Published: October 08, 2008

Pennsylvania National Horse Show Opens Oct. 9

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Features Olympic Show Jumper Medalists, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff welcomed the 63rd Pennsylvania National Horse Show to the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, which runs from Oct. 9-18.

"We're pleased to welcome the Penn National back toHarrisburg," said Wolff. "The show boasts some of the nation's finest horses and riders, and it's a great way to showcasePennsylvania's equine industry, which contributes about $12 billion to our economy."

The show features more than 1,200 horses and riders competing in 22 national championships for $350,000 in prizes. The signature event is the $75,000 Budweiser Grand Prix de Penn National, Oct. 18, featuring riders fromthe United States,Canada andIreland - including several 2008 Olympic gold and silver show jumping medalists.

Another highlight will be the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride, which will be making one of only four appearances in the country. Held the final four nights of the show, the exhibition shows 32 perfectly matched horses and riders executing intricate figures and cavalry drills choreographed to music.

Since the Penn National began in 1945, the event has raised $1.5 million for youth literacy, educational, therapeutic and recreational programs through the Harrisburg Kiwanis Youth Foundation and the Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation.

For more information, visit www.panational.org or call 717-770-0222.

CONTACT:

Jean Kummer

(717) 787-5085

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture