HORSE THEMED ATTRACTION (HTA) DAILY MAIL

Morning at the Park

The big Quarter Horse stakes race is still a few hours away.  Near the paddocks, on the outskirts of the property, groups of owners gather around campfires and refreshment tents talking.  They've come from all over -- established breeders, Moms and Pops, West Virginia breeders, all believing that their horse is the fastest Quarter Horse in the world.  Today, the finals take place.  In a few hours, everyone will know who is right.  Over by the track, the ESPN crew is setting up.  The West Virginia Stakes is just one part of "Equimania", a three day Olympic-style competition for horses, pitting America's best against the world's best.

In the show arena, young girls are pulling on their boots, strapping on their helmets, preparing to take their jumpers through their paces.  Over by the Corral, the rodeo horses are bucking in their stalls.  The riders tighten up their gloves and prepare for the rides of their lives.  It is day three.  145,000 people have come to West Virginia, to see the shows and take part in the festivities.

The horse enthusiasts and those seeking an experience like no other, come all year long, of course.  They come to see the races, to experience the Horse Museum, to shop in the phenomenal expanse of retail outlets, to take a trail ride through the beautiful scenery of West Virginia, to splash in the refreshing Water Park and just to see what's new... They come to HTA, because if you love horses, HTA is the place to be.

Guests at the spectacular hotel are enjoying their way through breakfast.  The high rollers are ordering room service and will be watching the big race from comfort of their hotel room balconies... the first trackside (HTA is entirely enclosed for year-round operation) hotel rooms in the world, providing the amenitites of a luxury box and the thrill of the crowd.

Meanwhile, service technicians take the morning's refuse, (collected from the horses' stalls), over to the plasma arc converter -- a new and exciting technology that converts the waste from the animals into clean energy... a perfect and timely solution to the energy and waste concerns of today!  A sizeable portion of the park's energy comes from bio fuels.  HTA's commitment to green technologies will be s shining example to the country and to the world of what is possible and what is being done in West Virginia.

The state-of-the-art veterinary clinic is preparing for a big day.  The program associated with the clinic is developing a national reputation for excellence; out of state interns are visiting as a part of an educational program with the horse theme park.  They came here with the promise of applying new methods of veterinary medicine at this cutting edge facility.

Overnight guests are taking advantage of the park's policy of allowing one hour early access to all of the rides.  Thrill seekers are heading for the new, horse-themed, Vekoma coaster, "Hidalgo".  Meanwhile, the calvary simulator attraction, based upon the Lord of the Rings, has every teen on the grounds buzzing.

Throughout the park, the staff is in full swing.  They are the backbone of HTA... hotel workers, vendors, hawkers, jugglers, mascots, musicians, performers, handlers, ride operators, greeters, artists, each doing his or her part to help HTA's visitors create memories that will last a lifetime.

The parking lots are filling up; the new arrivals are smiling with eager anticipation of what's to come; the gates are open and we're off!!!