Watch the Morgan Grand National and World Championship live online this week

Boogie Nights was the Classic Pleasure Saddle champion at the 2011 Morgan Grand National and World Championship Horse Show. Photo: Howard Shatzberg/Courtesy Morgan Grand National

The Morgan breed is noted for its versatility, and from now through Oct. 13, fans can see Morgans excel in nearly every equestrian discipline during the breed’s World Championship show in Oklahoma City. The show spreads across three arenas at the State Fair Park, and all three venues will be broadcast live online.

For those in the Oklahoma City area, admission to the Morgan Grand National and World Championship Horse Show is free and open to the public. For everyone else, the show will be broadcast live at MGNLive.com or USEFNetwork.com. Viewers can choose between three arenas to see Morgans competing in hunter/jumper, carriage driving, dressage, reining, and saddle seat, western and hunt seat pleasure and equitation classes. One of the most popular up-and-coming disciplines is western dressage, which has a strong foothold in the Morgan breed. This cross between the English sport and western-style horsemanship begins on Saturday, Oct. 6 at 7:00 a.m. Central Time in the Sport Horse Arena.

Watch a slideshow of highlights from the 2011 Morgan Grand National and World Championship Horse Show below.

On Oct. 10 and 11, the show management will offer educational tours to offer a closer look at the Morgan breed. School groups, youth clubs and anyone else interested in learning more will be able to meet judges and trainers, see different disciplines in action and find out about careers in the equine industry.

Other fun activities planned for show attendees include a stick horse contest for kids following the Sunday afternoon session; a clinic and barbeque on Wednesday evening; a karaoke lounge on Thursday night; and a farewell party after the final class on the last Saturday of the show.

The Grand National has a 37-year history in Oklahoma City, a location that was chosen to give equal ease of travel to Morgan exhibitors from the east and west coasts. Prior to that, the national show was held in Detroit for two years, and the New England Regional show in Massachusetts had been considered the breed’s championship prior to that. Future Grand National dates are already scheduled in Oklahoma for the second week in October through 2017.

For more information, visit MorganGrandNational.com