Norman, the official mascot of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy, toured Alltech’s corporate headquarters near Lexington, KY, USA.

Lexington, KY  – Norman, the loveable equine mascot of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy, has packed his bags and embarked on his first international trip to promote the upcoming championships of equestrian sport. His first stop was in Lexington, KY, USA, the site of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2010 and the corporate headquarters of the Games’ title sponsor Alltech.  Norman’s Lexington stop also allowed him to trace his ancestral heritage. He is the prodigious offspring of two equestrian champions whose training paths crossed in Lexington during the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™.  Both his mother, a show jumping champion from Normandy, and his father, an American reining champion, shared the same quest for passion, excellence and performance. Norman, born in Caen, just 1,000 days before the Games in 2014, exemplifies the values of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy:  achievement, openness and respect. Norman’s rich American-French heritage symbolizes the many parallels between Kentucky and Normandy, most notably a love of land and horse. Alltech is planning for a successful reprise in Normandy after its first title sponsorship of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Lexington. The Games bring the Alltech brand to life by showcasing horses at peak performance, and the 2014 edition of the Games is expected to be particularly meaningful given Alltech’s longstanding history of serving the equine and agricultural communities in Normandy. The Games are opening the world to Normandy, its people, culture, agriculture and history. Norman is especially excited about the celebrations that will take place concurrently with the Games, including a variety of musical, touristic, gastronomic and educational activities. Alltech will contribute to the Games’ diversity by entertaining a music and film festival during the 16–day event and hosting its annual Global 500 meeting, drawing dairy and beef farmers from around the world.  “Our sponsorship is about showcasing agriculture and the food and feed industries. What better way to do this than to make history in a region renowned for agriculture and gastronomy?” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech.   On his international trot, Norman will also be talking about his home Normandy as a land of memories. 2014, the year of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™, will mark the 70th anniversary of the most formidable military landing operation ever undertaken, D-Day on June 6, 1944. Norman’s busy summer travel schedule will take him to eight destinations in France and also include journeys to the United States, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Germany in his quest to spread the enthusiasm of the Games everywhere he goes.  You can keep track of Norman’s movements by “Liking” the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014TM in Normandy page on Facebook.  NORMAN’S TRAVEL DATES 2013Event – City – CountryJune 21-29 – Aix la Chapelle – Aachen – GERMANYJuly 10 – Tour de France – St. Mont Michel – FRANCEJuly 6-14 – National Pony and Amateur Championships – Lamotte Beuvron – FRANCEJuly 16 – Craft Brewing Convention – Dublin – IRELANDAugust 2 – Estivales de Cabourg – Cabourg – FRANCEAugust 9-18 – Normandie HorseShow – St. Lo – FRANCEAugust 10-13 – Dublin Horse Show – Dublin – IRELANDAugust 15-18 – Bain de Bretagne – Bain de Bretagne – FRANCEAugust 15-25 – TEST EVENTS – Caen – FRANCESeptember 5-8 – Burghley – Burghley – UKSeptember 6-8 – Foire de Lessay – Lessay – FRANCESeptember 9-13 – SPACE – Rennes – FRANCESeptember 20-30 – Foire de Caen – Caen – FRANCEOctober 1-3 – Global  500 – Dublin – IRELANDOctober 30-November 3 – Equita Lyon – Lyon – FRANCENovember 29-30 – Alltech National Horse Show – Lexington, Kentucky – USANovember 30-December 8 – Salon du Cheval – Paris – FRANCEDecember 16-22 – Olympia – London – UKAbout Alltech:Founded in 1980 by Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech improves the health and performance of animals, plants and people through natural nutrition and scientific innovation. With more than 3000 employees in 128 countries, the company has developed a strong regional presence in Europe, North America, Latin America, the Middle-East, Africa and Asia. For further information, visit www.alltech.com. For media assets, visit www.alltech.com/press.

Alltech is the proud title sponsor of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy from Aug. 23 to Sept. 7, 2014. Held every four years, alternating with the Olympic Games and under the authority of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the world governing body of the equestrian sport, the World Equestrian Games are the largest and most prestigious equestrian event in the world. World championships are crowned in eight official disciplines over a period of two weeks of competition: jumping, dressage, eventing, driving, reining, vaulting, endurance and para-dressage. More than 60 nations and nearly 1,000 competitors and horses will come together to demonstrate equestrian sport of the highest standard to the 500,000 visitors expected at the various sites.