OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — It's a type of horse show seen around the world and this April it is coming to Omaha for the eighth year. The Burlington Capital International Omaha will feature horses and their riders showing off their skills along with other family-friendly events.
24-year-old Caleb Cooney is an assistant trainer at Ponca Hills Farm. “I started riding Western when I was a little kid at summer camp and that's kinda where my love for it started,” he said. Cooney also competes in equestrian show jumping. “It doesn't happen overnight it's definitely something you have to keep working at because you are working with an animal as your partner and they also have minds of their owns,” said Cooney.
Jumping is just one of the Olympic disciplines that will be on display at this year's Burlington Capital International Omaha. The other showcase will be dressage, originally used to prepare war horses. "Dressage today is more concentrated on developing the athletic ability of the horse and developing the range of motion in its gates and developing its ability to carry its weight on its hind legs,” said dressage trainer, Shan Lawton.
Mike West is the CEO of the Omaha Equestrian Foundation, the group that hosts this show. He said the show doesn't just highlight globally skilled riders but makes the sport of horseback riding more recognized. “Our mission as an organization is to continue to grow this sport and to partner with local barns who are growing at a grassroots level,” said West.
Cooney said a show of skills like this in Omaha exposes the challenges and rewards of the sport. “It's a long process but it's always so worth it, there's lots of positives that come out of it,” he said.
The Burlington Capital International Omaha takes place April 4-7 at the CHI Health Center. Tickets for the event start at $12. The event includes several vendors from across the country with items such as jewelry, art and clothing boutiques. New this year is a wine grotto where shoppers can wine taste.
The year’s Triple Crown “Horse Discovery Zone” will have a demonstration arena, interactive activities like mini jumps and a gallery of breeds where guests can meet and touch a variety of horses from around the world, including the smallest and tallest horses in Nebraska.
Ticketed events start Friday. Tickets to all four events start around $100. Jumping package starts at $75. Dressage package starts at $50. Individual tickets start at $12. For more info click here.
Friday, April 5th
4:30 p.m. – Dressage Foundation Showcase (educational clinic)
7:30 p.m. – Init2Winit Speed Jumping Series Final and “Salute to Military Members, Veterans and First Responders”
Saturday, April 6th
12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. – Dressage Team Challenge Freestyle Final
7 p.m. – International Omaha Grand Prix Jumping
