse Show Committee Chairperson of the Kentucky Association of Fairs & Horse Shows the first of May. Any decision made will be immediately released.

The USEF is currently working to put together the requirements that meet the government standard during this time in order to conduct horse shows. The World’s Championship Horse Show will notify exhibitors once these requirements are presented.