The prospect class offers Arabian enthusiasts the chance to evaluate the potential of talented and typey individuals using the European model. This highly competitive class offers a large jackpot and gives breeders and exhibitors a chance to show off the results of their efforts to create, prepare, and exhibit some of the most talented horses in the country. It would be hard to imagine the show without this class these days, and everyone loves to come and watch the jog-outs, if only to see the exhibitors’ fantastic clothing!

One of the most exciting testimonies to the Arabian breed is all of the various cross-entered horses who come to the Sport Horse National Show to compete each year. It is common for horses who excel in main ring events, like hunter pleasure or reining, to come to the Sport Horse Nationals and excel in this entirely different arena. It is also common to see horses entered at this show in a wide array of events, competing in hand one day, dressage on another, and then showing over fences to top it off. One of the most essential virtues of the Arabian breed is its versatility, and nowhere is this clearer than at the Sport Horse Nationals.

Carriage driving is a division that continues to attract new people, and WEC is an excellent venue for this kind of competition to shine. The freestyle dressage classes have also grown significantly, and exhibitors hope these classes will eventually be changed from exhibition classes to regular classes split by competition level.

The sport horse division offers many positive benefits to the Arabian horse industry. Having grown exponentially in size since the early days of its inclusion in the recognized classes offered by the Arabian Horse Association, this division provides exhibitors the chance to show the versatility of the Arabian breed and compete in a wide array of exciting and rewarding classes.

The Arabian breed is one of the most athletic and kind breeds of horse that has ever existed. The sport horse division demonstrates the breed’s athletic capabilities and showcases the Arabian horse’s ideal temperament in ways many other divisions cannot. The sport horse section of the Arabian industry immerses exhibitors in a genuinely family-friendly, amateur-first experience that would be hard to duplicate anywhere else.

The contract with WEC has been renewed through 2026 for the national horse show. Exhibitors who have fallen in love with WEC will not be forced to give up its amenities and perks for some time. The Arabian sport horse division shows every sign of continuing to thrive and grow, even amid economic challenges and the rising cost of hay, bedding, and other equine care essentials.

When you take a step back and look at the history of this division, it’s hard to imagine that these classes were ever held alongside the other main ring events. The Arabian sport horse deserves to have its own show circuit and its own decadent and special national show. The future of the Arabian sport horse looks bright, and the World Equestrian Center venue looms large in this important division’s success and continued promotion. The 2023 Sport Horse National Show was the culmination of the hard work and passion of many committed horse lovers, and this shone through in every aspect of the show experience for exhibitors and spectators alike!