Louisville, KY - “I can appreciate a good horse of any breed, but to me the Saddlebred is the most beautiful, charismatic, and intelligent,” states trainer Danny Lockhart.”

Growing up in Whitstable of Kent County in England, his love of horses began at an early age, thanks to an aunt who had a riding center and boarding stables. Captivated by everything equine, Lockhart was riding all disciplines and types of horses he could by age 7. Chestfield Phoenix was the first saddle seat horse he ever rode, with Celtic Champagne, an American import, the first Saddlebred.

He ultimately went on to Monnington Morgans near Hereford, England, as the operation had a few imported American Saddlebreds they brought in from South Africa. Lockhart began working full time there after school, and the following summer made his first trip to the U.S. to see the show horse industry up close and personal, as there were very limited saddle seat shows with few entries in the UK, along with a lack of diversity in the divisions.

Upon returning to England, Lockhart ultimately realized that if he wanted to be truly involved with Saddlebreds professionally, he would need to make the U.S. his home, which was cemented with a trip to America with friend and South African-born trainer Lionel Ferreira. He apprenticed under Neil Visser, now a fellow international trainer, then it was on to Springfield, Kentucky’s legendary Kalarama Farm in 2006.

Along with his wife Kelly Self Lockhart, he is currently the trainer at Kalarama under Larry Hodge, and is extremely enthusiastic about his prospects at this year’s World’s Championship Horse Show (WCHS) in Louisville. “We’re taking 24 horses to WCHS this year and it’s thrilling with all the preparation leading up to show time, and of course, the elation and excitement that comes with participating in the show itself,” he says.

Lockhart feels the level of competition of the Kentucky State Fair World’s Championship Horse Show is very special, from both the perspectives of the horses and the people, notably the exuberant fans in attendance. And this year is Lockhart’s first opportunity to defend a World’s Grand Championship (WGC) title with 2018’s CH The Daily Lotter. He also won a 2009 Three Gaited WGC, along with various amateur World Championships throughout the years, and as the first British WGC winner of two divisions he states, “It is beyond exciting. I never dreamed that with the lack of American Saddlebreds in Britain I would be here, but here I am and I love it!”

For more information about Danny Lockhart and Kalamara Farm, visit https://www.facebook.com/Kalaramafarm/.