On Dec 6, 2005, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the international governing body of equestrian sport, announced the selection of the United States, specifically, Lexington, Kentucky, as the site of the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games. The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), the national governing body for equestrian sport, submitted the bid on behalf of the Kentucky Horse Park and The Commonwealth of Kentucky, as the host venue for the competition.

The World Equestrian Games, held every four years, are comprised of the world championships for eight equestrian sports - show jumping, dressage, eventing, driving, reining, vaulting, endurance and para-equestrian. The inaugural games were held in 1990 in Stockholm, Sweden, and have never taken place outside of Europe. The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Kentucky will represent the largest equestrian sporting event ever held in the United States.