Ariat International will be the "Official Apparel and Footwear Sponsor" at the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games. Terry Johnson, Vice President of Sales for the WEG 2010 Foundation, made this announcement at the recent "Halfway There" celebration which marked exactly two years until the equestrian competition begins at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Civic and business leaders, volunteers, and employees of the equine associations at the Horse Park were in a spirited mood as the stiff breezes blew that day. They gathered just inside the Horse Park's under-construction, climate-controlled arena to hear details of the two-year countdown to the competition.
"You are in a building where tens of thousands of dreams will happen in the years ahead," John Nicholson, Director of the Horse Park, told the crowd.
Other speakers included Mayor James Newberry, Kentucky's First Lady Jane Beshear, CEO of U.S. Equestrian Federation John Long, and Olympic rider Beezie Madden.
"We are very excited to announce Ariat as a major sponsor of the 2010 Games because part of our goal is to partner with top name brand sponsors," Johnson said. "Ariat's dedication to horse sport and their reputation for performance footwear and apparel inside and outside of the equine industry makes them a perfect fit."
Ariat International, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of innovative performance equestrian footwear and apparel - both English and western styles - - and handbags and belts. The California-based company is named for Secretariat.
It began in 1990 when Beth Cross and Pam Parker decided to find a way to make both English and western riding boots that were not stiff and hard on a rider's feet. After consulting with designers, engineers, and leading riders, Ariat shipped its first pair of boots in 1993.
Now Ariat products are sold around the world in more than 4,000 retail outlets. Bob Mickler's, the Boot Store, Tractor Supply, Zumfoot, New Way Boot Shop, Le Cheval, Ltd., and Sportsman's Warehouse are among the area stores which carry Ariat products. National catalog retailers which sell Ariat items include Orvis, Norm Thompson, Dover Saddlery, Bit of Britain, Cabelas, Territory Ahead, and Back In The Saddle.
As part of its sponsorship agreement Ariat will be the title sponsor of the 2010 Games Volunteer Program. The company will provide apparel to the Games' 8,000 volunteers and other officials.
Ariat joins previously-announced sponsors (costs not released) which include Rolex, American Farriers Association, Fortune Commercial Properties, L.V. Harkness & Company, Northside RVs, Premier Equestrian, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, Equestrian Magazine, Kentucky Monthly.
The title sponsor is, of course, Alltech, Inc. Special Partners include All Pro Championships, Bluegrass Mailing, Catalyst Repository Systems, DigiKnow, Doug Prather, and Leroy Neiman.
Other WEG news announced included the competition's 16 day schedule,
the tickets-on-sale-to-the-public date (September 25, 2009), and Blue Grass Airport's designation as the Official Airport.
Guests at the Halfway There celebration donned hard hats and toured the arena-to-be. Bare concrete forms suggested where aisles and seats that will be packed with cheering spectators will be. Looking like a giant's abandoned toys, bulldozers and a large trailer occupied the dirt floor where many of the world's best horses and riders will compete.
Attractive new banners with pictographs of all eight of the WEG disciplines set the celebration's tone: In two years history will be made here. Not only will 2010 be the first time the World Equestrian Games have been held outside of Europe, but also the first time all eight disciplines have competed at the same site.
Jane Beshear told the crowd how volunteers had made the Ryder Cup such a successful event. She added, "We need you to be a part of this whole event that's going to put Kentucky on top of the world."
The volunteers' T-shirts sported four horseshoes, with two crossed out, to represent time remaining. Judging by the crowd's enthusiasm and the concrete progress of the arena, Lexington and the Kentucky Horse Park will be ready for WEG 2010.