Hats Off to Kentucky's Equine Industry Day Silent Auction: Bid on FireHorse Rescue & Other Amazing Donations
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Ashley Vogel (USA) and Namaste Van Het Eyckeveld, winner of the 2024 $50,000 Rood and Riddle Grand Prix during Kentucky Horse Park’s annual “Hats Off Day.” (Photo by Shawn McMillan 2024)
Lexington, KY (July 15, 2025) - Hat's Off to Kentucky Day, set for July 26, 2025, is a salute to the Kentucky Horse Industry and its impact on the state. Celebrated at the iconic Kentucky Horse Park, the day offers fun family activities, including arts and crafts for children, horse and pony rides, interactive educational booths, equestrian performance demonstrations, $50,000 Rood and Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix show jumping competition, and a silent auction featuring an amazing array of equestrian items, jewelry, travel packages, artwork, exclusive experiences, and more, all benefitting the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and the Kentucky Equine Adoption Center.
For the first time, the silent auction will include one FireHorse Rescue Kit, a first of its kind barn fire safety and horse evacuation tool designed by firefighters and equestrians. Alongside everything from racing memorabilia, a University of Kentucky Game Day Experience, elegant silk scarves, Jockey Club Experiences at Churchill Downs, horse trailers, and a Woodford Reserve Collector's Set, bidders can now add FireHorse Rescue's Original Kit to the list of donations, with bids being accepted now through July 26.
View FireHorse Rescue's Auction Donation
Click to learn more about Hat's Off Day
About Hat's Off Day & the Rood & Riddle Grand Prix
Hats Off Day is held at the Kentucky Horse Park as a salute to the Kentucky Horse Industry, and includes a day of free family fun, equestrian experiences and performances, and the Rood & Riddle Grand Prix show jumping class.
Admission: FREE
Activities begin at 3 PM
- Hat Give-Away
- Pony & Horse Rides
- Inflatable Obstacle Courses
- Arts & Crafts
- Educational Booths
- Equestrian Performances
Stadium Activities begin at 6:45 PM
- Equine Demonstrations
- Rood & Riddle $50,000 Kentucky Grand Prix
Join Rood & Riddle and experience the Grand Prix in their VIP Tent for a great evening of show jumping and hospitality! With a prime view of the competition arena, guests can enjoy delicious food and drinks while watching top riders and horses compete. The evening also features live and silent auctions, with proceeds benefiting the Kentucky Equine Adoption Center and the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation. It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow equestrians, support great causes, and enjoy an exciting night of sport in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Be part of the VIP Hats Off Day Experience! Tables seat 8 guests.
Click here for Tickets to the Rood & Riddle VIP Tent
About Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital
Rood & Riddle is a renowned equine hospital and veterinary practice, founded by Drs. William Rood and Tom Riddle. Their facilities are known for providing advanced medical and surgical care to horses, with locations in Lexington, KY, Saratoga Springs, NY, and Wellington, FL. Rood & Riddle offers a wide range of services, including surgery, internal medicine, advanced diagnostic imaging, podiatry, and reproduction. They are known for their expertise in treating various conditions, from routine checkups to complex medical and surgical cases. The hospitals are equipped with advanced technology for diagnostics and treatment, including MRI, CT scans, and specialized surgical suites. Rood & Riddle is a globally recognized name in equine veterinary medicine, respected for its innovative procedures and dedication to horse care. They have a strong presence in Kentucky, New York, and Florida, serving various sectors of the equine industry.
Learn more at RoodandRiddle.com
About the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation
Since its inception in 1985, the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation has raised over $40 million, helping make the Kentucky Horse Park the leading equestrian facility of its kind in the world. The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation supports the Park’s efforts to remain a global leader in equestrian competition at all levels of the sport, impacting the greater international equestrian community. From caring for resident horses, to planting trees, to renovating facilities, to serving children, the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation's passion for the Park supports this property as a venue for honoring the horse, but also an institution with a deep impact on the community and one of the region’s greatest cultural gems.
Learn more at KHPFoundation.org
About Kentucky Equine Adoption Center
The Kentucky Equine Adoption Center (KYEAC) is one of the largest all-breed equine rescues in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Nestled on 72 acres in the rolling hills of Jessamine County, KYEAC is the home and training ground for between 35-50 equines at all stages of rehabilitation and retraining. We are not a sanctuary; part of our mission is to find the perfect home and purpose for all horses - from high-level dressage to therapeutic equine companions, trail horses to pasture ponies.
About FireHorse Rescue Kits
FireHorse Innovation - Barn Fire Safety and Evacuation Solutions for Equestrians
FireHorse Rescue Kits, LLC was founded by career firefighters and lifelong equestrians seeking to bridge the gap between daily barn life and fire safety. Every kit contains a selection of items to be used in a fire or other emergency, and the 100% made-in-the-USA case contains custom foam to protect and prevent damage. Designed to be hung in the main barn breeze way, FireHorse Rescue Kits are an easy way to ensure that every equestrian in the barn is prepared for a potentially dangerous situation.
One of the kit's integral components are patent pending equine blindfolds, developed specifically for use in emergency situations. These horse blindfolds wear like a fly mask and restrict the horse’s vision up to 80%. During fire panic, horses have been known to refuse to leave their stalls or to return to a burning structure seeking safety. FireHorse's blindfolds are intended to allow equestrians or first responders to remove animals safely and intended to reduce injury and panic by removing visual stimulation. They are additionally useful for trailering, for horses sensitive to needles, and to reduce panic when waking up from anesthesia. Each kit also includes two handheld, point & spray canned extinguishers. These are easy to use for any one, from children to senior citizens, and perfect for small fires, especially hay, shavings, or feed room flames. An excellent alternative to more cumbersome, full sized extinguishers, these also require less maintenance and are readily available in the case. During fires, the heat can melt or make latches, door knobs, locks, and other metal items impossible to handle or touch. Heat resistant to 1472 degrees and flame retardant, the gloves in every FireHorse Rescue Kit are made of a mix of breathable cotton knitting and double layered fiber with silicone for grip and fire resistance.
These are just a few of the innovative items found in each Rescue Kit. For a full list, visit www.FireHorseRescue.com/whatsinside
FireHorse Rescue Kits can also be found protecting horses, humans, animals, and property at the Kentucky Horse Park, Wellington International, TerraNova Equestrian Center, the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, and private barns across the United States.
For more information on FireHorse Rescue Kits, visit www.FireHorseRescue.com
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Media Contact:
Holly Johnson
Equinium Sports Marketing, LLC
www.Equinium.com
holly@equinium.com
+ 1 954 205 7992
