Nan Harley, president of GAHA said, "This annual event is important for the exhibitors. Owners and riders earn qualifying points on a regional level. The Horse Park is an excellent venue to host the only Arabian local show in the Atlanta area."

Trainers, owners, riders and handlers admired the remarkable versatility of the Arabian horse. "Some breeds are known for performing well in one or two classes. Arabians are known for being able to show in numerous events," said one trainer.

Riders came from all over the Southeast with hopes to earn points in order to move toward regional competitions. Several horses have competed in the nationals. This year, the national competition for Arabian Horses will be held in Tulsa, Okla.

On July 25, the Georgia Arabian Horse Association will host a Community and All Breed Show. As with most of the horse shows in the park, the event is free and open to the public. To find out more about this event and others at the park, visit www.georgiahorsepark.com

Other upcoming events at the Horse Park include the Atlanta Summer Classic II, June 17- June 21, a world class show jumping event with over 800 horses in attendance. Admission is free. The $25,000 Hunter Classic Grand Prix on Saturday night is held in the Olympic Stadium. Show jumping is daily from Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. -6 p.m. For more information, visit www.classiccompany.com.

Another unique event is the Muddy Buddy 2009 Atlanta Muddy Buddy Run & Ride Series on June 20. The Muddy Buddy is a Soft Adventure Race in which teams of two complete a 6-mile course switching between mountain biking and running. Race entries can be purchased at www.muddybuddy.com, and the event is free to spectators. For more information, contact Kyle Ballard at 818-665-9662, or at kyle@mesp.com.